Don't Leave Advent Candles ToThe Last Minute!

Will you be celebrating Advent this year? The start of the school year is always my cue to begin preparing. Advent is a special period of preparation for the birth of our Savior. We'll talk more about Advent activities and observances as the season draws closer, but, for those who are planning to celebrate, this is your official reminder:

Buy Advent candles now!

If you regularly celebrate the season, then you know that it is way too easy to wait until the last minute, and the mad rush to find candles is stressful.

If you have never celebrated the season before, let me tell you... it is way too easy to wait until the last minute, and the mad rush to find candles is stressful!

A set of Advent candles generally contains three purple (for royalty) and one pink (for joy).  Although, some people use four purple or four blue.  You'll be needing a wreath to place them in, but it is possible to make one yourself.  If you aren't sure yet what you will use as a wreath, you will generally be safe buying tapers.

Here's a kit to make your own wreath, although a kit is not necessary:

  Make Your Own Advent Wreath 

Traditionally, devotional candles were beeswax.  This was, in part, due to the purity of the beeswax which represents the purity of our Lord.  Beeswax has other advantages also.  It is natural, non-toxic, non-polluting and has a sweet honey smell.  Beeswax produces negative ions which actually cleanse the air of allergens, odors, and other hazards.

You can even make them yourself!

Make Your Own Beeswax Advent Candles

Although this traditional girl bristles at the idea, your Advent candles can be made of something other than beeswax!

  

If you light your wreath for the duration of each week's devotion, shorter candles are fine.  If you prefer to light your wreath and keep it buring all evening, you may be better off with 12" tapers.

You'll need prayers for your Advent devotions.  They are relatively easy to find online.  You can also, of course, develop your own.  There are books available, as well.

This is a really nice one:

This one uses a bit more traditional language:

Remember, though, you don't need to spend a lot of money for Advent preparations.  The main thing that you need is the candles, and holders of some kind for them.

Advent is right around the corner!  I'm looking forward to spending it with you!

By Bubamara (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Pax Christi,

~Michelle