Advent
– fearing, waiting, expecting, repenting, resting, anticipating
– a sacred time
– heaven touches earth
– eternity breaks through
How many candles are supposed to be on the Advent wreath?
24 – 27 to help children count down the days to Christmas.
The inventor of the original Advent wreath was the founder and operator of the Rough House, Johann Hinrich Wichern. Wichern was a Hamburg-born theologian who devoted his life to helping, caring for, and nurturing the sick, the weak, and the needy. He established an institution to house, educate, train, and support needed children and youths.
It was in 1839 when the lights of the Advent wreath were lit for the first time. Unlike today’s Advent wreaths, it was decorated with red and white candles. The red ones represented the “normal” days, while the white ones represented the Sundays of Advent. Each day another candle was lit until finally on Christmas Eve all the lights were lit. (Read more)
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