Upholding the holiday traditions with Advent

Now in progress and for the next four weeks, Christians will enter a time within the life of the church known as Advent.

For many, Advent marks the beginning of the Church year.

Advent, in the Western tradition, begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, (or the Sunday nearest Nov. 30) and ends on Christmas Eve.

This year, the Advent season began on Sunday, Dec. 2. Throughout the coming four weeks, a church is often filled with the color of purple, which is viewed as a symbol of penitence, fasting and royalty.

Everything is designed to symbolize the coming of the savior - the birth of Jesus Christ.

In the beginning days of Advent, church members often use the time to decorate their buildings with evergreen wreaths, boughs or trees. The greenery helps to symbolize the new and everlasting life brought through Jesus.

On many altars, an Advent wreath - a wreath made of evergreen - sits prominently in front of the congregation throughout the season. The wreath contains five candles - four around the edge and one in the center.

Each candle symbolizes a different part of the Christmas story. The outer four candles represent the four Sundays leading to Christmas. The center candle, traditionally lit during Christmas eve or Christmas day services, announce Jesus' birth.

The colors of the candles vary with tradition, but there are usually three purple or blue candles corresponding to the sanctuary colors of Advent and one pink or rose candle.

The light of the candles is an important symbol of the season. The bright glow of the candles reminds Christians that Jesus is the light of the world - a light which comes into the darkness of our lives, bringing with it newness, ever-lasting life and hope. It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to the world as we reflect the light of God's grace to others (Isaiah 42:6).