Monday, November 26, 2012

Making a Living Advent Wreath

This year, I dismantled the 7 year old Advent wreath that I made with fake evergreens and bright purple and pink ornaments. It's been growing out of my favor in recent years. Funny how your tastes change.  I was happy to see it being replaced a living, handmade Advent wreath that is so much more symbolic. 
The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. Even these evergreens have a traditional meaning which can be adapted to our faith: The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering; pine, holly, and yew, immortality; and cedar, strength and healing. Holly also has a special Christian symbolism: The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns, and one English legend tells of how the cross was made of holly. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ. Any pine cones, nuts, or seedpods used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection. All together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality of our soul and the new, everlasting life promised to us through Christ, the eternal Word of the Father, who entered our world becoming true man and who was victorious over sin and death through His own passion, death, and resurrection. (taken from here)
 Last year, my friend mentioned how she made an advent wreath and kept it alive all advent by spraying it with water.  I guess the book she got it from also advised to soak newspaper in water and wrap that around the wreath first, but since she managed to keep her wreath alive without that step, I decided to go that route too.

Today we collected the prickly holly and everything else that was still green and pretty.  When we got home, I put everything around the brass candle holder with floral wire.  It didn't take much imagining to think of the thorns on Jesus crown like the above paragraph states. I'm still a little sore from all the pokes!

I obviously do not have a natural talent for floral arranging, but the kids approved. It's circular and green and alive- those were the only requirments of this craft. Beautifully arranged- optional.

Then we sprayed it with (not floor cleaner!) water. I had emptied this bottle for water.  Now we just have to remember to water it every day and hope it stays green.  Hope you are having a peaceful time preparing for advent. We are preparing for more than one birth this year! I look forward to having my husband off for much of December since he will be on leave when the baby comes.  We'll have every reason to slow down and stay at home. I think this will be the best Advent yet.

1 comment:

Jamie Jo said...

Beautiful Sarah!! Amazing to find such a beautiful real plant like that and be able to use it! How fun for the kiddos!

Your kids have grown so much and are so cute!