Adventskrantz

One of the many many many many many things I loved about Christmas in Austria (seriously- no one does Christmas as well as Austrians and Germans- why do you think so many of our traditions here in America come from them? - they just can't be beat) was the Adventskrantz or Advents Wreath. They would have a wreath laying on a table with 4 candles placed along it. On each of the four sundays prior to Christmas they would light the candle / candles corrosponding to that sunday. So on the first sunday they would light one candle, on the second 2 candles, etc. And each time they did this they said a little poem. Here is a rough translation of the poem:

Advent, advent a small light burns

First one, then two, then three, then four

Then the Christchild is at your door.

A better translation of the last line would be that "now the Christchild has arrived" but this way at least it ryhmes a little. It sounds much better in German, trust me. There is a lot of symbolism to the Adventskrantz, but my favorite is true of all wreaths. The round image reminds us that Advent is a time to look both forwards and backwards, remembering the two comings of the Savior.

I just always liked anticipating the birth of the Savior rather than Santa Claus. I made my own Adventskrantz (the picture is not mine, but one I found online - computer woes, remember?) our first Christmas we were married, and do this every year with Eric and Emma. It's just another nice reminder of the real meaning of the season.