The Advent Wreath is closely associated with the Christmas season, and most churches and many homes feature this symbol of the Season as part of the observance of the birth of Christ. It had its roots in the pagan religions of northern Europe, in a solstice practice calling for the return of the sun in the dark time of the year by lighting candles placed on a cartwheel decorated with evergreens.

The custom became a part of church tradition several centuries ago, using this fire-light symbolism to represent Christ's coming into the world. The wheel represented the eternal victory over death, the evergreens were a sign of the faithfulness of God to his people, and the lighted candles a reminder of the light that Christ brought to the world. Now, it is the basis for the Advent wreath, a sign of the waiting and hopeful expectation of the return of Christ.

Since herbs played an important part in the lives of early Christians, providing them with medicine when they were ill, fiber and dyes for their clothing, flavoring and preservatives for their foods, and for incense and perfumes used in making their homes and churches smell pleasant during worship, it is only natural they were used in making the Advent wreaths placed in their churches and homes.

Through the years the herbs used in making these living Advent wreaths, by tradition, began to symbolize certain events surrounding the life of Christ. Juniper in the Advent wreath symbolizes life and hope. It was supposed to have protected the Holy Family as they were pursued by Herod's soldiers. Juniper is sticky to the touch on the outside of its branches, but soft on the inside. Lady's bedstraw and wild thyme, both common in the Holy Land, would have been used to provide a bed for the Christ Child. Rosemary, according to Biblical lore, originally blossomed white, but when Mary draped her azure cloak over the rosemary bush during the flight from Egypt, the flowers turned blue, the color of her cloak. Also, the branches of rosemary do not crackle, as do other bushes, and did not give away the presence of Mary and Joseph while they were fleeing into Judea. Another legend regarding rosemary is that in the Mediterranean region where rosemary is a native, it never grows more than 6 feet in height in 33 years and in homage to Jesus it never grows beyond 6 feet so as never to be higher. Rosemary in the Advent wreath also symbolizes remembrance of this glorious occasion.

Many other herbs used in the Advent wreath have significance, including rue, a symbol of virtue; sage, whose Latin name, salvia, meaning "to heal", a symbol of health and immortality; and lavender, symbolizing purity and virtue. Myrtle symbolizes love; Holly's thorny leaves represent the crown of thorns and the red berries represent Christ's shed blood. The frankincense and myrrh, of course, represent the gifts of the Three Wise Men to the newborn Christ Child.

By tradition, four candles in the Advent wreath are purple, while the fifth, placed in the center, is white, although in Roman Catholic custom, three purple candles are lit on the first, second and fourth Sundays, while a pink candle is lit on the joyful third Sunday, known as "Gaudete Sunday". (Gaudete means "Rejoice.") The four candles in the wreath are lit (with appropriate prayers) each Sunday beginning four Sundays (November 28th this year) before Christmas. A large white candle in the center is lit either on Christmas Eve or Christmas day.

An Advent wreath for your church or home can be simple or elaborate, depending on availability of materials. Many churches have Advent wreath holders which can be decorated with the appropriate greens, herbs and candles, but for the home, you may want to make your own wrath, and again, it can be simple or quite elaborate, depending upon availability of materials and your own personal wishes. In the home it is traditional to light the candles for a short time each day, saying a prayer suggested for that week.

If you would like to make a fresh wreath, you will need the following materials:

One large shallow bowl or dish

Oasis (also known as florist foam, available at florist or craft shops

Four colored candles

One larger white candle with holder

Pine, cedar, juniper, yew, holly boughs, ivy branches, and your choice of fresh herbs as available

Make the wreath by first soaking the oasis in warm water until it is completely saturated. Fit it in the bowl, carving it into a wreath base form and packing it tightly so that it will not shift around. Then carve four equally spaced holes in the oasis for the four colored candles. Place the candles in the holes you have made and the larger white candle in the center, sticking the basic greenery into the oasis to cover it completely. Have some trailing over the edges of the bowl or dish, and closely packed around the candles to hide all the foam. Insert the symbolic herbs of your choice.