Here is a document I prepared with simple Advent prayers for the Sundays, as well as the text of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. If you need to know the tune, you can find it here.
People, do not be daunted by the Advent wreath.
Last year, when I posted about it, I promised to try to remember to show you the underside of this year's.
It's just one of those brass rings with the candle holders attached. I made a cardboard ring, which I then covered with a satin ribbon. I wired the ribbon-covered ring to the brass ring and twined grapevines (which abound, alas, in my yard) around all — just enough to make a foundation for any greenery that I want to decorate with.
This foundation makes it possible for me to just stick bits of evergreen, holly, yew, azalea (the branches are a lovely russet color in the late fall)…and wind ivy around it all, sticking the ends in the grapevine or wire as I go. I might glue-gun, I might not. I might wire, I might not.
I try to make the sides pretty too, as the whole thing hangs by those cords (which are gift-wrapping cord with wire inside) from my chandelier.
I do think your wreath should be made with natural materials… either pretty on its own, like those nice pottery ones, or decorated with real greenery, even though it does tend to get a little sad looking after a while. The thing is, real materials inspire wonder, even when slightly wilted, and plastic does not.
A hanging Advent wreath is fabulous, if you can swing it. It's also practical, in that it doesn't take up room on the table and keeps the candles above the action. You just have to make sure the candles are well stuck into those holders. Feel free to switch out the candles as the season progresses, if they burn down too low. This requires buying two sets! Don't forget.
This wreath is last year's. I added hydrangea, which I will to this year's as well, once it's up there. Right now it's out in the garage, trying not to dry out. I made it early because of the talk…
The hydrangea seems to be more autumnal (after all, winter doesn't start until just before Christmas), so you can take it out on Christmas Day, as well as replace the candles with Christmas-y ones.
I've also started making a kitchen wreath, since our numbers are so low (send more kids!).
I use Uncle Gerry's beautiful green bowl (it's his in that he made it!) that usually resides in the corner cupboard.
Right now it just has some random candles in it…hopefully I will find the right colors by next Sunday. Possibly not.
I put a piece of cardboard in the bottom, to rest the candles on. Then put in the candles, then all the greenery, as well as some nice-scented pine-cones I got on rock-bottom clearance at Michael's. All our pine-cones are kinda ugly…
LFS (Lawler Family S says
a) wo-hoo! i finally get to be the first comment!b) thank you so much for your posting about advent! it's very sad at school to see people jumping to christmas so quickly, mostly because they don't have an idea of what advent is or how to decorate for it. not to mention the school-wide ban on candles as dorm fire hazards- i think that is my least favorite school rule!anyway, thank you for so clearly articulating everything. i'm on the school advent committee (to spread advent all about campus) and none of the Church documents and summaries say any of this in so PRACTICAL and BEAUTIFUL a manner!happy feast of Christ the King!
scmom (Barbara) says
I so completely agree with you about dwelling in the spirit of Advent. I love Advent! And love your quote about not eating the birthday cake before the birthday! I get a lot of crap from my extended family because I won't put the tree up until late in Advent and refuse to listen to carols. No one today can delay their gratification!
skoots1mom says
i put various nuts in mine as well…yours are beautiful!
Freckled Hen says
This post as well as the previous one have filled me with emotion. You have a gift, Leila! Your words and pictures are so inspiring.
pam says
I'm just learning about the advent celebration and I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a cd with advent hymns?It would be great for us to learn them while we are out and about in the van. Blessings!Pam
Abby says
Benedictines Of Mary have an album called Advent at Ephesus. It’s so beautiful! It’s available on Amazon.
https://benedictinesofmary.org/content/advent-ephesus
pam says
sorry…I just found my other post. I thought it got lost…didn't mean to post it in 2 places.Pam
Leila says
Hi Pam,I can't recommend any CDs…I don't know of any, and I have looked.Maybe this is a "listening to the MIDI and learning the words" activity — at lunch? 🙂
Wilde Family says
On iTunes, there are two CD's one called Advent Promise – Songs and Music for the season of Advent by Rodger Wilcock and the London Fox Players. He has another one called Approaching Christmas- Songs and Music for the Season of Advent. He has many of the songs mentioned in this blog post. They are almost the same CD, but with some differences of songs. Hope that helps.
Kimberly says
I think the hanging advent wreaths are so beautiful, but, a little frightning. My 23 month old is beyond a terror, the almost 4 year old is the assistant and informer, the 6 year old well, i can't even explain him…then there are the boys who despite 12, 10, 19 & 21 despite my protestations still think it is okay to play football, baseball, wrestle, soccer whatever in my house…the only "safe ones are the 14 & 17 year old girls, and that's until they get boisterous…i hope to find some solution that doesn't involve the fire dept…
Leila says
Kimberly — what you say is exactly what I meant in the post by keeping the Advent wreath "above the action"!Somehow a candle (or four) on the table itself is just a big invitation for hijinks…But if they are up out of reach, things seem to go better. And I speak as someone who had a basketball hoop (albeit a small one, albeit not a toy) INSIDE her house…and whose boys seemed to think that an appropriate winter activity was wrestling the dog…
Kathleen says
I wanted you to know that this post inspired & encouraged me to do this this year. And I just started my own blog, so I just wrote a post about Advent wreath on it. I wanted you to know that I cited you on the blog and to thank you for encouraging to go ahead and do things even if I’m a bit behind. I was quite pleased with my wreath that I was able to make with supplies I had at home & adding candle holders & candles. Thanks. I enjoy reading your blog and recommend it to my friends regularly. Thanks for the encouragement! I love your humble motto…If I can do it so can you…
nattles says
Yep! Many yrs later this post is inspirational:) but, how do you attach the cardboard to the brass ring? Tape? Also, I like your idea (from a recent post) about building a Jesse tree over time! I had this lovely vision of handing my daughter in laws a collection of homemade Jesse tree ornaments when my boy babies are all grown:-)
Leila says
nattles, what I did was I wired the cardboard to the brass ring (use thin wire), and then twined grapevines around (they grow wild in my yard). The ends of the grapevine tuck into each other. That way, all the wire is hidden.I made the ring because you can sort of see the underneath of the wreath when you are sitting at the table!