Advent Sunday

"The Advent season marks the beginning of the Christian year in western Christianity. Its length varies from 22 to 28 days, beginning on the Sunday nearest St Andrew’s Day and encompassing the next three Sundays, ending on Christmas Day.

It is uncertain as to when exactly the celebration of Advent was first introduced in the Christian church. Some sources say that Advent began on November 11 (St Martin's Day) at some time in the fifth century in the form of a six-week fast leading to Christmas. Advent was reduced to its current length at some stage in the sixth century and the fasting was later no longer observed.

It was customary, although no longer practiced, for poor women to carry “Advent images”, which were two dolls dressed to represent Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the northern parts of England. Those who saw the dolls were expected to give a donation in form of money and bad luck was believed to occur to those who were not visited by the doll-bearers before Christmas Eve." www.timeanddate.com


I'd planned to go to my local Advent Carol Service this evening, but the last few busy days have caught up with me, so it's been a day of enforced rest. Having set up the pretty, sparkly Advent Crown that I brought back from Germany, my Mexican Sister-in-Law called to say she was looking forward to seeing the Advent Crown she'd given me when she comes for Christmas this year! So after a quick rummage in the attic, the more subdued Mexican Advent Crown was unearthed, and the first candle lit for the first Sunday of Advent...

(I've been looking at this Advent Crown for a couple of hours now and have decided it's far too dull and dour for Christmas, so I think I shall find some sparkly baubles to pile up in the centre! Or maybe I'll get the German one back out and then put this one in place the day before my Mexican sister-in-law arrives!!)

After adding some silver to the scene, I've changed my blip - hopefully it looks less like a chocolate cake now!!