Advent 2025 : day one

 

This is now the twentieth year that I will post a daily reflection through Advent. For longer than that – almost a decade longer – Jo and I have woven Advent traditions into the pattern of our year, the fabric of our lives. Some of these we were introduced to by older friends, when we were newly-married – not as an off-the-peg coat, whether it fit us or not, but as a pattern we might start with and adapt to create a bespoke fit. This year, we are passing some of the traditions on to friends – we are now the older ones – some of whom are marking Advent for the first time.

Traditions, and especially the kind of traditions we might call rituals, act as anchors or hooks that connect us to a Story that is bigger than ourselves, in such a way that has sustained both families and wider communities through times of unimaginable tragedy.

One of the simplest Advent rituals is the lighting of candles: one on the first Sunday of Advent, two on the second, three on the third, and four on the fourth. These are often arranged around a fifth candle, which represents Jesus, the light of the world. One tradition leaves this candle unlit until Christmas Day; another variation lights the central candle each Sunday, and the other candles from it. There are also various traditions regarding the colours of the candles: red, or blue, or three purple and one (week 3) pink. This year, the Advent candles in our home are a simple arrangement, all white.

We lit the first candle and spoke about waiting with hope. Waiting in anticipation of something we are looking forward to. Waiting, well, for inevitable bad news. Waiting, in times of pain – and as faithful friends in others’ times of pain. Light in the darkness. We spoke of faith handed down by previous generations, well-worn words of prayer when we cannot find words of our own.