We were invited to the Michael and Myriam Ertelt home for the First Advent celebration. They are the parents of Jessica, the young lady we adopted as our granddaughter here in Germany. She is now on her mission in Maryland. We felt privileged to be invited, as it is a family affair. I had never heard of Advent Sunday before, but I think that is because we are LDS and it basically started as a Catholic tradition. Today in Germany all churches celebrate Advent, the month before Christmas.
For those of you, like myself, that know nothing about Advent, here is a brief explanation. First of all Advent has four significant days, the first one being on the 4th Sunday in November and the last three advent days are on each consecutive Sunday before Christmas. Each family has an Advent wreath displayed in their home. You probably have one in your own home in the US and don't even know it. An Advent wreath is made of small pine bows with 4 candles. Our family was given one for our very own. I was so excited. My house is looking more like Christmas now. On with my story. On each Advent Sunday the family gathers around the advent wreath and enjoys homemade German cookies and hot chocolate with cinnamon. I think I ate my share of goodies. Oh yes and the Advent candle was then lit. It stays lit until the night is complete. On the next three Sundays another candle is lit with ones before. Most families also embrace the Advent Calendar. I Remember the ones that my mother had for my brother and I . They had small pieces of chocolate or a small gift. We always wanted to be the one to take out the little treat. Sometimes we only had the one with the little doors that opened up to a small picture of a toy. Wasn't to impressed with those but at least we had something to remember, that Christmas day was approaching.
Some families will have a Jessie Tree which is one large pine bow that is hung on the wall. The significance of the bow is the scripture in Isaiah 11:1. This talks about a shoot that will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." (referring to Jesus Christ himself) hence, the bow represents Christ. All during the month before Christmas a homemade ornament is put on the bow, each one representing Old Testament events from the Creation to the birth of Christ. Each night a scripture is also read and the story told. It sounds like a lot of work, but the family basically gets told about all the stories in the Old Testament before giving them the story of the birth of Jesus. I definitely want to adopt this tradition for my family. If you are interested, I have included all the ornaments and their significance and the scripture attached to
each.
The Below Chart starts on the 4th Sunday of the month before Christmas
Persons/Event Scripture Symbol
Day 1 Introduction of the Jesse Tree I Sam 16:1-3 / Isa 11:1-10 The Tree
Day 2 God/The Creation Gen 1:1-3 Dove
Day 3 Adam & Eve / First Sin Gen 2:4- Gen 3:24 Tree with fruit/apple
Day 4 Noah / The Flood Gen 6:11-22/7:17/8:12, 20/9:17 Rainbow/Arc
Day 5 Abraham / The Promise Gen 12:1-7 / 15:1-6 Field of Stars
Day 6 Isaac /Offering of Isaac Gen 22:1-19 Ram
Day 7 Jacob /Assurance of the Promise Gen: 27:41 28:22 Ladder
Day 8 Joseph / God's Providence Gen 37, 39:1-50 / Gen 21 Sack of grain or coat
Day 9 Moses / God's Leadership Exod 2: 1-4 / 4:20 Burning Bush
Day 10 Israelites / Passover & Exodus Exod 12:1 - 14:31 Lamb
Day 11 God /Giving the Torah at Sinai Exod 19:1 - 20:20 Tablets of the Torah
Day 12 Joshua / The Fall of Jericho Josh 1:1-11 / 6:1-20 Ram's Horn / Trumpet
Day 13 Gideon / Unlikely Heroes Judg 2:6-23/6:1-6,11/8:28 Pitcher
Day 14 Samuel /Beginning of the Kingdom 1 Sam3:1-21//7:1-8,22/9:15-10:9 Crown
Day 15 David / A Shepherd for the People 1 Sam16:1--23-17,58, 2Sam5:1-6/7:1-17Harp crook
Day 16 Elijah /The Threat of False Gods 1 Kng 17:1-16 / 18:17-46 Stone Altar
Day 17 Hezekiah/Fithfulnness & Deliverance 2 Kng 18:1-19/19,32-37 Empty Tent
Day 18 Isaiah / The Call to Holiness Isa 1:10-20/2:4-13/8:11-9:7 Fire tongs/Hot coal
Day 19 Jeremiah / The Exile Jer1:4-10/2:4-13/7:1-15/8:22-9:1-11 Tears\
Day 20 Habakkuk / Waiting Hab 1:1-2:1 /3:16-19 Stone Watch Tower
Day 21 Nehemiah /Return & Rebuilding Neh 1:1-2:8/6:15-16/13:10-22 City Wall
Day 22 John The Baptist / Repentance Luke 1:57-80/3:1-20/7:18-30 Scallop Shell
Day 23 Mary / The Hope for a Future Luke 1:26-38 White Lily
Day 24 Elizabeth /Joy Luke 1:39-56 Mother & Child
Day 25 Zechariah / Anticipation Luke 1:57-80 Pencil & Tablet
Day 26 Joseph /Trust Matt 1:19-25 Carpenter Square / Hammer
Day 27 Magi / Worship Matt 2:1-12 Star / Candle
Day 28 Jesus /Birth of the Savior Luke 2: 1-20 Manger
Day 29 Christ / The Son of God John 1: 1-18 Chi-Rho Symbol
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