Many Christians observe Advent with a wreath and candle-lighting ritual over the course of 5 weeks leading up to the birth of Jesus on Christmas. By way of one example, blogging buddy Willym always marks Advent with special posts on his blog every year.
The pagan equivalent is an Advent of the Sun Altar with a wreath and candle-lighting ritual over the course of 5 weeks leading up to the rebirth of the Sun on the Winter Solstice. For the first time, I'm trying my hand at creating such an altar.
My evergreen wreath and candles are flanked by Sankta Lucia, the Goddess of the Winter Solstice (given to me by my sister in 2019) and a charming Canadian Angel (given to me by blogging buddy Robyn Alana Engel a few years ago). There are 4 candles in the centre of the wreath which will be cumulatively lit one at a time each Sunday night leading up to the Winter Solstice on December 21, when the 5th and final candle will be lit.
This countdown to the Winter Solstice is a meditative and contemplative act. In darkness, the candle(s) are lit, their light celebrated in a way that is meaningful to the celebrant and then extinguished. Time is also taken to experience the full darkness. Both holy light and sacred darkness bring blessings and healing.
Here is the First Candle --
You are welcome to join me again next Sunday!
[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, 2025]
30 comments:
And I will. Thank you!
This is a nice blend of traditions. Yes, important to experience the dark, not just try to push it away. It has a purpose.
Nicely done. I am more excited for the return of light than I am for Xmas.
I like the decorations and beauty of Christmas traditions, but creating light indoors on dark nights is what I really love.
This is beautiful.
To me, it always feels like the earth is slowing down this time of year. I love your altar.
🕯😊 I love the warmth of your altars to the cycles of the natural world. What I love about retirement is that I let my body revert to its circadian rhythm. My body wakes me up, not an alarm. My body tells me when to eat lunch, not my boss. My body tells me how the Earth prepares for seasons, not a calendar (or a story of some guy's birth!). Thank you for your reminders to honor our natural paganism! 🌝🌚
I hope your Advent brings chocolate with every candle lit.
That is a nice altar. Thank you. This time around, we are leaving an extra cookie for miss Piggy.
@ Moving with Mitchell -- Now THAT'S a great idea!
I have been busy when my body permits. The weather has grown cooler now but not cool enough. I'm getting things ready for Yule. Made my list for David. We will exchange them on the first and then we start looking at the stores in town to buy from. No Amazon or Walmart. We will buy as close to the wish list as possible by shopping in town at local shops.
You always show the best and most beautiful alters. Have a nice Sunday
Always so pretty!
...there are so many ways to enjoy Christmas.
Ya' done, did great with this Debra. What a fun and meaningful way to celebrate the seasons.
You know what I love? The darkness of the days early. I love when it's 5 and looks like midnight. Love that.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.
Interesting choice of colours for an Advent Altar -- are the orange and blue candles a prayer for the Hockey Gods to bless the Edmonton Oilers with the Stanley Cup this year?
@ Tundra Bunny -- Mayyyyyyyyyybe. Should have known YOU'D spot those Oilers colours right away, lol! I had to pick my two shortest tapers to use on this altar so as not to overshadow my central candle, and the two shortest were the leftover tapers from my Nike/Oilers Stanley Cup Run Altar of June, 2024.
A beautiful alter as usual. I can’t believe we are almost at solstice. We are still in the middle of winter weather
I love the idea of using mis-matched candles.
December is actually pretty lit, isn't it?
@ DB Stewart -- GROAN
Since I refuse to go to church anymore, I had forgotten all about the Advent lighting. I always enjoyed that ritual.
Thanks for this. I love all kinds of wreaths.
How beautiful, Debra! I love this!
I'll be there next Sunday.
Oh, Debra! Yay. I'm getting happy goosebumps to see that goddess. I wouldn't have recognized her had you not dropped my name. Thank you! Actually, I remember thinking that I didn't know what you'd do with her, but she was an appropriate gift for you. Naturally, you put her to use in a worthy manner. I loved learning about the Advent of the Sun. Its sentiment and your altar encompass peace and beauty.
That's a gorgeous altar.
Love,
Janie
I too light a candle every week during this period, my mother was a pagan and so I think of her. I like to visualise that we are heading from darkness to light :) Betty
That's lovely. I think we'll have to do the candle lighting at Zac's.
I always love your altars. The coming Winter Solstice is such a deep, meaningful time. The sacred darkness, the blessed light.
(May the hockey gods bless your team!)
I love your altars.
It's a beautiful and meaningful altar, Debra. The winter solstice has long been a favorite day of mine.
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