Tabletop advent wreath

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Note: This article was originally published by @gritchenwitch on Instagram. To learn about me and my practice, including more info on folk witchcraft, mountain magic, knot work, and hearthcraft, please visit gritchenwitch.com or join my Patreon at patreon.com/gritchenwitch.

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I don’t have room in our tiny house for a tabletop advent wreath, so I created an altar-top version as part of a ritual leading up to Christmas.

The Advent wreath (or crown) is a circular garland of evergreen branches in which four candles are set, one to be lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. “Advent” means “arrival.” 

Traditionally, one pink and three purple candles are used, each holding its own symbolism. The wreath's circular shape, in conjunction with the evergreen branches, stands for both the passage of time and immortality. 

To make my mini “wreath,” I used a dish layered with evergreens and four tealights. If you don’t have pink and purple options on hand, you can use color magic and herb correspondences to dress your candles according to the intention you set behind each one. On Christmas Day, you’ll light the whole thing (safely) and release those prayers into your home.

I plan to include my Christmas morning wreath-lighting in a ritual to create a family protection oil. I’ll use it to bless doorframes and inject some cozy midwinter energy into my home as needed throughout 2023. 

Patreon members—I included extended directions for creating an altar advent wreath (and how to use the resulting energy to make the oil) in this morning’s article, Folk Witch’s Wintertide. In addition to the above ritual, you’ll find:

— More Yule folklore and Christmas traditions
— Upcoming feast days, holidays, and other important dates
— Ways to prepare for the Full Cold Moon
— Best nights for spellwork and divination
— List of traditional correspondences

(For more info on joining, please visit gritchenwitch.com.)

I’m looking forward to sharing more holiday folk traditions over the coming weeks!