Advent Candles

We light a candle for each of the four Sundays of Advent and a fifth candle for Christmas Day. The first candle is placed in the east, and has stones, a crystal, and seashells about it. The second candle placed in the south has a mandarin, a few blue corn seeds, and a sprig of Noble pine near it. This coming Sunday, we'll light the third candle. Placed in the north, this candle will have miniature animal figures (an eagle, coyote, bear and penguin) placed about its base. The fourth candle, placed in the west and lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent, will have miniature people - dolls - resting at its base. On Christmas Morning, we light all the Sunday candles and the center candle which represents the crossroads or intersection of the candles and their properties (earth, plant, animal, humans). I have practiced this ritual with my children since they were babies. We still gather on Advent Sundays to light the candles and share a special meal.

The pictures below are actually the same picture, taken last Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent. Each picture has a different effect, except the last one - which is the original shot. I applied the watercolor effect on the third version- but to really see it best, click on the photo so it enlarges.