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Interesting question, because it is so wide-ranging. I would like to suggest that we focus on two such symbols: The Advent wreath and the Jesse Tree. An Advent Calendar is another practice during the season, but I don't know that I'd call it a symbol exactly. If you Google Advent Wreath and Jesse Tree, you'll get lots of information--and directions as well.
But in brief: The Advent Wreath (one of which is probably in your parish Church beginning the First Sunday of Advent) signifies the symbolic number of 4,000 years during which we waited for the birth of Jesus (we now know it was longer than that, but this is a symbol). The wreath has no beginning and no end (like the symbolism of rings) and the lighting of one more candle each week is a symbol of our increasing lightheartedness as we move toward Christmas.
The Jesse Tree is a series of ornaments to be hung on a tree (either evergreen or simply a branch). These ornaments represent the biblical ancestors of Jesus and include some interesting stories and prophecies such as that about Jesse himself (look up that prophecy in the Bible in the Book of Isaiah Chapter 11). I'm not so sure this tradition preceded the Christmas tree, but it's an inspiring companion to it! |