It is customary in some of the Christian churches to include an Advent wreath as part of the seasonal decorations in December.

If you’d like to include an Advent wreath in your family traditions, the concept is pretty simple. It is frequently depicted as an evergreen circle with three purple candles and one pink candle. One new candle is lit for every Sunday before Christmas.

Some people also place a candle in the center of the wreath to represent Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The center candle might be white, gold or red.

Now, if you wish to buy Advent candle packs in Monroe, you can find four-packs with purple and pink tapers at Crafts 2000. If you want to select your own candles, then go through the candle bins at any craft or holiday store. (Just be aware that you will find mostly red, green, white or gold candles in the bins this time of year).

If you wish to buy premade Advent wreaths or frames, I have seen a variety of them in the craft and religious gift stores across Monroe. You can also find supplies at the local craft stores that you can use to create an Advent candleabra that might last you for a few seasons.

But let me explain how to do such an arrangement on a really tight budget.

You see, there is room for artistic interpretation on an Advent wreath. As long as there are the appropriate number of candles arranged in the appropriate sequence, you are illustrating the concept of waiting for Christmas.

Ideas:

• Construction paper or art paper candles. You often see children bring such “creations” home from Sunday School. I made myself an art paper depiction to display in my college dorm room, where live candles could not be used. I taped the pieces on my closet door, and taped the “paper flames” on the door during the appropriate weeks.
• Use candles you may already have in alternate colors. Although purple has long been a popular Advent candle color, royal blue is preferred by some as a contemporary update. Or dress up some white or gold candles that you already have with a ribbon scrap or floral spray attached to the candle base. (Wikipedia reports some congregations prefer to use white candles anyway in lieu of purple.)
• Four tea lights or votive lights arranged in a circle. You might already have plenty of those in assorted colors. How many tea lights did you buy in that bulk order box anyway?