St. Francis of Assisi is credited with spreading the popularity of the crèche. In 1223, Francis brought in a live donkey and ox, and held Christmas Mass at a manger, instead of an altar. By the end of the 18th century, nativity scenes began to appear in village squares and homes, as they became popular among the people. Another custom that evolved from the crèche is the preparation of the manger, which originated in France. Children prepare soft bedding in the manger by using little pieces of straw as tokens of prayers and good works. Each night, the child puts in the crib one straw for each act of devotion or virtue performed throughout the

Traditionally, Advent wreaths are constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which four candles are inserted, representing the four weeks of Advent. Ideally, three candles are purple and one is rose, but white candles can also be used. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead.

It is thought that the origins of the Advent wreath lie in the pagan customs of people in the far northern countries of Scandinavia – customs that originated long before the birth of Christ. Because they couldn’t do farm work outdoors in the winter, people brought into their homes the wheels of their wagons, decorated them with greens, put candles on them, and hung them from the ceiling on a wire. Then they would twirl them to become a glowing prayer to the god of light in this time of darkness. Christians later adapted this to celebrate the coming birth of the Light of the World.