December 2006

One of the most beautiful traditions that has developed in Norway at Advent time during the last years, is that people in this dark time of the year (and in Norway it is much darker than here in Minnesota!), put electric candelabras with seven “candles” in their windows, facing the street. Some houses even have one in each window. I doubt whether all the users know what a wonderful sign they are showing... 

When my family and I visited the IKEA store in November, we were happy to find exactly this kind of candelabra, and we of course bought one for our house! During Advent and through the whole month of December we will let it burn, as a sign of our Christian faith. We even found a “modern issue” for living candles (T-lights). So we bought that one too.

The Christian church has inherited the 7 light candelabra from the Jews. It comes from the Tabernacle, and later the Temple in Jerusalem had a huge seven-armed oil lamp that made a big impression on the visitors at the pilgrims’ festivals. Seven is a holy number in the Bible. It symbolizes fullness. Think about creation. Also, it ties Heaven (Trinity) and Earth (4 seasons, 4 directions of the winds) together. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them” (Rev 21:3).

 Also the Jews of today use candelabras with 7 candles, and they call it a Menorah. But there is a big difference: The Jews in our time just have the candelabra, but do not let the candles burn. Why? They grieve over the loss of their Temple, and they say that when the Messiah comes, it will burn again.  

We can witness that the Messiah has come. That is what happened on the first Christmas Eve in Bethlehem. The prophecies were fulfilled, and especially the one from Micah chapter 5, which tells us where the promised child from the family of David was going to be born: The City of David, Bethlehem.

 For many years I had evening services in Norway at the beginning of Advent (“Lysmesse”) with confirmands lighting the seven candles, one by one, while reading seven witnesses from the prophets about the coming Messiah. In this dark time of the year, let us remind each other that Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8,12). Let us do it by lighting the four Advent candles and the seven candles of the Menorah. Let us do it in our homes and in our church. I wish you all a good Advent and Christmas season!

Per Inge Vik

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716