Having just received a Fourth Advent video via messenger, in which The Count of Sesame Street counted the four burning candles, I wondered how much this is common outside of Germany.
Wikipedia tells me that the tradition also is followed in other countries nowadays, but not how much.
So:
Do you know this in your country or maybe even light some candles to count the remaining time until Christmas yourself?
Or have you never heard of it before?
Do you perhaps have any other similar countdown traditions (we e.g. also have Christmas calendars giving you a little tread every day until Christmas)?
Here in Mexico, a predominantly Catholic country, Advent wreaths (with five candles) are definitely a thing, though I can’t say how much the tradition is still followed nowadays (I’m not a religious person). I’ve seen them in the central and southern regions, but I’m not sure about other parts of the the country. I’ve seen Advent calendars too, in churches and some houses.
Five candles… Last one lit on Christmas day, I suppose?
There is a well-known Advent rhyme in Germany with an addtitional line that makes a little fun of the Advent Wreath tradition:
Meaning:
Yes, if I recall correctly, the last one is lit on Christmas day, though some people do it on Christmas Eve.