The Third Light of Advent - Beasts

To understand the festivals rightly, we must learn again to read the language of symbols, for in them the soul of humanity speaks.  —study from Signs & Symbols of the Christmas Festival

Fauna / Animal Kingdom

The third light of advent is the light of beasts--
living in all creatures, the greatest and the least.

The third candle flickers for the animals, and suddenly movement and warmth stir in the room—like the song of a bird on a cold morning. The creatures carry the gift of soul into the world, expressing its qualities in gentleness and courage displayed in endless variety. The realm of beasts gives form to impulse and brings sensation to life through movement. Through their restless motion, the soul of the world awakens; feeling takes form, and the unseen begins to move. The element of air breathes here—quick and lively—giving wings to imagination and strength to the will.

Just as the beasts awaken to the world of motion, our own inner life stirs—feelings rise, then fall, and take shape as living deeds. In anthroposophy, this lives as the astral body, the realm of desire, sensation, and consciousness that uniquely colors our days. The soul's discipline is to guide the will, transforming instinct into intention, and impulse into acts of love that become deeds of kindness instead of inconsiderate chaos. As this light is kindled, let us remember that animals are both our companions and our teachers, showing us what it means to live with heart, to act with courage, and to move in harmony with the world.

So, as the third light flickers, may we remember that courage, warmth, and devotion live in all who breathe—beast and human alike.

Traditions

Families can honor the kinship of all living beings by recognizing the warmth and wisdom that dwell in each animal world. In many homes, this week is marked by placing animal figures into the Advent circle: a deer, hare, or small mouse. Children delight in watching this circle unfold, day by day, until it's alive with creatures who gather to witness the birth of new light.

In older rural traditions, this week was also a time to bless the farm animals that provided warmth, milk, and wool through the winter months. Such offerings remind us that the animal kingdom carries the soul qualities of courage, gentleness, loyalty, and trust.

Snacks and Meals: milk & honey, caramels, custard, egg nog, animal cookies, cheese boards, cheese tarts, deviled eggs, henkeeper's frittata, macaroni bake, pot pie, shepherds pie, and bee's gifts stew
Craft Projects: fiber crafts, felt wool animals,  pom-pom animals, molded bees wax animals, paper bird ornaments, seed ornaments, ​nesting crafts, animal bell ornaments, animal silhouettes, and mouse king crown
Purpose: to awaken gratitude in the child for the creatures who share the Earth with us—each reflecting soul qualities in form and gesture

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This is from my book: The Book of Midwinter Light

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Read from other blog post below.

Intro - The Four Lights of Advent

The Second Light of Advent - Plant

The Fourth Light of Advent - Man