Brooke Martin
The Advent wreath is a Christian tradition that involves lighting candles to commemorate the coming of Jesus Christ. The circular wreath, which has no beginning or end, is adorned with candles that are lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. The number of candles varies across different traditions, with some placing a single candle for each day of December, while others opt for four or five candles. The colours of the candles also hold significance, with purple, pink, red, blue, and white candles representing various themes and beliefs central to the Christian faith.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 4, with some traditions using 5 or 6 |
| Candle colour | Purple, pink, violet, rose, red, blue, gold, white, green |
| Candle arrangement | Circular wreath |
| Candle lighting | One candle lit on each of the four Sundays of Advent, with some traditions lighting one candle on each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas |
| Symbolism | Hope, peace, joy, love, light, salvation, penance, spiritual reflection, sacrifice, prayer, celebration |
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What You'll Learn
The circular shape of the Advent wreath symbolises God's infinite love
The Advent wreath is a centuries-old Christian tradition. The circular shape of the Advent wreath symbolises God's infinite love. The circle, which has no beginning or end, symbolises the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life we find in Christ. The wreath itself, made of various kinds of evergreens, signifies continuous life. The evergreen leaves, such as pine or fir, maintain their green colour beyond the season in which they are collected. This reflects the everlasting nature of God and his infinite love.
The Advent wreath is not exclusive to churches; many families and individuals have an Advent wreath at home and observe the tradition of lighting the candles for each Sunday. The four candles of the Advent wreath specifically symbolise the Christian concepts of hope, peace, joy and love. Each candle represents a theme for each week of Advent. The first candle, called the Prophecy Candle, symbolises hope and the anticipation of Christ's coming. The second candle, called the Bethlehem Candle, symbolises peace and preparation, reflecting Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and the peace that Christ's birth brings. The third candle represents joy, marking a shift in the tone of Advent from penitential reflection to joyful anticipation as Christmas draws nearer. The fourth candle, called the Angel's Candle, is lit on the Sunday before Christmas, leading us to eagerly await the new Kingdom of God on earth.
The colours of the candles vary, but it is common for the first, second, and fourth candles to be purple, while the third is rose-coloured, red, or pink. In some cases, all the candles are red, blue, or white. A fifth white candle is sometimes placed in the middle of the wreath and lit on Christmas Day. This candle represents Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
The concept of the Advent wreath originated among German Lutherans in the 16th century, although it was not until the 19th century that the modern Advent wreath took shape. Historians suggest that pre-Christian Germanic peoples would light candles around wreaths in the dark winter months in anticipation of spring. This tradition likely evolved into the Advent wreath during the Middle Ages, transforming a pagan tradition into a Christian one.
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The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent
The Advent wreath is a centuries-old Christian tradition. The circular wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolises the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life we find in Christ. The wreath is made of evergreen leaves, such as pine or fir, which maintain their green colour beyond the season in which they are collected. This symbolises continuous life.
The four candles on the Advent wreath represent the four weeks of Advent. They also symbolise the light of Christ entering the world. One candle is lit each Sunday, marking the progression of the four weeks of Advent. The candles are often purple, but can also be pink, red, blue, or white. The colours of the candles are significant, with purple traditionally being the most important colour as it is the colour of liturgical garments used for vestments and is associated with prayer, contemplation, repentance, and hope.
Each candle also represents a theme for each week of Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love. The first candle, called the Prophecy Candle, represents hope and the anticipation of Christ's coming. The second candle, the Bethlehem Candle, symbolises peace and preparation, reflecting Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. The third candle is pink and symbolises rejoicing and the near arrival of Jesus on Christmas Day. The fourth candle, called the Angel's Candle, is lit the Sunday before Christmas and leads us to eagerly await the new Kingdom of God on earth.
The Advent wreath is placed in a prominent position in the home or church, serving as a reminder of the arrival of Christ and the light that he brought into the world.
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The colours of the candles vary, but three are typically purple
The Advent wreath is a centuries-old Christian tradition. It is traditionally made of evergreen leaves, such as pine or fir, and holds four candles, with each candle representing the four weeks of Advent. The circular shape of the wreath symbolises God's infinite love and the immortality of the soul. The wreath is placed in various locations, from altars and tables in churches to entry or dining tables in homes.
The fourth candle, called the "Angel's Candle", is purple and lit on the Sunday before Christmas, representing the eager wait for the new Kingdom of God on earth. In some traditions, a fifth white candle, known as the "Christ candle", is placed in the centre of the wreath and lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. This candle symbolises the arrival of Christmastide.
The lighting of the Advent candles is a prominent feature of each week's commemorative celebration. Some traditions involve lighting a single candle each day leading up to Christmas, while others light one candle each Sunday, with Bible readings, devotional time, and prayers. The Advent wreath and its candles are rich in symbolism, reminding Christians of the hope, peace, joy, and love associated with the birth of Jesus.
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The candles are placed within or near the wreath
The Advent wreath is a centuries-old Christian tradition. The circular wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolises the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life we find in Christ. The wreath is traditionally made of evergreen leaves, such as pine or fir, which maintain their green colour beyond the season in which they are collected. The circular shape of the Advent wreath also symbolises God's infinite love for us – it is never-ending, just like the true Light of the World, Jesus, who leads us into eternal life with Him.
In addition to the four candles, some Advent wreaths include a fifth, white candle in the centre, known as the "Christ candle", which symbolises the arrival of Christmastide. This candle is first lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and it may be lit throughout the rest of the Christmas season. The colour white is used because it is the traditional festal colour in the Western Church.
The number of candles and their colours can vary depending on the Christian denomination and local traditions. For example, Orthodox Christians use an Advent wreath with coloured candles in green, blue, gold, white, purple, and red. In the United Kingdom, it is common for Advent wreaths in Protestant churches to have four red candles.
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The first candle symbolises hope
The Advent wreath is a Christian tradition that involves lighting candles to mark the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. The first candle, typically purple, symbolises hope and the anticipation of Christ's coming. This candle is often called the Prophecy Candle, recalling the prophecies about the Messiah and the hope he brings to the world.
The colour purple is significant during Advent as it is the traditional colour of penitential seasons, inviting believers to a time of prayer, penance, sacrifice, and spiritual reflection. Purple is also the colour of the liturgical garments worn by priests, which is associated with prayer, contemplation, repentance, and hope.
The lighting of the first candle symbolises the growing light as Christmas approaches, representing the light of Christ entering the world. The circular shape of the Advent wreath, with no beginning or end, symbolises God's infinite and everlasting love, as well as the immortality of the soul and the everlasting life we find in Christ.
The Advent wreath is typically made of evergreen leaves, such as pine or fir, which maintain their green colour beyond the season in which they are collected. This symbolises continuous life, reminding us of God's promise of new life and eternal salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The first candle, along with the other three candles, serves as a powerful reminder of the profound themes of the Advent season, filling believers with hope as they prepare their hearts for the celebration of the Lord's birth.
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Frequently asked questions
There are four candles on an Advent wreath, which are lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.
The four candles represent the light of Christ entering the world. Each candle also represents a theme for each week of Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love.
The colours of the candles vary. Three candles are usually purple, and one is pink or rose-coloured. In some cases, all the candles are red, blue, or white.
