Jessie Taylor
Advent candles are used to count down the days to Christmas. They are marked with the days of December leading up to Christmas Eve. The tradition of the Advent wreath and its candles is centuries old and is observed by many Christian denominations. The circular wreath, made of evergreen branches, symbolises God's infinite love, while the candles represent Jesus coming as a light in the darkness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Germany |
| Meaning of "Advent" | "Coming" or "Arrival" |
| Number of candles | Four, sometimes five |
| Candle colour | Purple, pink, red, blue, white |
| Candle lighting | One candle is lit each Sunday until all four candles are lit |
| Candle lighting time | Evening meal each day |
| Candle lighting location | Churches, homes |
| Candle lighting occasion | Christmas |
| Wreath shape | Circular |
| Wreath materials | Evergreen branches, pine, fir |
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What You'll Learn
- Advent candles are used to count down the days until Christmas
- They represent the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World
- The candles are often purple, symbolising penance, preparation, and royalty
- They are placed on an evergreen wreath, symbolising everlasting life
- The tradition originated in Germany and spread to other Christian denominations
Advent candles are used to count down the days until Christmas
The first candle, called the Prophecy Candle, represents hope and the anticipation of Christ's coming. It symbolises the hope that the Messiah brings to the world. The second candle, 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 is pink and symbolises rejoicing. It represents the joy that the shepherds felt at the birth of Jesus. The fourth candle marks the final week of Advent, rejoicing in the endless love that God has for us, which is made apparent in the birth of his Son.
The colours of the candles vary, but it is common for the first, second, and fourth candles to be purple, while the third is pink or red. In some cases, all the candles are red, blue, or white. The colour purple means royalty, repentance, and fasting, while pink or red represents joy. The white candle, known as "Christ's Candle", symbolises light and purity and is lit on Christmas Day.
Advent candles are traditionally white, but other Christmas-themed colours have become popular. The custom of having an Advent candle seems to have started in Germany, where children traditionally insert a small candle into a decorated orange. The Advent wreath, made of evergreen branches, is also symbolic and represents everlasting life and unending love.
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They represent the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World
Advent candles are used to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. The lighting of the candles is a prominent feature of Advent, with candles being lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. The candles represent the increasing anticipation and preparation for the arrival of Jesus. The light from the candles symbolises the light of Christ coming into the world.
Advent wreaths, which are often made from evergreens, are full of symbolism tied to the Christmas season. The wreath itself signifies continuous life, while the circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolises the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and everlasting life in Christ. The evergreens that make up the wreath also have their own meanings: laurel symbolises victory over persecution and suffering, while pine cones represent life and resurrection.
The four Advent candles are traditionally purple, pink and white, though other colour combinations are sometimes used. Three of the four candles are purple, representing hope, peace and faith. The first candle, also known as the "Prophecy Candle" or "Prophet's Candle", symbolises 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 joy and rejoicing, marking the near arrival of Jesus on Christmas Day. The fourth candle is white and represents love.
The custom of having an Advent candle seems to have originated in Germany, where children traditionally insert a small candle into a decorated orange. The Advent wreath was also first created in Germany in 1839 by a Lutheran minister named Johann Hinrich Wichern. He placed 20 small red candles and four large white candles inside a wheel, which children lit each day to count down to Christmas.
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The candles are often purple, symbolising penance, preparation, and royalty
Advent candles are used to count down the days until Christmas. The candles are marked with the days of December leading up to Christmas Eve, with a section of the candle burnt down a little more each day. Typically, there are four Advent candles, each lit on one of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. The lighting of the candles is an important tradition, symbolising the increasing anticipation and
The third candle is usually pink, red, or rose-coloured, and the fourth candle is sometimes pink too. The pink candle represents joy and marks a shift in the tone of Advent from reflection to joyful anticipation, inviting believers to rejoice as Christmas nears. The fourth candle is also referred to as the "Shepherd's Candle", representing the joy the shepherds felt when they found out about the coming of the Messiah.
The colour purple is not the only colour used for Advent candles. Some traditions use all red or all white candles. Some even substitute blue for purple. The white candle, known as "Christ's Candle", symbolises light and purity and is lit on Christmas Day. Red Advent candles have German roots and symbolise communion and religious unity. Blue Advent candles have the same meaning as purple candles and are sometimes used to differentiate between Advent and Lent.
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They are placed on an evergreen wreath, symbolising everlasting life
Advent candles are placed on an evergreen wreath, which is a circle of greenery that holds religious significance. The wreath is made from various kinds of evergreens, such as laurel and pine cones, which are symbols of continuous life, hope, and renewal. The circle of the wreath, with no beginning or end, symbolises the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and everlasting life in Christ.
The evergreen wreath is adorned with four candles, each representing a theme for each week of Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love. Three of the candles are purple, and the fourth is pink, red, or a pinkish hue. The purple candles symbolise royalty, repentance, and fasting, while the pink candle represents the shift from penitential reflection to joyful anticipation as Christmas draws near. The lighting of the candles symbolises the increasing anticipation and preparation for the arrival of Jesus, with the light from the candles representing the light of Christ coming into the world.
The tradition of the Advent wreath and candles is observed by many Christian families and individuals, not just in churches. Each Sunday leading up to Christmas, a new candle is lit, serving as a reminder of the hope and joy to come during the holiday season. The wreath, with its circular shape, also symbolises the unending love of Christ and the promise of eternal life through salvation.
The Advent wreath is more than just a Christmas decoration. It is a symbolic tradition that helps prepare hearts and minds for the celebration of the Lord's birth, reflecting on the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the joy of the shepherds at the birth of Jesus. The evergreen wreath, with its candles, creates a meaningful focal point for the true meaning of Christmas.
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The tradition originated in Germany and spread to other Christian denominations
The tradition of Advent candles is rooted in the Christian faith and is observed during the season of Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends at sunset on Christmas Eve. The word "Advent" is derived from the Latin "adventus," meaning "arrival" or "coming," signifying the anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ, the prophesied Messiah.
The custom of lighting Advent candles originated in Germany in 1839, when a Lutheran minister named Johann Hinrich Wichern created a wreath from a cart wheel. This original Advent wreath featured 20 small red candles placed on the outer ring and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays, while the white candles were lit on Sundays, serving as a countdown to Christmas for children.
Over time, the Advent wreath evolved, and evergreen branches replaced the cart wheel. The circular shape of the wreath, with no beginning or end, symbolizes everlasting life, the immortality of the soul, and God's eternal love. The evergreen branches, which remain vibrant even in winter, represent the everlasting life found in Christ, hope, and renewal.
From Germany, the tradition of Advent candles spread to other Christian denominations. Today, Advent wreaths and candles are used by Christians around the world as a way to prepare their hearts and minds for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The lighting of the candles represents the anticipation and preparation for Christ's coming, with each candle symbolizing a specific theme: hope, faith, joy, and peace.
The first candle, often purple, is called the Prophecy Candle or "Prophet's Candle," symbolizing hope and anticipation. The second purple candle, known as the "Bethlehem Candle," represents faith, peace, and preparation, recalling Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. The third candle is typically pink or rose-colored, symbolizing the joy of the shepherds upon hearing of the Messiah's coming. This shift in colour marks a change in tone from reflection to joyful anticipation as Christmas approaches. During the final week of Advent, believers rejoice in God's endless love and reflect on the good news of Christ's birth.
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Frequently asked questions
Advent candles are used to count down the days of Advent, which is a period of four weeks before Christmas. They are usually burned at the family evening meal each day.
The colours of the candles vary, but the first, second and fourth candles are usually purple, and the third is pink. Purple is a liturgical colour that symbolises penance, preparation and royalty, while pink is a sign of joy.
The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and they also symbolise Jesus coming as a light in the darkness. The light from the candles represents the light of Christ coming into the world.
Advent wreaths are evergreen wreaths with four candles, sometimes with a fifth white candle in the centre. They are a Christian tradition that symbolises the passage of the four weeks of Advent.
The custom of having an Advent candle seems to have started in Germany, where children traditionally insert a small candle into a decorated orange. The modern Advent wreath, with its four candles, originated from a German pastor in 1839.
