Maddie James
The four candles refer to a sketch from the BBC comedy show The Two Ronnies, written by Ronnie Barker and first broadcast in 1976. The sketch features a hardware shopkeeper who becomes increasingly frustrated with a customer because he misunderstands his requests due to homophones. The four candles also refer to the four candles lit during Advent, a time of anticipation before Christmas, which symbolize hope, peace, joy, and love.
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What You'll Learn
The Four Candles sketch from *The Two Ronnies*
The Four Candles is a sketch from the BBC comedy show The Two Ronnies, written by Ronnie Barker under the pseudonym Gerald Wiley. It was first broadcast on 18 September 1976 and has since become widely regarded as one of the most iconic sketches of the show. In a 1999 telephone vote on the Two Ronnies Night television special, it was voted 'The Nation's Favourite Two Ronnies Sketch'. It was also voted the funniest comedy moment of the 1970s in a UKTV Gold poll.
The sketch opens with a joke as a hardware shopkeeper, played by Ronnie Corbett, hands a lady a roll of toilet paper, saying "mind how you go". The lady exits, and the shopkeeper is then approached by another customer, played by Barker, who is holding a shopping list. The customer requests what sounds like "four candles". The shopkeeper brings out four candles, but the customer is frustrated as this is not what he wanted. He wanted "fork 'andles [handles] for forks". The comic effect of the sketch is largely generated through such wordplay and homophones, as the shopkeeper becomes increasingly frustrated by the customer's requests.
The customer then asks for "o's", which causes the shopkeeper particular frustration. He brings out a hoe, a hose ("'Ose! I thought you meant 'oes!") and pantyhose before realising the customer wanted the letter O for a garden gate. The customer then asks for "peas", leading the shopkeeper to believe he is asking for the letter P. Annoyed, he retrieves the box of letters again and asks for clarification. The customer then asks for "pumps", leading the shopkeeper to bring out a foot-operated pneumatic pump.
The sketch has left a lasting impact, with four candles being displayed at the memorial services of both Barker and Corbett in Westminster Abbey and St John the Evangelist church in Croydon, respectively. A Wetherspoons pub in Barker's hometown of Oxford is also named The Four Candles after the sketch.
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The four candles of the Advent wreath
The four candles are lit on each of the four Sundays preceding Christmas, with an additional candle lit each week. The first candle is usually purple, symbolising the anticipation of the coming of Christ, and can be called the Prophecy Candle. It represents God's forgiveness of man's sins. The second candle is also usually purple, a liturgical colour, symbolising the period of repentance and contemplation of sins at the beginning of Advent. The third candle, representing joy, is often a different colour, usually rose, as this is the liturgical colour for the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. The final candle, lit on the last Sunday of Advent, represents love.
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The meaning of the four Advent candles
The four Advent candles are arranged in a circular Advent wreath, symbolising the eternity of God's love and the everlasting love found in Jesus. The wreath is placed in a prominent position in the home, such as by the front door or on a windowsill, serving as a constant reminder of Advent. The circular shape of the wreath, often made from evergreen leaves, symbolises God's infinite love and the hope of eternal life brought by Jesus Christ.
The four candles of the Advent wreath represent the Christian concepts of hope, peace, joy, and love. Each candle is lit on each of the four Sundays preceding Christmas, and the lighting of the candles can be accompanied by Bible readings, devotional time, and prayers. The first candle, usually purple, symbolises God's forgiveness of mankind's sins, while the third candle, often pink, symbolises joy. The colours violet, blue, and rose are also commonly used for the Advent candles, corresponding with the colours of the liturgical vestments for the Sundays of Advent.
The lighting of the Advent candles is a tradition observed by many families to anchor Christmas to its true meaning. Each candle is lit during dinner, followed by a meaningful reading or prayer, and they serve as a reminder of the virtues that Jesus brought into the world. The four candles represent the four weeks of the Advent season, a time of anticipation leading up to the celebration of Jesus' birth, and the light of God coming into the world through Christ's birth.
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The colours of the four Advent candles
The four candles of Advent are often violet (or purple), blue, rose (or pink), and white, with each colour holding symbolic significance. The violet or purple candles symbolise prayer, contemplation, repentance, and hope, while blue represents hopefulness and reflects the theme of Advent surrounding the first and second coming of Jesus. The rose or pink candle is for rejoicing, and the white candle, often placed in the centre of the wreath, symbolises the arrival of Christmastide and the purity and love of Christ.
The four candles of the Advent wreath symbolise the Christian concepts of hope, peace, joy, and love. Each candle is lit during one week of the Advent season, with an additional candle lit each week until all four are illuminated by the last Sunday before Christmas. The lighting of the candles can be accompanied by Bible readings, devotional time, and prayers.
In some Protestant churches, especially in the United Kingdom, Advent wreaths feature four red candles, reflecting their traditional use in Christmas decorations. In other traditions, such as Orthodox Christianity, the wreath may consist of six different coloured candles—green, blue, gold, white, purple, and red—to celebrate the 40-day Advent and Christmas period.
The circular shape of the Advent wreath symbolises God's infinite love and the eternity of that love. The wreath is typically made from evergreen leaves, representing the hope of eternal life brought by Jesus Christ. The evergreen leaves also symbolise the everlasting nature of God and the light of God coming into the world through the birth of Jesus Christ.
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The four candles at Barker's memorial service
At Barker's memorial service in Westminster Abbey, the inclusion of four candles instead of the usual two was a subtle yet poignant tribute to this iconic sketch. It served as a reminder of Barker's comedic genius and the joy he brought to countless audiences. The candles symbolized the impact he had on British comedy, with his wit and creativity shining through even in the simplest of misunderstandings.
The Four Candles sketch is widely considered one of the most iconic in the history of British comedy. It was voted "The Nation's Favourite Two Ronnies Sketch" in a telephone vote, and it ranked highly on lists of the greatest comedy sketches of all time. The sketch's popularity and cultural impact extended beyond Barker's lifetime, with a Wetherspoons pub in his hometown of Oxford bearing the name "The Four Candles."
The use of four candles at Barker's memorial service was a fitting homage to his comedic legacy. It reflected the enduring appreciation for his work and the impact he had on the entertainment industry. The candles served as a reminder of the laughter and joy that Barker brought to the nation, and their presence at the service was a touching tribute to his life and career.
The Four Candles sketch, with its clever wordplay and hilarious misunderstandings, continues to be a beloved part of British comedy heritage. The inclusion of four candles at Barker's memorial service not only honored his contribution to comedy but also provided a moment of reflection on the power of laughter and the enduring nature of comedic art. The candles symbolized the light and joy that Barker brought to others, even in the face of mortality.
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Frequently asked questions
The four candles refer to a sketch from the BBC comedy show "The Two Ronnies", written by Ronnie Barker. The sketch features a hardware shopkeeper who becomes increasingly frustrated with a customer because he misunderstands what the customer is requesting.
The sketch opens with the shopkeeper handing a lady a roll of toilet paper. After the lady exits, the shopkeeper is approached by another customer who requests what sounds like "four candles". The shopkeeper brings out four candles, but the customer is asking for "fork 'andles [handles] for forks". The comedy arises from the customer's requests being misunderstood by the shopkeeper due to the homophones used.
The four candles at Ronnie Barker's memorial service in Westminster Abbey are a reference to the famous sketch.
