
The Joy Candle, also known as the Shepherd's Candle, is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, and is typically pink or rose-coloured. It symbolises the joy that comes through Jesus' arrival, and the salvation he has gifted. The colour pink is said to represent joy and triumph, and the candle is lit in anticipation of Christmas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | The Joy Candle, The Candle of Joy, The Shepherd's Candle |
| Week | Third Week of Advent |
| Day | Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, Rejoice Sunday |
| Candle Color | Pink, Rose |
| Vestment Color | Rose |
| Scripture | Philippians 4:4-5, 4:4-7 |
| Symbolism | Joy, Anticipation, Salvation, Birth of Jesus, Resurrection |
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What You'll Learn

The Joy Candle is pink or rose-coloured
The Joy Candle, also known as the Shepherd's Candle, is pink or rose-coloured. It is the third candle in the Advent wreath, which is a symbol of expectation for the coming of Christ. The wreath's circular shape recalls all the years the people waited for the Messiah.
The colour pink or rose represents joy or triumph. The candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which is also known as Gaudete Sunday, derived from the Latin word for "rejoice". The candle symbolises the transition in the season of Advent from repentance to a celebration.
The lighting of the pink candle on Gaudete Sunday is accompanied by scripture readings that emphasise joy and rejoicing, such as Philippians 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
The Joy Candle is also a reminder that, even in the midst of longing, penitence, and fasting, the church never ceases to rejoice. The colour pink is said to have its roots in the tradition of priests wearing pink vestments, as well as the custom of painting the nursery pink in eager anticipation of a child's arrival.
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It is also known as the Shepherd's Candle
The Joy Candle, also known as the Shepherd's Candle, is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which is also known as "'Gaudete' or 'Rejoice' Sunday. The candle is coloured pink or rose, symbolising joy and the nearness of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The lighting of the candle is accompanied by scripture readings that emphasise joy and rejoicing, such as Philippians 4:4-5, which states: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near". The colour pink or rose was chosen as a reminder that even in the midst of longing, penitence, and fasting, the church never ceases to rejoice.
The Joy Candle is the third of the four Advent candles, the other three being purple or violet, and the fifth central candle being white. The circular garland of evergreen branches, known as the Advent wreath, symbolises eternity and unending love. Each candle is lit on each Sunday of Advent, starting on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The colours purple, pink, and white represent the spiritual preparation that believers undergo to ready their hearts and minds for the birth or second coming of Jesus Christ.
The shepherds featured in the story of the birth of Jesus, tending their sheep in the fields when they received the good news of Christ's birth from an angel. The Joy Candle, or the Shepherd's Candle, reflects the joy that the shepherds experienced when they heard this news.
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It symbolises the joy of Christ's birth
The Joy Candle, also known as the Shepherd's Candle, is a pink or rose-coloured candle that symbolises the joy of Christ's birth. It is the third candle of Advent, which is a time of spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ. The colour pink is said to represent joy and triumph, marking a transition from repentance to celebration.
The lighting of the Joy Candle falls on the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday. The term "Gaudete" comes from the Latin word for "rejoice", signifying a sense of joy and anticipation as Christmas approaches. The scripture readings for this day include passages that emphasise joy and rejoicing, such as Philippians 4:4-5, which says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."
The colour pink is also thought to symbolise the joy that the shepherds experienced when they received the good news about Christ's birth. The shepherds were tending their sheep when an angel of the Lord appeared to them, filling them with great fear. This event changed the shepherds, and they returned to share the news about the birth of Jesus with others.
The Joy Candle is a time to reflect on the joy of Christ's birth and the salvation he has brought. It is a reminder that even in the midst of longing, penitence, and fasting, there is always joy to be found in the Lord. The lighting of this candle offers a bright light during a dark time, bringing hope and gladness to the Advent season.
The Advent wreath, adorned with five candles, symbolises the different spiritual aspects of preparation for the coming of Christ. The circular shape of the wreath represents eternity and unending love, with each candle lit as a part of the Advent services. The colour pink, specifically, serves as a reminder that joy can be found even during the solemnity of Advent, as we anticipate the joyous feast of Christmas.
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It is lit on the third Sunday of Advent
The Joy Candle, also known as the Shepherd's Candle, is lit on the third Sunday of Advent. This candle is typically pink or rose-coloured, though some churches use a violet or purple candle. The colour pink is said to represent joy and the birth of Jesus Christ. The candle symbolises the great joy that is to come, as well as the joy of Christ's arrival and the salvation he brings.
The lighting of the Joy Candle is a time of celebration and gladness, marking the halfway point in the Advent journey. It is a time of spiritual preparation and reflection, where Christians focus on the colours of Advent and the birth of Jesus. The candle symbolises the transition in the season of Advent, from repentance to a celebration of Christ's birth.
The Joy Candle is one of four Advent candles, with the other three being purple or violet. These colours symbolise the prayer and penance of the season, as well as the royalty and sovereignty of Christ. The violet candles are said to represent spiritual preparation and discipline, while the pink candle represents the joy and triumph of the season.
The lighting of the Joy Candle is often accompanied by scripture readings that emphasise joy and rejoicing, such as Philippians 4:4-5, which says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." This verse encapsulates the joy and faith that marks the Advent season, as Christians prepare for the coming of Christ.
The colour pink is chosen intentionally to bring a sense of joy to the Advent season. It is a reminder that even in the midst of longing, penitence, and fasting, there is still joy to be found. The lighting of the pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent is a time to focus on the joy that comes with the birth of Jesus and the salvation he brings.
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It is a time of reflection, fasting and rejoicing
The Advent wreath is a symbol of expectation for the coming of Christ. The wreath’s circular shape recalls all the years the people waited for the Messiah. During each week of Advent, one candle on the wreath is lit until, by the end of Advent, all four or five candles are lit.
The third candle, known as the candle of joy, is usually pink or rose-coloured. This is different from the other candles, which are typically purple or violet. The colour pink represents joy and triumph, and the candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, known as ""Gaudete or "Rejoice" Sunday. The term "Gaudete" comes from the Latin word for "rejoice", signifying a sense of joy and anticipation as Christmas approaches.
The lighting of the pink candle is a reminder that even in the midst of longing, penitence, and fasting, there is always joy. The scripture readings for the pink candle include passages that emphasise joy and rejoicing, such as Philippians 4:4-5: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ... The Lord is near."
The Joy Candle is a time of reflection, fasting, and rejoicing. It is a time to focus on the joy that comes through Jesus' arrival and the salvation he has gifted us. It is also a time to celebrate with gladness the great promise of Advent and to look forward to the birth and resurrection of Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
The joy candle is pink, or more accurately, rose.
The color pink represents joy and triumph. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, known as "'Gaudete' Sunday" or "Rejoice Sunday", to mark a transition in the season of Advent away from repentance and towards a celebration.
The joy candle, also known as the Shepherd's candle, is the third candle of Advent. It reflects the joy that comes through Jesus' arrival and the salvation he has gifted us.
The joy candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which is also known as "Gaudete Sunday" or "Rejoice Sunday".











































