Brooke Martin
The four candles of the Advent wreath, a Christian tradition, represent the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. Each candle is lit on each Sunday of Advent, with the first candle known as the Messiah or Prophecy candle, representing hope. The second candle is the Bethlehem candle, representing peace. The third candle, often pink or rose-coloured, is the Shepherd's candle, representing joy. The fourth and final candle is the Angel's candle, representing love.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 4 |
| Theme of first candle | Hope |
| Colour of first candle | Purple |
| Name of first candle | Prophecy Candle, Messiah Candle, Prophet's Candle |
| Theme of second candle | Peace |
| Colour of second candle | Purple |
| Name of second candle | Bethlehem Candle |
| Theme of third candle | Joy |
| Colour of third candle | Pink, rose-coloured, red |
| Name of third candle | Shepherd's Candle |
| Theme of fourth candle | Love |
| Colour of fourth candle | Purple |
| Name of fourth candle | Angel's Candle |
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What You'll Learn
The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent
The four candles of Advent represent the four Sundays and weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. The circular wreath on which they are arranged symbolises the eternity and everlasting nature of God's love, with no beginning or end. The four candles specifically symbolise the Christian concepts of hope, peace, joy, and love, with one candle lit on each of the four Sundays of Advent.
The first candle, usually purple, is known as the "Prophecy Candle" or "Prophet's Candle", representing the Jewish prophets who predicted the coming of Jesus and the hope of all God's people. The second candle, also usually purple, is the "Bethlehem Candle", reminding us of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and representing the peace that Jesus brought to the world. The third candle, often pink or rose-coloured, is the "Shepherd's Candle", representing the joy of the shepherds on the first Christmas Eve. The fourth candle, usually purple, is the "Angel's Candle", representing the love of God and recalling the angels' message of "peace on Earth, good will toward men".
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 to represent the birth of Jesus.
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Each candle symbolises a theme: hope, peace, joy, and love
The four candles represent the four Sundays of Advent, with each candle symbolising a theme: hope, peace, joy, and love. The first candle, known as the Prophecy Candle, represents hope and the anticipation of Christ's coming. It is purple, symbolising royalty and penance, and recalls the prophecies of the Messiah, specifically Isaiah's foretelling of the birth of Christ.
The second candle, the Bethlehem Candle, symbolises peace and preparation. It is also purple and reflects Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and the peace that Christ's birth brings. The third candle, the pink Shepherd's Candle, represents the joy felt at the birth of Christ and the joy in anticipating His return.
The fourth candle, the Angel's Candle, symbolises God's love and the message of His love announced by the angels at Christ's birth. This candle is purple, representing the awaiting of the new Kingdom of God on earth.
The Advent wreath and candles are rich in symbolism. The wreath's circle, with no beginning or end, symbolises God's eternity and the immortality of the soul. The evergreens that make up the wreath represent continuous life, with laurel signifying victory over persecution and suffering. The lighting of the candles and prayers recited during Advent are part of the spiritual preparation for Christmas, reflecting on the true meaning of the holiday.
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The first candle is purple and symbolises hope
The Advent wreath is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. The four candles on the Advent wreath represent the light of Christ entering the world. One candle is lit each Sunday, marking the progression of the four weeks of Advent.
The first candle is purple and is known as "'the Prophet's Candle'" or the "Messiah Candle". It symbolises hope and the anticipation of Christ's coming, recalling the prophecies about the Messiah and the hope He brings to the world. The colour purple is common for the first candle, although some traditions use red, blue, or white candles.
The second candle is also purple and is known as the "Bethlehem Candle". It symbolises peace and preparation, reflecting Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and the peace that God gives us in His Son, Jesus.
The third candle is pink, rose-coloured, or red and is known as the "Shepherd's Candle". It represents joy felt at the birth of Christ, as well as the joy we have in anticipation of His return. This candle marks a shift in the tone of Advent from penitential reflection to joyful anticipation, inviting believers to rejoice as Christmas draws nearer.
The fourth candle is usually purple and is known as the "Angel's Candle". It symbolises love and the message of God's love that the angels announced at Christ's birth. This candle has a powerful meaning that goes beyond sentimentality, reminding us of God's boundless and sacrificial love for humanity and the call for believers to love one another.
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The second candle is purple and symbolises peace
The Advent wreath is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. The four candles on the Advent wreath represent the light of Christ entering the world. One candle is lit each Sunday, marking the progression of the four weeks of Advent.
The second candle is purple and is known as the Bethlehem Candle. It symbolises peace and preparation, reflecting Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and the peace that God gives us in His Son, Jesus. The lighting of the candle during the second week of Advent is accompanied by prayers and Bible readings that emphasise peace, such as "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men" (Luke 2:14).
The colour purple is significant in Catholic and Protestant churches, as it is the historic liturgical colour for three of the four Sundays of Advent. Violet or purple is also the traditional colour of penance, reflecting the theme of spiritual reflection during Advent.
The Advent wreath and candles provide beautiful symbolism for each week of Advent as Christians wait for Christmas to arrive. The word "Advent" comes from the Latin "adventus," meaning "coming," which translates to the Greek word "parousia." While Advent is a time of anticipation for the birth of Christ, it also anticipates his second coming and final return.
The four candles of the Advent wreath specifically symbolize the Christian concepts of hope, peace, joy, and love, with each candle marking a week of reflection as believers journey toward the nativity of the Lord.
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The third candle is pink and symbolises joy
The Advent wreath is a Christian tradition that involves lighting candles to symbolise the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. The third candle, which is usually pink, rose-coloured, or red, symbolises joy and is often called the Shepherd's Candle. It represents the joy felt at the birth of Jesus Christ, as well as the joy in anticipation of his return.
The third candle is typically lit on the third Sunday of Advent, marking a shift in tone from penitential reflection to joyful anticipation as Christmas draws nearer. This candle is often a different colour from the other three, reflecting its unique significance. The colour pink is associated with rejoicing and celebration, further emphasising the theme of joy.
The lighting of the third candle is often accompanied by Bible readings, devotional time, and prayers. Families may gather during dinner to light the candle, followed by meaningful discussions and reflections on the week's theme. The third week of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday, is a time to pause and rejoice, reflecting on the joy that the birth of Jesus brings into the world.
The Advent wreath itself is usually made of evergreen branches, symbolising everlasting life found in Christ and the hope of eternal life through him. The circular shape of the wreath represents God's infinite love, the eternity of God, and the continuous nature of time.
The four candles of the Advent wreath collectively symbolise the Christian concepts of hope, peace, joy, and love. Each candle is lit on subsequent Sundays throughout the Advent season, marking the progression of the four weeks and providing a meaningful guide as believers prepare their hearts for the celebration of Christ's birth.
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Frequently asked questions
The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, with one candle being lit each Sunday.
The first candle is purple and represents hope. The second candle is also purple and represents peace. The third candle is pink and represents joy. The fourth candle is purple and represents love.
The first candle is called the Prophecy or Messiah Candle. The second is the Bethlehem Candle. The third is the Shepherd's Candle. The fourth is the Angel's Candle.
The first, second and fourth candles are usually purple, while the third candle is pink. However, the colours can vary. Some traditions have all red, blue or white candles.
The circular wreath is usually made from evergreen branches, symbolising the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul and the everlasting life found in Christ. The four candles represent the light of Christ entering the world.
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