Advent candles

The Christmas Tradition of Lighting Advent Candles

The lighting of advent candles is a time honored Catholic tradition that is intended to remind us of Christ’s message of hope, love, joy and peace. Advents are lit four weeks before Christmas starting on the Sunday that is nearest to St. Andrews Day on November 30th.

The term advent is derived from the Latin word “adventus” meaning to come. The candle light of advents has lit up churches and homes since the sixth century. The circular Advent wreath represents the blessed Trinity with no beginning or end and the candle light symbolizes Jesus as the light of the world.

The most basic Advent wreath is composed of four advent candles. Three of these candles are purple, and one is pink. These candles are bedded in a circle of evergreen boughs. Some traditions place a fifth white advent candle in the middle of the boughs. This white advent candle is sometimes called the Christ candle.

The three purple advents are lit one at a time every Sunday until the last Sunday before Christmas when the pink advent candle is lit. The fifth white advent candle is often lit on Christmas day.

There are various meanings attributed to the other four advent candles. The advent candle lit on the first Sunday is thought to represent Faith or the Patriarchs. The second advent candle lit on the second Sunday is thought to represent the virtue of Joy or the Prophets. The third candle is thought to represent Love and John The Baptist and the fourth is thought to represent Hope and the Virgin Mary.

It is quite easy to create your own advent wreathe at home using evergreen boughs as the candle holders for votive candles or advent candles that are purchased at your local religious supplies store.