Advent Christmas Candles

The meaning of advent - Symbolism of Candles and Sabbath Celebrations

An advent wreath is used by a large number of churches and families to aid in the celebration of Christmas festival. An advent wreath includes 5 candles that are used for the celebration of Christmas. There are 4 candles, one for each Sunday that lead to Christmas and a 5th candle for the day of Christmas. The 4 Sunday candles are by and large tapers. All these candles vary in their colors, most often there are 3 purple and 1 pink candles. At times, all the candles may be purple. The central candle is generally a nice and big white pillar candle.

Repentance is represented by the purple colored candle, while pink stands for joy. The candle in the centre is known as the Christ candle and is not lit until Christmas day. A tradition is followed while lighting the candle - the tradition is to read a few verses of scripture relating to the meaning of the candle helping to understand the significance of each candle. Often the person who lights the candle recites a small speech of belief and faith as the candle is lit and then everyone unites in prayer.

The Advent wreath, or the Advent crown, is a Christian tradition representing the passage of the 4 weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of Western church. Generally, it is a horizontal evergreen wreath with 4 candles. Starting with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle is accompanied by Bible reading and prayers. An additional candle is lit during the remaining following weeks until the last Sunday before Christmas, when all four candles are lit. Some Advent wreaths may include a fifth, "Christ" candle that can be lit for Christmas. This popular custom is observed both in the family settings as well as at public church services.

Advent Christmas Candles

The First Candle (The Candle of Prophecy or Hope)

This candle is occasionally called the candle of prophecy. The candle of prophecy is called so, as it symbolizes the promises that the prophets delivered as messages from God; promises that foretold the birth of Lord Jesus Christ. Others consider the first candle to be a symbol of hope that we have in Christ and so it is also known as the Hope candle.

The Second Candle (The Candle of the Way)

The second candle indicates that Lord Jesus Christ is the Way - the guiding light. Christians are lost in sin and Jesus Christ is the Light sent to the world to guide them and show them the way out of this darkness.

The Third Candle (The Candle of Joy)

The third candle indicates that the only eternal Joy to be found in life on the earth is through Christ. All other joy is fleeting or short-lived.

The Fourth Candle (The Candle of Peace)

The fourth candle is an indication that Jesus comes to bring Peace to both the world as well as to people's hearts. Without Christ there is in reality no peace in this world.

The Fifth Candle (The Christ Candle or Christmas Candle)

The fifth candle is a representative of Jesus Christ himself who is born to save people from their sins. It is a festivity of fulfillment of prophecy as represented in Christ's birth and hope in the final fulfillment when Christ arrives again and the Christians join him.

With Advent candles, it is not really the colors of the candles that possess unique meanings, but actually the week in which they are lit has unique significance. Advent starts the 4th Sunday prior to Christmas, culminating on Christmas Day. A candle is lit every week, with a special meaning attributed to that particular week:

• Week One: Hope (purple candle)
• Week Two: Love (purple candle)
• Week Three: Joy (purple candle)
• Week Four: Peace (pink candle)
• Christmas Day: Jesus' birth (white candle)