Advent Series 102: Meaning of

There are many symbols of Christmas but the iconic symbol of Advent is a wreath.  This is our wreath sans a new three wick white candle for the middle.  I am still searching for a reasonably priced one to replace the used one.  I started using a three wick for the middle because I like the way it looks and we talk to the kids about how God sent His Son, part of Himself to earth to save us and how the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary so that she could have God's Son.  This is a great way to incorporate teaching the Trinity into Christmas, if only the retailers near me would cooperate. (I refuse to pay $30 for a candle simply on principle.)

Our Advent Wreath surrounded by a virtually indestructible
Nativity set made by my uncle.  Thanks Uncle Gary!
Except for an occasional disappearance of the
kidney-bean-like Jesus,
 we have had hours of fun playing with this one.
Going on a Jesus-hunt is actually pretty fun too!

But I digress, back on point.  The Advent wreath actually comes from a German non-christian tradition of lighting candles surrounded by evergreens as a way to instill the hope of spring on cold winter nights.  This tradition was borrowed by Christians during the Middle Ages and, at first, was no more than a countdown.

However, as wreaths have been used both in homes and in churches the candles and the wreath itself have gradually acquired various meanings.  If you have heard meanings other than the ones listed below, they are not wrong just different.  The meanings are so relatively "new" in Church history that they haven't been standardized.  Praise God for that!!!!   There is much more scope and freedom in choosing what is meaningful for your family. 

Meaning of the Wreath

The evergreens symbolize everlasting life and Christian growth.  The circle represents God's unending love and victory.  The candles all together represent Christ as the Light of the World.  Their color, traditionally blue or purple except for the center candle which is always white, signify the royalty of Jesus our King.  The white Christ Candle, the big one in the middle, symbolizes His purity. Some also suggest that the 4 small candles represent the 4,000 years of waiting between Adam and the birth of Christ or the 400 years between the last Old Testament prophet and the New Testament.  Each candle also has it's own meaning.  (If you aren't particularly fond of the meanings below look on line and choose what works for you and your family.)

1st Candle - Week 1 

Color: Blue or Purple*

This is lit the first Sunday in Advent (or whenever you do your first Advent night - more on that in Advent Series 103:  How to and Advent Series 201:  Week 1).  It is called the Prophecy Candle or the Hope Candle.  It opens the period of waiting expectantly for Christmas Morning and Christ's Second Coming.  It pierces the darkness of the world.

2nd Candle - Week 2

Color:  Blue or Purple*

This is lit the second Sunday in Advent.  It is called the Bethlehem Candle or the Love Candle.  It symbolizes the preparations made to receive Christ and cradle Him in our hearts. 

3rd Candle - Week 3

Color:  Pink*

This is lit the third Sunday in Advent.  It is called the Shepherd's Candle or the Joy Candle.  Historically Advent was a somber season of fasting and preparation however, the third Sunday was always the exception.  It was a day of feasting and rejoicing.  (In some Catholic traditions it is called the Mary Candle and her Magnificat is read during service.)  It marks the point in the wreath where more candles are lit than not.  Light overcomes the darkness.  

4th Candle - Week 4

Color:  Blue or Purple*

This is lit the forth Sunday in Advent.  It is called the Angel's Candle or the Peace Candle.  It represents the peace on earth the angels sang and Christ brought with His birth.  We will see the culmination of this Peace with His Second Coming.

5th Candle - Christmas Day

Color:  White

This is placed in the center of the wreath and is lit on Christmas Morning.  It is the Christ Candle and symbolizes the completion of God's plan of redemption.  In some traditions all the candles on the wreath are changed to white on Christmas Morning with the lighting of the Christ candle. 

*A short disclaimer on color:  I don't use the traditional colors for the candles in my Advent wreath because I am a girl and I like things to be pretty and blue and purple don't match my other Christmas decorations.  I use red because they match and I like the way it looks.  Freedom in Christ means that superficial things like the color of a candle can be discarded if they have no particular purpose.  (And candle color for an Advent wreath is mentioned no where in the Bible.)  If you like those colors and their meaning by all means use them to your hearts content.  But remember, there is no condemnation in Christ.  Just one more reason why I love my God!!!!