What do the four candles of the Advent wreath represent?
The candles also have their own special significance. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and one candle is lit each Sunday. Three of the candles are purple because the color violet is a liturgical color that signifies a time of prayer, penance, and sacrifice.
What are the 4 colors of the Advent candles in order?
The first candle of the Advent wreath, the prophecy candle, or candle of hope, is purple. The second is called the Bethlehem candle, or the candle of preparation, and it is also purple. Likewise, the fourth Advent candle color is purple. It's called the angel candle, or the candle of love.
What are the 4 themes of Advent?
The four traditional advent themes for the four advent Sundays are:God's people -The Candle of Hope. Hope is like a light shining in a dark place. ... The old testament prophets - The Candle of Peace. ... John the Baptist - The Candle of Love. ... Mary the mother of Jesus - The Candle of Joy.
What do the 3 purple candles in Advent mean?
First Advent Candle - Hope The first candle symbolizes a shining light in anticipation of the coming of Christ. It is usually a purple candle and can be called the Prophecy Candle. It represents God's forgiveness of man's sins. Purple is traditionally the most important of the Advent candle colors.
What does each week of Advent represent?
A green candle, symbolizing faith, is lit on the first Sunday that begins on November 15; on the second Sunday, a blue candle, symbolizing hope, is lit; on the third Sunday, a gold candle, symbolizing love; on the fourth Sunday, a white candle, symbolizing peace; on the fifth Sunday, a purple candle, symbolizing ...
What is the meaning of 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th Sunday of Advent?
The first represents Isaiah and other prophets in the Bible that predicted the coming of Jesus. The second represents the Bible. The third represents Mary, the mother of Jesus. The fourth represents John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, who told the people in Israel to get ready for Jesus' teaching.
What are the 3 meanings of Advent?
a coming into place, view, or being; arrival: the advent of the holiday season.
What are the 4 Sundays in Advent?
December 1 - First Sunday of Advent.December 8 - Second Sunday of Advent.December 15 - Third Sunday of Advent.December 22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent.
What are the 4 weeks of Advent?
Other variations of the themes celebrated on each of the four Sundays include: The Prophets' Candle, symbolizing hope; the Bethlehem Candle, symbolizing faith; the Shepherds' Candle, symbolizing joy; the Angel's Candle, symbolizing peace. Hope–Peace–Joy–Love. Faithfulness–Hope–Joy–Love.
What do the 4 Sundays of Advent represent?
The four Sundays preceding Christmas, which is when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, are recognized for four virtues. The candles on the Advent wreath symbolize hope, love, joy and peace. The candles are lit in that order, beginning today.
What are the colors for Advent?
Advent and Lent are periods of preparation and repentance and are represented by the colour purple.
What Do Each of the Candles of the Advent Wreath Represent?
Download the FREE Advent Wreath Prayer Cards and Get Daily Advent Reflections!
How many candles are in an Advent wreath?
Traditionally, an Advent wreath is composed of a wreath of greenery, 4 candles (3 violet and one rose) though sometimes people add a fifth candle for Christmas Eve/Day.
What is the candle on the 1st Sunday of Advent?
The 1st Sunday of Advent - “The Prophet’s Candle”. This candle symbolizes hope with the reminder that Jesus is coming and in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ.
What does the 4th Sunday of Advent symbolize?
The 4th Sunday of Advent symbolizes Peace with the “Angel’s Candle” reminding us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”
Why is Advent important in the Middle Ages?
In the Middle Ages, the focus of Advent was more penitential and aimed to spiritually prepare souls for the Second Coming of Christ. While that is still true today, more often the liturgical season is viewed as a time to prepare for Christmas, and the “birth” of Christ in our lives.
What does the Advent wreath mean?
The advent wreath is used to symbolically commemorate newness, eternal life, and the death and resurrection of the promised Messiah.
When are candles lit in Advent?
Some candles are placed within or near the wreath itself. Other times, they are lit separately on each Sunday beginning four weeks prior to Christmas.
How many days does a candle light up?
Some traditions light a single candle on each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas. Other traditions place one large candle in the center of the wreath and light it every day of December until Christmas.
Why is Advent used in December?
In this instance, it is used to indicate set time (s) during the month of December to commemorate the coming of the Messiah in Jesus Christ. Advent, like Christmas, is a season of expectation, celebration, and hope, connected to the birth of the prophesied Messiah and the promise of Christ’s subsequent ministry.
What color are the candles on Christmas?
The color of these candles can vary, but it is common that the first, second, and fourth candle is purple, while the third candle is rose-colored, red, or a pinkish hue. In some cases, all the candles are red, blue, or white, and often, a fifth white candle is placed in ...
What do the holly leaves on the Advent wreath represent?
Holly leaves, berries, and seeds are sometimes added to the Advent wreath as well. Holly leaves can be prickly and therefore used to represent the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’s head during his crucifixion. Berries, which are typically red, also point to Christ’s sacrifice and the blood shed for sins. Pinecones, seeds, and nuts are also placed ...
Why do we light four candles?
In most traditions, the lighting of the four candles (or multiple candles) is meant to be done as a family and will often be used to reflect on the hope, faith, joy, peace, light, and purity that came into the world with the gift of the Messiah. Families will typically light the candle together, often encouraging children to take part in the celebration. Many modern churches light an Advent candle during Sunday services to prepare for Christmas as a church family.
What do the candles on the Advent wreath represent?
A more modern tradition is to place a white candle in the center of the wreath. As a whole, these colored advent candles represent the coming of the light of Christ into the world.
Why do we light candles on the Advent wreath?
During the season of Advent, one candle on the wreath is lit each Sunday as a part of the Advent services. Families or other small groups of people give devotional readings while lighting the candles on the Advent wreath, adding a meaningful dimension to worship. Many families repeat the tradition at home as a way of deepening and making spiritual preparations more intimate and personal.
What is an Advent wreath?
What Is the Advent Wreath? The Advent wreath is a circular garland of evergreen branches representing eternity. On that wreath, four or five candles are typically arranged. Each candle represents an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. During the season of Advent, one candle on the wreath is lit each Sunday ...
What is the purple candle on the second Sunday of Advent?
On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit. This candle typically represents love. Some traditions call this the " Bethlehem Candle," symbolizing Christ's manger :
How many candles are lit in Advent?
Each week of Advent on Sunday, a particular Advent candle is lit. Catholic tradition states that the four candles, representing the four weeks of Advent, each stand for one thousand years, to total the 4,000 years from the time of Adam and Eve until the birth of the Savior .
What is the color of the Christ candle?
This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the life of Christ that has come into the world. The color white represents purity. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Savior.
What is the purple candle in Advent?
This candle is typically called the "Prophecy Candle" in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ:
What is the purpose of the Advent wreath?
The Advent wreath was originally a German and Scandinavian home devotional practice used to mark the four weeks of Advent. Although many symbols have been attributed to it since that time, it was originally intended as a way to mark the Advent season and the weeks until Christmas.
What color candles are used for Advent?
They also needed to be more uniform in color to fit with other decor in the sanctuary. Purple (and more recently blue) has become the basic color of the candles to coordinate with color of the paraments used during this season.
What is the theme of Advent?
The themes of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace became popular, based on scriptures from the one-year lectionaries used at that time. However, the historic theme of Advent is more broad and deep than any one-word theme can capture.
