Advent Candle Wreath

Do you have an Advent Candle wreath? 

I think this is one of the Christmas traditions that is losing popularity. Many people still use wreaths, generally though these are hung on their doors. My daughter taught me something new about wreaths this year. I had no idea a wreath was traditionally made from ever green boughs to symbolize ever lasting life. I did know that is was circular to show the continuous love of God and the immortality of the soul. Modern day wreaths are made of so many different items, burlap, plastic bags, candy, tinsel, paper, baubles and ribbons to name a few.

I have a few friends who light Advent candles, these are generally the ones that count down the days to Christmas much like an Advent Calendar does. Initially I thought perhaps Advent Candle Wreaths were rare because most people are unaware of the term "Advent" but then I realized the proliferation of Advent calendars refutes that argument. As a candle maker I am going to encourage the use of Advent Candle Wreaths. So what is an Advent Candle Wreath?

Generally an Advent Candle Wreath is made up of four or five candles. The four candles on the wreath are lit on the four Sundays of Advent (the 4 weeks before Christmas). Three of the candles are traditionally purple and the other is pink.

The candles represent

1. Hope - faith in God keeping his promise to the world
2. Preparation - reminding people to get ready to receive God
3. Joy - reminds us of the angels joyfully singing of Jesus' birth (the pink candle)
4. Love - a reminder that God loves the world so much he sent his Son

Often, a white candle is placed in the centre of the wreath and it is the Christ candle.

In the first week of Advent the Hope candle is lit, in the second week both the Hope and Preparation candles are lit, in the third week the Hope, Preparation and Joy candles are lit, on the last Sunday of Advent the Hope, Preparation, Joy and Love candles are lit. Lastly on Christmas day or sometimes at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve the center candle, representing Christ, is lit.

While an Advent Candle Wreath is a traditional way to remember the Advent season there are variations to this practice. Some people use a single Advent candle while others have a display of candles.