Advent Wreaths Burn Bright in Preparation for Christmas

As November fades into December, Christmas preparations are ramping up, from shopping to decorating, time seems to move faster.

However, traditions often help to slow the pace and give focus to the spiritual significance of the Christmas season. One major tradition is the display of Nativities in churches, homes, and communities around the world. Another time-honored tradition is the Advent wreath, which is full of symbolism.

For those who may be unfamiliar, the period leading up to Christmas is called Advent, which comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival.” During this time, many Christians engage in reflection, prayer, and spiritual preparation using an Advent wreath as their guide.

The wreath is round, with no beginning and no end, symbolizing God’s eternal love. Often made of evergreens, which maintain their green color even in winter, the wreath also symbolizes the promise of life. Different colored candles are sometimes incorporated into or around the wreath and lit at different times throughout the Advent season.

Meaning and Symbolism of Candle Colors

Purple is often the central color of Advent, symbolizing a time of reflection and repentance before celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is also the liturgical color for Lent, another time of preparation and reflection. The use of purple during both Advent and Lent underscores the parallel themes of preparation. Additionally, the color has historically been linked to royalty and kingship, so this candle color also symbolizes Jesus as the “King of Kings.” 

Pink is used during the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday (the Latin term gaudete means “rejoice”). This color represents joy and anticipation.

The white candle in the center is the Christ candle and reflects the purity and light of Christ. It is typically lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to represent Jesus as the “light of the world.” White can also symbolize the hope and promise that Christ’s coming brings.

Colors of the Candles

Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Orthodox Christians all light one candle each week during Advent, with the colors of candles varying by group.

Catholic churches use the traditional colors of purple, pink, and sometimes white. The United Methodist Book of Worship identifies purple or blue as appropriate colors for Advent. According to their book of worship, since Advent is a season of preparation that reflects on the birth of Jesus and the preparation for his second coming, blue reflects hope, while purple is more characteristic of Lent, a season of solemnity.

Lutheran churches in the US typically follow the same tradition as Catholic churches, using purple and pink. In some cases, Lutheran churches may also use four blue candles to represent hope and expectation.

Eastern Orthodox Christians observe Advent for 40 days. They use six different candles—green, blue, gold, white, purple, and red, but it is acceptable to tie colored ribbon around white candles if colors are difficult to find. Their Advent wreath is also circular but needs enough space for seven candles (one for each week of Advent and a center candle).

The Lighting of the Candles

Some traditions observe Advent for four weeks, or four Sundays, while others, like Orthodox Christians, observe for six Sundays.

The Catholic Church
On the first Sunday of Advent, the purple candle, referred to as the Prophecy Candle, is lit as a symbol of hope. The church will reflect on the prophets of the Old Testament who spoke of Jesus’s eventual coming and the hope that came with it (see Isaiah 9:6–7).

On the second week, a purple candle is again lit, this time representing peace and preparation. It is called the Bethlehem Candle. During this week, Catholics reflect on Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2). 

The third Sunday focuses on joy. The wreath’s candle is pink and called the Shepherd’s Candle, which shares in the sense of joy and anticipation felt by the shepherds when the angels announced the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:15–20). The pink also represents triumph.

The fourth Sunday’s candle is the Angel's Candle. This purple candle represents love. Catholics will reflect on the angel Gabriel’s announcement about the upcoming birth of Jesus (Luke 2:10–11).

Methodist Church and Lutheran Church
In both the Methodist Church and the Lutheran Church, the four blue candles traditionally represent hope, faith, joy, and peace, with one being lit each week.

The Orthodox Church
On the first Sunday of Advent, the candle is green, symbolizing faith in God and his promise to send his son, Jesus.

The second Sunday uses a blue candle to denote hope. This candle focuses on the hope that Jesus’s birth brought into the world and that he provides for believers today.

The third Sunday’s candle is gold, focusing on love and reflecting on Luke 1:26–38, a passage about the angel Gabriel delivering the news of Jesus’s birth to Mary.

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, the candle represents peace and is white. Believers may reflect on Luke 2:1–18, particularly the message the shepherds received from the angels about a coming savior.

Purple is the color of the fifth Sunday and focuses on repentance in preparation for Jesus’s coming.

The candle for the sixth Sunday is red, symbolizing the sacrament of Holy Communion.

The last candle is a special white candle. Believers reflect on the previous candles as well as the purpose of Jesus’s arrival.

The Advent Wreath and the Bible

No matter the number of candles or the colors, Advent wreaths mark sacred time and carry symbols of the biblical foundations of Christmas. Each candle embodies a passage or a theme from the Gospels or the Old Testament prophets. The next time you see an Advent wreath or light a candle on your own, take time to remember the story behind each one.

Published November 27, 2025