The Advent season leading up to Christmas is marked by the lighting of candles on an Advent wreath each Sunday. The wreath contains four candles which are lit in a specific sequence, one per Sunday, with each candle holding symbolic meaning. The fourth candle, lit on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, is traditionally known as the Angel Candle or the Candle of Love. Its lighting represents the nearness of Christmas and the coming of God’s love through Christ’s birth.
Background on Advent
Advent is derived from the Latin word “adventus” meaning “coming.” It is a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting for the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues through Christmas Eve, lasting roughly four weeks. It is the beginning of the liturgical year in these churches.
The Advent wreath originated among German Lutherans in the 16th century as a count-down to Christmas. The wreath is typically made of evergreen branches laid in a circle to symbolize continuous life, with four candles spaced at equal distances around the wreath. The candles mark each of the four Sundays of Advent, and a new candle is lit on each successive Sunday.
The most common Advent candle tradition involves three purple candles and one pink candle. On the first Sunday, one purple candle is lit, followed by two purple candles on the second Sunday, the pink and two previous purple candles on the third Sunday, and finally all four candles lit on the fourth Sunday. Each candle represents a particular spiritual theme for that Sunday in Advent.
Symbolism of the 4th Candle
The fourth and final candle to be lit on the Advent wreath holds special meaning, as it comes on the Sunday immediately before Christmas. This candle goes by several traditional names:
- Angel Candle
- Candle of Love
- Advent Candle
Each name reflects an important symbolic aspect of this candle.
Angel Candle
The fourth candle is often called the Angel Candle in reference to the angels described in the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Luke says that an angel appeared in the night sky to announce the birth to shepherds in the fields, accompanied by “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God.” (Luke 2:13-14). The angel declared the good news of the arrival of the Savior and Messiah:
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
So this candle recalls the angelic proclamation of Christ’s birth. The lighting of the Angel Candle in worship services on the fourth Sunday of Advent is often accompanied by singing verses from angelic hymns like “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” or “Angels We Have Heard on High.”
Candle of Love
The fourth candle is also known as the Candle of Love. This name connects to the purpose behind Christ’s birth, which was an act of God’s love for the world:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
The lighting of the Candle of Love represents the love of God that was shown through the giving of His Son Jesus, whose birth we prepare to celebrate. It also represents the love that we should reflect to others in response, fulfilling Christ’s commands to love God and love our neighbor.
Advent Candle
Some traditions simply refer to the fourth candle as the Advent Candle. This reflects the place of this candle as the culminating one that completes the four-week Advent season. The full lighting of all four candles, including the fourth one, indicates that the time of preparation is over and Christmas is at hand. Lighting the Advent Candle means the waiting period has come to an end and the Christmas celebration can begin.
Color and Meaning
In addition to its symbolic names, the color of the fourth Advent candle also carries meaning. The traditional colors used on the Advent wreath are three purple candles and one pink candle. The pink candle is used for the third Sunday of Advent, while the fourth candle is purple like the first two.
Purple
The color purple represents two aspects of Advent:
- Royalty – Purple is the color of royalty, depicting Christ as the coming King.
- Penitence – In ancient times, purple dye was very expensive, so purple fabrics were a sign of wealth and status. The use of purple in Advent symbolizes our penitence as we prepare our hearts to receive the gift of Christ the King.
So lighting the purple fourth candle continues these royal and penitential themes as Advent draws to a close.
Pink
Some traditions use a pink candle instead of purple for the fourth Sunday of Advent. The pink color represents joy and excitement. On this final Sunday before Christmas, the pink candle expresses the joy we feel as the celebration of Jesus’ birth grows imminent. The shift from purple to pink visually symbolizes a shift from somber reflection to joyous anticipation.
Advent Hymns
There are several traditional hymns and worship songs that are commonly sung on the fourth Sunday of Advent as the final candle is lit:
- “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
- “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
- “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
- “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
- “Joy to the World”
These hymns complement the meaning of the fourth candle by focusing on love, joy, and the eager anticipation of Jesus’ coming at Christmas. Singing these songs in conjunction with the lighting of the Advent candle helps set the tone for the final Sunday before celebrating Christ’s birth.
Dates
Since the fourth Sunday of Advent always falls on the Sunday immediately prior to December 25, the date shifts every year. Here are the dates of the fourth Advent Sunday for the next five years:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2023 | December 24 |
| 2024 | December 23 |
| 2025 | December 21 |
| 2026 | December 21 |
| 2027 | December 20 |
As seen above, the fourth Sunday of Advent can fall anywhere from December 20-24, depending on the calendar each year. Lighting the fourth candle on the Sunday before Christmas Eve helps set the stage for celebrating Jesus’ nativity.
Traditions and Celebrations
There are several traditions associated with lighting the fourth Advent candle:
- Many churches hold an Advent wreath lighting ceremony during worship services on each Sunday of Advent. The lighting is accompanied by readings, prayers, and singing.
- Families may light Advent wreaths at home. Lighting the candles can be incorporated into regular family devotional times each Sunday leading up to Christmas.
- The fourth Sunday of Advent is a popular date for Christmas concerts, cantatas, or pageants in churches, as it falls just before Christmas Day.
- Children’s programs and plays are sometimes scheduled for the fourth Sunday of Advent, using this time to present a portrayal of the Christmas story.
- Churches may decorate sanctuaries on the fourth Sunday, adding poinsettias, wreaths, and other festive touches in preparation for Christmas Eve services.
- Brass bands, choirs, and carolers often perform concerts of Christmas music on this Sunday.
So the lighting of the fourth Advent candle signals both the culmination of the Advent season and the commencement of passionate Christmas celebrations in Christian traditions around the world.
Conclusion
The fourth candle of Advent, whether known as the Angel Candle, Candle of Love, or Advent Candle, carries deep significance in its symbolism and meaning. The lighting of this final purple or pink candle marks the completion of the four-week Advent journey and the start of the observance of Christ’s long-awaited birth at Christmas. Traditions of music, worship, drama, and decorating come together on this Sunday to joyfully anticipate and prepare for Jesus’ nativity which will soon be celebrated. The fourth candle shines with the love, hope, and light of the first Christmas, pointing the way to Bethlehem.
