The Advent wreath is a circular candle holder that typically contains five candles which are lit over the four weeks leading up to Christmas. The lighting of the Advent candles symbolizes the light of Christ coming into the world and bringing hope to people living in darkness. Each of the candles represents a specific aspect of the season. Here is an overview of what each of the 5 Advent candles represent:
The 1st Candle – The Prophecy Candle
The first Advent candle, which is purple, is often called the “Prophecy Candle” or “The Candle of Hope.” This candle represents the hope brought by the prophets who foretold the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Some of the main prophets included Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and Malachi.
For centuries, the Israelites had been waiting expectantly for the promised Messiah, whose coming was prophesied in the Old Testament. Scriptures such as Isaiah 9:6 give a picture of the coming Savior: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
The lighting of the first Advent candle represents the expectation and hope surrounding the coming of the Messiah. As the candle is lit each week, it serves as a reminder of how much the world needed a Savior prior to Christ’s birth. The lighting of this candle is a symbol of the light and hope that came into the world through the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah.
The 2nd Candle – The Bethlehem Candle
The second Advent candle, also purple, represents the manger in Bethlehem and is often called the “Bethlehem Candle.” As the prophets had foretold, the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The story of Jesus’ humble beginnings in a stable reminds us that God uses even the most lowly circumstances to fulfill His promises.
Though Jesus was the King of Kings, he was not born in a palace. Instead, God chose a manger in the little town of Bethlehem to be the site of the Nativity. The prophecy in Micah 5:2 had declared centuries earlier that “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” This shows how God uses the weak and lowly things of the world to accomplish His purposes.
When this second candle is lit, it points towards the fulfillment of prophecy through Jesus’ birth in humble Bethlehem. It reminds us that the Messiah came into the world in an unexpected way, identifying with lowliness and poverty though he was the divine King of Kings.
The 3rd Candle – The Shepherd’s Candle
The third Advent candle is traditionally pink and it is called the “Shepherd’s Candle.” This candle is pink because it represents joy. The lighting of this candle reminds us of the great joy that was brought through the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.
The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday and “Gaudete” means “Rejoice!” in Latin. On this Sunday, we remember the joy of the shepherds who heard about the marvelous news of Christ’s birth. The angel proclaimed the good tidings of the Savior’s arrival to humble shepherds who were watching their flocks that night near Bethlehem.
Luke 2:8-11 describes the shepherd’s encounter: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’”
When the pink candle is lit, we remember the great joy of the shepherds as the light of Christ came to illuminate their darkness. The Messiah’s birth brought rejoicing for all people.
The 4th Candle – The Angel Candle
The fourth Advent candle, which is purple, represents the angels who brought the good news of Jesus’ birth. It is sometimes called the “Angel Candle.” God chose to announce the arrival of His Son to both lowly shepherds and noble magi through the declaration of angels.
In Luke 2, an angel of the Lord brought “good tidings of great joy” about the Savior’s birth to the shepherds. And in Matthew 1, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to comfort him concerning Mary’s pregnancy. In Matthew 2, Joseph was warned by an angel to flee to Egypt in order to protect baby Jesus from Herod’s plans to kill him.
When the fourth candle is lit, it honors these special angelic messengers who served God and carried out His plans surrounding Jesus’ birth and early years. The angels recognized the divine glory of the Messiah. Their joyful praises filled the skies, proclaiming the arrival of the Christ child who was to bring salvation to the earth.
The 5th Candle – The Christ Candle
The fifth and final Advent candle, which is white, is called the “Christ Candle.” This candle represents Jesus Christ, who is the spotless Lamb of God. He was the long-awaited Messiah whose birth we celebrate at Christmastime.
The white candle reminds us of Jesus’ purity. In Isaiah 1:18, we find this prophecy about the coming Messiah: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Jesus came to be our sacrifice and cleanse us from sin. He was born to die on the cross for us and shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins. His pure life makes our redemption possible.
On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the central white candle is lit to celebrate the arrival of the world’s Savior, Jesus Christ. This candle represents how Jesus fulfills the prophecies and brings light into our dark world, guiding us in the paths of righteousness. The white candle points to hope beyond Advent, into the months and years ahead as we remember the promise of Christ’s return.
Conclusion
In summary, the five candles of the Advent wreath each represent an important aspect of the Christmas story surrounding Christ’s birth:
| 1st Candle | The Prophecy Candle | Purple |
| 2nd Candle | The Bethlehem Candle | Purple |
| 3rd Candle | The Shepherds’ Candle | Pink |
| 4th Candle | The Angel Candle | Purple |
| 5th Candle | The Christ Candle | White |
As the Advent season progresses each week, the growing light reminds us of the hope, joy, and peace that Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, brings into the world. Lighting the symbolic candles points us to reflect on how the prophecies surrounding the Messiah’s coming were fulfilled, culminating in the arrival of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Advent candles keep our eyes fixed on the true meaning of Christmas.
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