Advent is a period of preparation and anticipation for the birth of Jesus Christ. It marks the beginning of the Christian year and takes place over the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. One of the main features of Advent is the Advent wreath, which has four candles that are lit progressively each week.
The Meaning of the Purple Advent Candles
The Advent wreath typically contains three purple candles and one pink candle. The purple candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. These purple candles represent penitence and preparation.
Purple is the liturgical color for the seasons of Advent and Lent. Both are periods of spiritual preparation for important feast days – Christmas and Easter, respectively. Purple is a somber color, symbolic of repentance and fasting. It also represents royalty, pointing to Christ’s kingship.
So the purple Advent candles remind us that we should prepare our hearts spiritually for the coming of Jesus on Christmas. We do this through self-reflection, prayer, repentance, and seeking to grow in faith. The purple candles encourage us to clear out sin in our lives to make room for Christ’s presence.
First Sunday of Advent
On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle typically represents hope or expectation.
Lighting this candle reminds us that the Old Testament prophets waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival. We also wait in hopeful expectation for both the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas and His second coming.
Second Sunday of Advent
On the second Sunday of Advent, the first and second purple candles are lit. The second candle represents faith.
As Christmas draws closer, lighting this candle encourages our faith in the fulfillment of God’s promises. Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah’s coming (Isaiah 9:6-7). The birth of Christ is evidence that God kept His promise to send a Savior.
Third Sunday of Advent
On the third Sunday of Advent, the pink candle is lit along with the two purple candles. This candle symbolizes joy.
By the third week of Advent, we rejoice that Christmas is drawing near. The pink candle reminds us to be joyful as we anticipate Jesus’ arrival.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
On the fourth Sunday of Advent, all four candles are lit – the three purple ones and the pink one. The third purple candle represents love.
As Christmas is just days away at this point, we light the love candle with the others. Jesus demonstrated God’s perfect love for us by becoming human and dying for our sins (John 3:16). The four candles progress through stages of spiritual preparation – hope, faith, joy, and love.
Summary of the Purple Advent Candle Meanings
Here is a summary of what each purple candle represents:
| Candle | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1st Purple Candle | Hope/Expectation |
| 2nd Purple Candle | Faith |
| 3rd Purple Candle | Love |
Overall, the purple candles prompt us to spiritually prepare our hearts for celebrating Jesus’ birth. The colors and meanings of the candles help build anticipation and direct our focus to the true meaning of Christmas.
Origins of the Advent Wreath
The exact origins of the Advent wreath are uncertain. However, it appears to have come from German Lutherans sometime in the 19th century.
Johann Hinrich Wichern, a German theologian and educator, is credited with pioneering the modern Advent wreath. In 1839, he placed a large wooden ring with 20 small red candles and 4 large white candles in his mission school in Hamburg, Germany. The red candles represented the weekdays leading up to Christmas, while the white candles marked the Sundays of Advent.
Over time, other Christians adapted this tradition. Red candles were replaced with purple ones, and a fifth candle was added for Christmas Day. The wreath was hung or placed on a table rather than mounted on a wall. But the symbolism of using light and circular shape to mark the Advent season remained the same.
By the 1930s, the Advent wreath became popular among German Lutherans in the United States. Its observance spread to other Christian denominations, and by the second half of the 20th century, wreath ceremonies were included in most church Advent services.
Today, many Christians use an Advent wreath in their homes or churches. The wreath serves as a meaningful countdown to Christmas and focuses our attention on the spiritual significance of the season.
Advent Wreath Traditions
There are several traditions associated with the lighting of Advent wreath candles:
- Many church services hold a weekly Advent wreath ceremony, where certain Bible passages are read as each candle is lit.
- Families may observe their own candle lighting rituals at home during mealtimes or devotions.
- Often, the third candle is pink instead of purple. This represents joy breaking through the somberness of preparation.
- Some wreaths include a white “Christ candle” in the center that is lit on Christmas Eve or Day.
- Prayers or devotions may accompany the weekly candle lightings.
Since the Advent wreath is used both in churches and homes, specific practices can vary. But the overall emphasis remains on spiritual readiness for Christmas.
Significance of the Circle Shape
In addition to the candle colors, the circular shape of the Advent wreath holds symbolic meaning. The circle reminds us of God’s unending love and eternal life. It also represents the continuous cycle of seasons and years.
The circular wreath points both backward and forward in time. Looking back, it recalls the thousands of years that God’s people awaited the Messiah. Looking forward, it anticipates the second coming of Christ.
The circular shape echoes the eternal nature of God and His unfailing presence with us. The Advent wreath helps us reflect on how God’s redemptive plan stretches across history.
Conclusion
The three purple candles of the Advent wreath mark the prayerful, reflective nature of the Advent season. As we draw closer to celebrating Jesus’ birth at Christmas, lighting the successive candles each week focuses our hearts and minds. The purple color and meaning of the candles remind us to prepare spiritually as we await the coming of Emmanuel – “God with us.”