The Advent season is a time of preparation and anticipation leading up to Christmas. Many churches display Advent wreaths with candles as part of their Advent observances. The wreath typically contains four candles, and often a new candle is lit each Sunday in Advent. The candles can be different colors, with purple, blue, pink, and white being the most common.
The Meaning of the Candles
In general, the candles on the Advent wreath symbolize hope, love, joy, and peace. Here is a typical meaning for each candle:
- 1st Sunday – Purple candle – Hope
- 2nd Sunday – Purple candle – Love
- 3rd Sunday – Pink candle – Joy
- 4th Sunday – Purple candle – Peace
However, traditions vary across churches and regions. Some use all blue or all white candles instead of purple. The pink candle is optional. And the meaning of each candle may differ slightly.
Purple vs Blue Advent Candles
So what is the difference between purple and blue Advent candles? Here are the key distinctions:
- Color meaning – Purple symbolizes penance and preparation. Blue symbolizes hope.
- Liturgical season – Purple matches the color used during Lent and reminds us that Advent is a penitential season. Blue matches the color for Mary Mother of God used in some churches.
- Advent focus – Purple draws attention to the preparatory and repentant nature of Advent. Blue emphasizes the hopeful anticipation of the coming of Christ.
- Catholic tradition – Catholic churches traditionally use purple candles to align with the liturgical color of Advent. Some Protestant churches opt for blue as a hopeful alternative.
So in summary, purple highlights repentance and preparation, while blue points to hope and eager anticipation. Purple connects to the reflective, penitential spirit of the season. Blue looks ahead joyfully to the Nativity of Jesus.
Why Use One Color Over the Other?
Churches choose purple or blue candles based on their specific Advent observance traditions and what they want to emphasize during the season. Here are some reasons a church may opt for one color over the other:
Reasons to Use Purple Candles
- Align with Catholic tradition
- Reflect somber, preparatory nature of season
- Reminder of Lent and call to repentance
- Symbolize royalty and waiting for coming of Christ the King
Reasons to Use Blue Candles
- Convey a spirit of hopeful anticipation
- Associated with Mary Mother of God
- Distinct from penitential purple of Lent
- Brighter, more joyful expression of waiting for Jesus
So Catholic churches tend to prefer purple, while many Protestant churches opt for a more hopeful blue. But there is no absolute right or wrong color. The important thing is using the candles to foster the spirit of the Advent season in whatever way works best for a particular faith community.
Third Candle Color Variations
In addition to the basic purple vs. blue choice, there are some variations on the color of the third Advent candle. Here are some possibilities:
- Pink – This rose-colored candle often represents joy and a shift in tone toward celebration. It provides a bright spot in the solemn waiting of Advent.
- White – Some traditions use a white candle in the third week to represent purity, innocence, and holiness as Christmas approaches.
- Blue or purple – Other churches simply keep the same color scheme for all four candles without a special third candle.
So the third candle can provide a visual high point before the final purple or blue candle. But it’s also fine to stick with one consistent color all the way through Advent.
Conclusion
In summary, here are some key points on the different Advent candle colors:
- Purple – Penitence, preparation, royalty
- Blue – Hope, anticipation, Mary
- Pink – Joy, happiness, celebration
- White – Purity, holiness
Churches can prayerfully choose what set of meanings and associations they want to highlight through their Advent wreath. There is rich symbolism in both purple and blue as well as creative variations like pink and white candles. No one scheme is absolutely right or wrong. The colors are simply an visual aid to help focus the heart and mind on the true meaning of Advent.
| Candle Color | Meaning | Emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| Purple | Penitence, Preparation, Royalty | Repentance, Lent, Coming of Christ the King |
| Blue | Hope, Anticipation, Mary | Joyful anticipation, Mother of Jesus |
| Pink | Joy, Happiness, Celebration | Rejoicing as Christmas draws near |
| White | Purity, Holiness | Righteousness, Innocence |
