Each week on Sunday, an additional candle is lit. On the
second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit. This candle typically
represents love. Some Traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle,"
symbolizing Christ's manger.
On the third Sunday of Advent the pink, or rose-coloured
candle is lit. This pink candle is customarily called the "Shepherds
Candle" and it represents joy.
The fourth and last purple candle, oftentimes called the
"Angels Candle," represents peace and is lit on the fourth Sunday of
Advent.
On Christmas Eve, the white centre candle is
traditionally lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and
represents the life of Christ that has come into the world. white represents
purity. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Saviour. Also, those who receive
Christ as Saviour are washed of their sins and made brighter than snow.
Celebrating with an Advent wreath during the weeks prior
to Christmas is a great way for Christian families to keep Christ at the centre
of Christmas, and for parents to teach their children the true meaning of
Christmas.
How to Make an
Advent Wreath
To begin, put four candles on a wreath or at least in a
circle. Traditionally the candles are purple, because in antiquity, purple dye
was very expensive and it was the colour of royalty. We use purple for Advent
because it is the season of the coming of the King. If you can’t get purple
candles, then use what is available to you. If you have a fifth candle, it goes
in the centre of the wreath and it should be white.
Historically, the candles have no more meaning than a
countdown. That is, they originally stood for 4, 3, 2, and 1. However, people
like for things in the church to have symbolic meanings, so the candles have
gradually acquired the meanings I gave you above. If someone in your church
tells you that the candles have some other meaning than Hope, Love, Joy, or
Peace, they aren’t wrong, they are just different. The meanings are so new that
they aren’t completely standardized.
Purple is the liturgical colour for Advent. It is a regal colour and in ancient times was incredibly expensive; it is also the colour of remembrance and sorrow. The colours of the liturgy mirror our feelings and thoughts and place us in the right frame of mind for what we celebrate. The colour purple reminds us of the importance of the coming feast and of our own regal dignity as disciples of Jesus. It also reminds us that we should prepare ourselves to receive Christ well into our lives and be prepared for his second coming. In some locations, the third candle is pink. This is the liturgical colour for the third Sunday in Advent called Gaudete Sunday. The This comes from the first word of the liturgy ‘gaudete’ meaning rejoice. The white candle is lit on Christmas Eve (that is, after sundown), when the liturgical colour is white. So that explains the colours of the purple and white candles—they just match the liturgical decor. But what about the pink candle, if there is one?
The pink candle is becoming more and more popular, but it has a strange origin. Long ago, the pope had the custom of giving someone a rose on the fourth Sunday in Lent. This led the Roman Catholic clergy to wear rose-colored vestments on that Sunday. The effect was to give some relief the solemnity of Lent, so this was a very popular custom. Originally—before shopping malls—Advent was a solemn fast in preparation for Christmas, so the custom was extended to the third Sunday in Advent to liven it up a little bit, too. Somewhere in there the third candle of the Advent wreath turned pink. Meanwhile, Advent is no longer solemn and the pope longer has the custom of giving out roses
How to Use Your Advent Wreath
The idea is to use the wreath in conjunction with worship services or personal or family devotions on the four Sundays in Advent. You light candles at the beginning of each service and snuff them out at the end.
•On the first Sunday in Advent, you light the first
candle. Have your service, then snuff out the candle.
•On the second Sunday in Advent, you light two candles,
first the one from the previous Sunday, then the second one. Have your service,
then snuff out the candles.
•On the third Sunday in Advent, you light the two candles
from the previous weeks, in the order you lit them before, then you add the
third one. Have your service, then snuff out the candles.
•On the fourth Sunday in Advent, you light the three
candles from the previous weeks, in the order you lit them before, then you
light the fourth one. Have your service, then snuff out the candles. You should
get a stair-step effect, since each candle is a different length by now.
If you have a fifth candle in the centre, then on
Christmas Day you light the four candles in the order you lit them before, and
then you light the center candle. Have your service, then snuff out the
candles.
You notice how I emphasize snuffing out the candles at the end of each service? This has absolutely no liturgical significance whatsoever, but it is vitally important and you must not leave it out. It prevents the candles from burning your house down.
I recommend that you snuff out the candles, rather than blowing them out. The reason is that if you blow them out, you might spray hot wax over everything.
Prayers for Use With the Advent Wreath
When you use an Advent Wreath in personal or family devotions, you can use whatever scriptures and prayers you like. If you need a point of departure, here is something to get you started. Please don’t take it as a set form. You can use different readings, you can modify the prayers, and you can add hymns, carols, or other prayers as you like.
■Read Isaiah 60:2-3
•Pray something like this:
Lord God, we light this candle to thank you for your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world. We who have sat in darkness have seen a great light, the light of Jesus Christ, our salvation. We give you thanks and praise in Jesus' name, because he lives and reigns with you in your glory, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
On the second Sunday in Advent
■Light two purple candles
■Read Mark 1:4
•Pray something like this:
Lord God, we light this candle to thank you for your Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the way. We who like sheep have gone astray
have found the way to you through Jesus Christ. We give you thanks and praise
in Jesus' name, because he lives and reigns with you in your glory, and in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
On the third Sunday in Advent
■Light three purple candles
■Read Isaiah 35:10
•Pray something like this:
Lord God, we light this candle to thank you for your Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ, who brings us great joy. We who have walked in the
shadow of the valley of death have found life in the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. We give you thanks and praise in Jesus' name, because he lives and
reigns with you in your glory, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
■Read Isaiah 9:6-7
•Pray something like this:
Lord God, we light this candle to thank you for your Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace. We who live in discord
and strife have found peace in the promise of eternal life, through Jesus
Christ. We give you thanks and praise in Jesus' name, because he lives and
reigns with you in your glory, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
■Read Luke 1:68-79 and Luke 2:1-20
•Pray something like this:
We praise you, Lord God, because on this day, your Word
became flesh in our Saviour Jesus Christ, was born of a woman, and walked among
us as a man. Help us to imitate your incarnation, by manifesting our faith in
our conduct as well as in our speech. To you, O Lord, we give our honour,
praise, worship, and love, in the most holy and precious name of the One who is
born today; because He lives and reigns with you in your glory, and in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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