Advent is one of my favorite liturgical seasons, a time of expectant waiting, preparation, and hope as we move toward Christmas. One of the simplest yet most meaningful ways to mark the passage of Advent in your home is with an Advent wreath. This beautiful tradition holds so much meaning, inviting us to wait and pray for the light of Christ to break into the darkness of our world.
If you’ve never used an Advent wreath before or want to deepen your understanding of this beautiful custom, let’s explore its history, symbolism, and how to incorporate it into your Advent celebrations.
The History of the Advent Wreath
The origins of the Advent Wreath can be traced to German Lutherans in the 16th century who would light candles in anticipation of Christ's birth. However, what we know as the Advent Wreath was created by a Lutheran pastor named Johann Wichern, who worked with the urban poor in the 19th century. During Advent, children at his mission school in Hamburg, Germany, drove him crazy, asking him every day if Christmas had arrived. He decorated a large wooden ring with 24 small red and four large white candles. One red candle was lit successively every day during Advent, and a large white candle was lit each Sunday. The custom became popular in Germany and was eventually adopted by other denominations and became a wreath with four purple or blue candles (more on that later), representing the four Sundays of Advent and a central white candle representing Christ.
The Meaning of the Advent Wreath
The wreath is a powerful reminder that we, along with Christians around the world are expectantly waiting for the coming of our Savior, as every Sunday in Advent a new candle is lit and the increasing light of Christ approaches, reflecting John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Each component of the wreath has a rich meaning:
The circular shape of the wreath represents eternity.
The evergreens that dress the wreath represent the eternal nature of God.
Candles represent a time of preparation and purification as well as the light or presence of Christ.
The color of the candles is also symbolic. Violet represents penitence as we prepare our hearts for the birth of our Savior. Blue may also be used instead of violet to symbolize a sense of expectancy. The rose or pink candle represents a lightening of the penitential mood since Christmas is almost here. The white candle represents Christ.
If you'd like to know what each candle means and the devotions that go along with the lighting of each candle, it's all in my book The Liturgical Home: Advent
How to Use an Advent Wreath in Your Home
Place the Advent Wreath on your kitchen table.
Gather each night around the Advent Wreath or every Sunday. This could be before or after dinner or before bed. Light the appropriate candle or candles and do the devotion for the day.
Closing Thoughts
The Advent wreath is one of my favorite Advent traditions. During Advent, our wreath is dressed in evergreen boughs that my children brought in from the woods. We place it on our dining room table, and every night we sit down in the darkness, light the Advent candles, and learn anew the story of our salvation. As I look around, the light of the candles casts a soft glow and every face is filled with a sense of wonder. This is what celebrating Advent does, it takes the chaos and the frantic rush of our lives and it forces us to slow down. We are given, as a family, time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ so that when Christmas finally arrives, we greet the day with true joy.
As we journey through Advent, may this beautiful tradition draw you and your family closer to Him.
How do you use the Advent wreath in your home? Do you use purple or blue? Do you use it daily or weekly? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear about your traditions!
Comments