Lighting the Way: The Meaning and Beauty of the Advent Wreath

Advent is one of my favorite seasons in the Church year, a quiet time of hope, preparation, and expectant waiting as we journey toward the joy of Christmas. And one of the most meaningful ways to mark this season at home is also one of the simplest: lighting an Advent wreath.

This recent tradition is full of rich symbolism. It helps us mark time not according to the busy rush of December, but according to sacred time, watching, waiting, and praying for the light of Christ to come into the darkness.

If you’ve never used an Advent wreath before, or if you’re familiar with the practice but want to deepen your understanding, let’s explore its origins, its meaning, and how it can become part of your Advent rhythm.

A Brief History of the Advent Wreath

The practice of lighting candles in anticipation of Christmas can be traced back to German Lutherans in the 16th century. But the Advent wreath as we know it today was created by a Lutheran pastor named Johann Wichern in the 19th century.

Wichern worked with children in a mission school for the urban poor in Hamburg, Germany. During the season of Advent, the children constantly asked, “Is it Christmas yet?” - a question familiar to any parent or teacher. To help them visualize the wait, he created a large wooden ring with 24 small red candles and four large white ones. Each day of Advent, they lit a red candle, and each Sunday, a white one, building anticipation through the growing light.

Over time, the tradition evolved. The number of candles was simplified to four, one for each Sunday of Advent, and the colors changed to reflect liturgical symbolism. Eventually, the practice spread from Germany to other Protestant traditions and then to Catholic and Anglican churches as well.

Today, the Advent wreath is beloved by Christians around the world. And whether it’s placed at the center of a church sanctuary or on a family’s kitchen table, it continues to offer a quiet, meaningful way to live into the season.

The Symbolism of the Wreath

Each element of the Advent wreath is deeply symbolic:

• The circular shape represents eternity, a reminder that God has no beginning and no end.

• Evergreens used to form the wreath symbolize the eternal life we have in Christ and the unchanging nature of God.

• Candles represent the growing light of Christ breaking into the world and into our lives. As John 1:5 says:“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

  
  

The number and color of the candles also carry meaning:

• Three purple or violet candles (or sometimes blue) reflect the traditional penitential tone of Advent. These weeks invite us to prepare our hearts through repentance and prayer.

• The rose candle, lit on the third Sunday (Gaudete Sunday), represents joy, a moment of rejoicing as Christmas draws near.

• The white candle, often placed in the center, is the Christ candle, lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

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The progressive lighting of the candles each Sunday reflects the increasing brightness of Christ’s coming. Week by week, light builds in our homes, mirroring the light of Christ coming into the world.

Bringing It into Your Home

In our family, the Advent wreath is central to how we observe the season. We light it during dinner on Sundays and read Scripture, sing hymns, or offer a short prayer together. It doesn’t need to be complicated. The practice itself, pausing, lighting a candle, sitting in the glow, is enough to reorient our hearts.

If you’re looking for a deeper guide to using the Advent wreath, including the meaning of each candle and Scripture readings or prayers to say as you light them, I’ve included everything you need in my book, The Liturgical Home: Advent.

The Advent wreath is more than just a decoration. It’s a quiet rhythm, a weekly reminder, and a symbol of hope. In a world that rushes toward Christmas, it helps us slow down and prepare. It helps us wait well.

And perhaps most beautifully, it reminds us that even a small flame can hold back the dark.