Originally published in 2018

I set out to discover the meaning behind the traditional Advent Wreath. What I found was that traditions vary widely depending on your denomination. One thing we all agree on is that the wreath is used to mark the 4 Sundays (weeks) leading up to Christmas. The lighting of the candles is usually accompanied by the reading of scripture, singing of hymns, and/or prayer.

The rest of it is not so “simple” at all.
The Candles & Their Colors can vary:

• Deep Red (4)
• White (4 or 5)
• Purple/Blue (3), Pink (1), & White (1)

The Meaning of Each Candle can vary, but the most common ones are:

• Hope
• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Faith
• Expectation
• Purity (if 5 candles are used, this is a white one in the center)
• Another tradition views the symbolism as Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels & Christ .

The Wreath itself:

• The circle of evergreen branches is God’s endless love for us.
• Holly berries symbolize the blood of Christ
• Pine cones are a promise of new life

No matter how you incorporate an Advent wreath into your home or church, I pray that you spend this advent season meditating on the birth of Jesus. I also hope that you will find true JOY in a loving relationship with the Savior.

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This is my third post in the #ADVENT2025 collaborative series.

The other participants are:

Bridget A. Thomas – Every Day Is A Gift

Loring Schultz  – Word For The Soul

Alan Kearns – Devotional Treasure

Nathan R Dooley – Time For Providence

David Duncan – David’s Daily Dose

Rainer Bantau – The Devotional Guy

Cindi West – God Still Speaks