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An Advent wreath is a circular decoration with evergreen boughs and four tall candles, used to celebrate the Christian season of Advent. It symbolizes the hope of spring during dark winter days and represents the eternal life of Christ. The wreath is used in families and churches, with appropriate scripture and prayer recited before lighting each candle. The tradition was discarded by some Protestant churches after the Reformation but has become increasingly popular in Episcopalians, Methodists, and Lutherans. The Advent wreath cultivates a sense of joyful and prayerful expectation for the birth of Christ.
Having an Advent wreath is one way to celebrate the Christian season of Advent: the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day.
An Advent wreath can come in different shapes, depending on the church or family displaying it, but most are round and covered in some sort of evergreen boughs. Four tall candles sit on the rim and in the center is a large white candle – the Christ candle. The wreath can also be decorated with red bows or ribbons, or with other flowers or berries.
Advent is one of the oldest Christian traditions, and the Advent wreath itself dates back to at least the Middle Ages. It takes its history from the Germanic and Scandinavian people who used wreaths with lighted candles to symbolize the hope of spring during the dark and short winter days.
The Advent wreath is full of meaning for the Christian. The shape of the circle represents eternity. The evergreens that adorn the Advent wreath represent the eternal life of Christ, while the four candles – three purple, one pink – represent the light that the Gospel gives to the world. The candle of Christ is the Light of Christ himself. One candle is lit each week, with the pink or rose candle lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which is the halfway point. Christ’s candle is lit on Christmas Eve.
The Advent wreath can be used in families, churches or both. The Scripture appropriate to the season of Advent is read and a prayer is recited before the candles are lit. Many families have cherished the traditions of Advent wreaths, as much as they have decorated and placed around the house.
After the Protestant Reformation, many Protestant churches, in an effort to discard Catholic traditions, no longer used an Advent wreath. However, this adorable custom has become increasingly popular in churches with somewhat closer ties to the Catholic Church: Episcopalians, Methodists, and Lutherans.
The Advent wreath helps cultivate a sense of joyful and prayerful expectation, as the Christian church stands still in anticipation of the birth of its Savior.
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