The Advent Wreath
Four weeks, four candles — wait for Christmas the old way. Free, no sign-up.
Advent begins in 17 days
HopeWeek 1 of Advent
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
PeaceWeek 2 of Advent
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27 (KJV)
JoyWeek 3 of Advent
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
Luke 2:10 (KJV)
LoveWeek 4 of Advent
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 (KJV)
The Christ Candle
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (KJV)
About the Advent wreath
Advent is the season of preparation before Christmas: four weeks beginning on the Sunday closest to November 30. The wreath holds three purple candles and one rose candle; a new one is lit each week — the rose one in week three, also called Gaudete Sunday. On Christmas Eve, the white Christ candle at the center is lit. The candles light themselves based on today's date.
The wreath of evergreen branches is a custom of German Lutheran origin, now common across Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox households. The four candles mark the four weeks of Advent — three violet and one rose for Gaudete ("rejoice") — while the white Christ candle in the center is lit from Christmas Eve. It is a devotion of the home, not a sacrament: a quiet way to count the days toward Christmas.