Advent: 4 interesting facts about the season of waiting

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, November 27, 2022

Wreath and candles

Churches that observe Advent often do so by decorating their sanctuary with a wreath with candles, with one being lit every Sunday leading up to Christmas. In many traditions, a fifth candle is lit on Christmas Eve.

“Around it will be four candles, three purple, and one pink. And in its center is a large white candle. That’s the Christ Candle,” noted the website Anglican Compass.

“The Christ Candle represents the light that the Son brought into the world when he was born a little baby, God in the flesh. The fact that the Advent candles remain on Christmas Eve puts the focus on this special moment of birth, the moment of transition from prophecy to fulfillment.”

In some Christian traditions, the first four candles of the Advent wreath represent “hope,” “faith,” “joy” and “peace,” according to Joel Ryan of Christianity.

“Advent wreaths were eventually fashioned out of evergreens, twisted together in a circle to symbolize continuous life across the seasons, from the death of winter to the new life of spring,” Ryan added.

“The circular nature of the Advent wreath, similar to a wedding ring or band, is further meant to reflect the unending love of Christ and eternal life offered through salvation.”