What Do the Advent Candles Mean? The Advent Wreath Explained

November 10, 2026

A circle of evergreen branches, four candles, and each Sunday one more flame: the Advent wreath is one of the simplest and most beautiful traditions of the year. You will see it in church, and many families set one up at home.

But why three purple candles and one pink? What does each candle stand for? And how do you actually pray with it? Here is everything you need to know.

What the wreath itself means

Before the candles, look at the wreath. Every part of it speaks:

The circle has no beginning and no end. It reminds us of God, who is eternal, and of his love, which never ends.
The evergreen branches stay green through the winter. They speak of life that does not die, and of the hope of eternal life that Christ brings.
The light of the candles grows week by week, pushing back the darkness, as we draw closer to the birth of Jesus, "the light of the world" (John 8:12). In the Northern Hemisphere, this happens during the darkest weeks of the year, which makes the symbol even stronger.

🕯️ Pray around your wreath with the Gospel of the day in Catho+ →

Why three purple candles and one pink?

The candles follow the colors of the liturgy.

Three candles are purple (or violet), the color of Advent. Purple is the color of preparation, of a heart that makes itself ready. It is the same color the priest wears at Mass during Advent.

One candle is rose (pink). It is lit on the Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for "rejoice", the first word of the entrance antiphon of that Mass, taken from Saint Paul: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. The Lord is near" (Philippians 4:4-5). Halfway through Advent, the Church lets a little of the joy of Christmas shine through, like the first light of dawn before sunrise. On that Sunday, the priest may also wear rose vestments.

(If you are curious about the meaning of each color the Church uses, read our guide to the liturgical colors.)

What does each candle represent?

Here is a point that often surprises people: the Church has no official name for each candle. Over time, several traditions have grown up, and they are all good ways to pray. The two most common are:

Hope, Peace, Joy and Love

First Sunday, Hope (purple): we hope in the promise of God, who never abandons his people.
Second Sunday, Peace (purple): Jesus is the Prince of Peace announced by the prophet Isaiah.
Third Sunday, Joy (rose): Gaudete Sunday, the Lord is near.
Fourth Sunday, Love (purple): "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16).

The Prophets, Bethlehem, the Shepherds and the Angels

The Prophet's candle, for the prophets who announced the coming of the Messiah.
The Bethlehem candle, for the little town where Jesus was born.
The Shepherds' candle (rose), for the humble shepherds who received the good news with joy.
The Angels' candle, for the angels who sang "Glory to God in the highest".

Choose the tradition you prefer, or simply let the Sunday readings guide your prayer.

In what order do you light the candles?

First week: one purple candle.
Second week: two purple candles.
Third week: the two purple candles and the rose candle.
Fourth week: all four candles.

The candles lit in earlier weeks are lit again each time, so the light grows week after week. Many families light the wreath not only on Sunday but every evening at dinner, with the number of candles for that week.

In 2026, the four Sundays of Advent fall on 29 November, 6 December, 13 December (Gaudete, the rose candle) and 20 December. Find all the dates in our guide When does Advent 2026 start?

And the white candle in the middle?

Some wreaths have a fifth, white candle in the center: the Christ candle. It is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and through the Christmas season, to celebrate that the Light has come. It is a lovely custom, but optional.

Where does the Advent wreath come from?

The idea of lights and greenery in the dark of winter is very old in Northern Europe. The Advent wreath as we know it took shape in Germany. A famous story tells of a Lutheran pastor, Johann Hinrich Wichern, who in 1839 hung a cartwheel with a candle for each day of Advent in the home where he cared for poor children, so they could count the days to Christmas. The custom simplified to four candles, one for each Sunday, and spread through Christian families of every tradition, including Catholics, who adopted it widely in the twentieth century.

Today the Church has an official blessing for the Advent wreath, which a priest or deacon can give, or a parent can lead at home.

How to pray with the Advent wreath at home

You don't need anything complicated. Here is a simple way to do it, in five minutes, on Sunday evening or every evening at dinner:

Gather around the wreath and make the Sign of the Cross.
Read a short passage: the Gospel of the Sunday, or a few verses of the prophet Isaiah.
Light the candles of the week. A child can do it, with help.
Pray together, in your own words or with a prayer like the ones below.
Sing, if you like, a verse of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel".

A short prayer for each week

First week: Lord Jesus, you are coming. Wake us up from our sleep, fill us with hope, and make our hearts ready to welcome you. Amen.

Second week: Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, help us to prepare your way. Bring your peace into our home, our hearts and our world. Amen.

Third week: Lord Jesus, you are near! Fill us with your joy, and help us to share it with everyone we meet this week. Amen.

Fourth week: Lord Jesus, with Mary and Joseph we wait for your birth. Teach us to love as you love us, and to make room for you. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

A blessing for your wreath

On the First Sunday of Advent, before lighting the first candle, a parent can bless the wreath with these or similar words:

Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who is Emmanuel, God with us, the hope of the peoples and the light of the world. Bless this wreath and these candles. May they remind us each day that he is coming, and may our hearts be ready to receive him when he comes. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A few practical tips

No purple candles at hand? White or red candles with a purple ribbon work perfectly well. What matters is the prayer.
With young children, a wreath with LED candles avoids any risk, and they can "light" them themselves.
Never leave candles burning unattended, especially near dry branches.
Keep it simple. A wreath on the dinner table and one minute of prayer each evening will do more than an elaborate decoration nobody prays with.

Live Advent with Catho+

Each evening around the wreath, open Catho+ to read the Gospel of the day together and pray as a family.