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The holiday season is a whirlwind of lights, carols, and gift-wrapping. But amidst the festive chaos lies a quiet, profound, and often overlooked season of preparation: Advent. Far more than just a countdown to Christmas, Advent is a four-week spiritual journey that invites us to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus Christ. At the heart of this season is the Advent wreath, a simple yet powerful symbol with four candles—one for each Sunday—that tell a story of hope, peace, joy, and love.
This guide will take you deep into the meaning behind each of the four Sundays, exploring their historical roots, liturgical significance, and enduring relevance today. We’ll light a path from the ancient prophecies of old to the quiet expectation of the modern day, helping you to understand not just what Advent is, but why it is.
The Enduring Tradition: What Is Advent?
To truly appreciate the four Sundays, we first have to understand the season as a whole. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” Historically, it was a time of penitence, prayer, and fasting, similar in many ways to Lent. Its origins are a little murky, but historians believe the tradition started in either Gaul (modern-day France) or Spain around the fourth and fifth centuries. It was initially observed as a forty-day period leading up to the Epiphany on January 6th, the day Christians celebrated the baptism of Jesus and the visit of the Magi.
Over time, the focus shifted from the Epiphany to Christmas, and by the Middle Ages, Advent was firmly established as the four-week period before Christ’s birth. While it retained some of its penitential character, the primary theme evolved into one of joyful anticipation. This season asks us to prepare for Christ’s arrival in three ways:
- His Historical Arrival: The celebration of his birth in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago.
- His Spiritual Arrival: His daily coming into our hearts and lives through grace.
- His Final Arrival: The anticipation of his Second Coming at the end of time.
This layered meaning is what makes Advent so rich. It’s not just a backward-looking historical commemoration; it’s a forward-looking spiritual practice that keeps us grounded in the present.
The Advent Wreath: A Circle of Light and Life
The most recognizable symbol of Advent is undoubtedly the wreath. Though it’s a relatively modern tradition, believed to have originated with German Lutherans in the 19th century, its symbolism is deeply rooted in ancient Christian and pagan traditions.
The circular shape of the wreath has no beginning or end, a powerful symbol of God’s endless love and eternal nature. Made of evergreen branches, such as pine, spruce, or fir, it represents the promise of life that endures even in the dead of winter, a powerful metaphor for the hope of eternal life found in Christ.
The four candles are the heart of the wreath, each representing one of the four Sundays. A fifth, white candle, often placed in the center, is known as the Christ Candle.
The traditional candle colors are typically purple and rose. Purple symbolizes penance, royalty, and waiting—the somber, reflective nature of the season. The single rose (or pink) candle represents joy. However, in many churches, especially in some Protestant denominations, you might find four blue candles instead of purple, which symbolizes hope and expectation. Sometimes, the candles are simply white.
As we light one candle each Sunday, the light grows progressively stronger, a visual representation of the increasing closeness of Christ’s arrival. It’s a literal and figurative brightening of our lives in the face of spiritual darkness.
The First Sunday of Advent: A Call to Hope
The first Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season and sets the tone with a powerful message: Hope. This isn’t a passive, wishful hope, but an active, expectant one. It’s the kind of hope that has been building for thousands of years.
The Prophecy Candle and the Promise of the Messiah
On this first Sunday, we light the first purple candle, which is traditionally known as the Prophecy Candle. This candle represents the prophets of the Old Testament, particularly Isaiah, who foretold the coming of the Messiah. Their prophecies, written centuries before Christ’s birth, were a beacon of hope for a people living in darkness and exile. Passages like Isaiah 9:6-7, which describes the coming of a great ruler, “a wonderful counselor, a mighty God,” are central to this theme.
The readings on this Sunday often focus on the promise of the Messiah and the need to be watchful and prepared for his return. The hope we’re celebrating is tied to the first coming of Christ and his second coming. We live in a time of “already, but not yet”—Christ has already come to save us, but we still await his final return.
Historical Context and Modern Relevance
Historically, the First Sunday of Advent was a stark call to repentance. It was a day to wake up from spiritual slumber and prepare the way for God’s arrival. The liturgy often used imagery of a watchful sentry, ready for the dawn.
Today, this theme of hope is as relevant as ever. It’s an invitation to step back from the commercial chaos of the holiday season and remember the true source of our hope. This week is a perfect time to reflect on the things we put our hope in. Is it in material possessions, or is it in the promise of something greater? Lighting the first candle is an act of defiance against despair, a small but significant gesture that reminds us that hope is more than just a feeling; it’s a promise we can hold onto.
The Second Sunday of Advent: Preparing in Peace
On the second Sunday, we light the second purple candle, and the theme shifts to Peace. This peace isn’t a gentle, passive state; it’s a radical, transformative peace that begins with repentance and a change of heart.
The Bethlehem Candle and the Voice in the Wilderness
This second candle is known as the Bethlehem Candle. It’s often associated with John the Baptist, the voice crying out in the wilderness, urging people to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Mark 1:3). John the Baptist’s role was to prepare people’s hearts for the arrival of Jesus. He called for a peace that could only come from a genuine turning away from sin and a turning toward God.
The message of John the Baptist is one of active preparation. He wasn’t telling people to sit and wait; he was telling them to get up and get ready. This preparation is a two-way street: we must clear a path in our own hearts and also help to clear a path in the world for Christ to enter.
Historical Context and Modern Relevance
Historically, this week was a time to deepen the penitential practices of the season. The focus was on personal reflection and confession, making a conscious effort to remove the spiritual obstacles that separated people from God.
In our modern, often-divided world, the theme of peace is a powerful reminder. It encourages us to look at our own lives and ask where we can be agents of peace. This week is a time to seek reconciliation, to mend broken relationships, and to work for justice in our communities. The peace of Advent isn’t just about an absence of conflict; it’s about the presence of righteousness and healing.
The Third Sunday of Advent: The Dawn of Joy
The third Sunday of Advent marks a significant shift in the tone of the season. After two weeks of solemn preparation, we’re called to celebrate with Joy. This Sunday is often called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word Gaudete, meaning “rejoice.”
The Shepherd’s Candle and the Joyful News
On this Sunday, we light the rose (or pink) candle, which is called the Shepherd’s Candle. This unique color breaks up the purple of the other candles and symbolizes the sudden, joyful turn of the season. The candle represents the shepherds, who were the first to hear the good news of Christ’s birth. The angels announced to them: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).
The shepherds’ joy wasn’t just a fleeting happiness; it was a profound, life-changing joy that came from encountering God. This joy is a foretaste of the ultimate joy that Christmas brings.
Historical Context and Modern Relevance
Gaudete Sunday has a long history. It’s a liturgical moment where the church takes a collective breath and begins to celebrate. In many traditions, priests may wear rose-colored vestments on this day to signal the approaching birth of Christ and the shift from solemn reflection to joyful anticipation. The traditional prayers and hymns reflect this sense of celebration and thanksgiving.
The message of joy on the Third Sunday of Advent is a powerful antidote to the pressures of the modern holiday season. It reminds us that true joy doesn’t come from material gifts or perfect celebrations. Instead, it comes from the simple, profound fact that God is with us. It’s a call to be like the shepherds: to abandon our worldly concerns and run to the newborn king with joyful hearts.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent: The Promise of Love
The fourth and final Sunday of Advent is a day of immediate, breathless anticipation. The theme is Love, a deep and abiding love that culminates in the Incarnation.
The Angel’s Candle and the Love of Mary
On this Sunday, we light the final purple candle, known as the Angel’s Candle. It represents the love of God that sent his son into the world, and it is closely associated with the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This week’s readings and reflections focus on the Annunciation—the moment the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she would conceive the Son of God. Mary’s loving and obedient response, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word,” is a perfect example of divine love made manifest through human faith.
The Fourth Sunday focuses on the final days of waiting, a poignant time of reflection on the greatest love story ever told: God’s love for humanity, so great that he was willing to become one of us.
Historical Context and Modern Relevance
This Sunday brings the Advent season to a climax, with the liturgical focus almost entirely on the impending birth. The final preparations are complete, and the waiting is almost over. The prayers and readings emphasize the immediacy of Christ’s arrival and the profound mystery of the Incarnation.
In our modern world, the message of love is the perfect culmination of the season. It reminds us that the gifts, the parties, and the decorations are all expressions of a deeper, more profound love. This week is a time to reflect on the nature of God’s love for us, and to consider how we can share that love with others. It’s an invitation to prepare not just our homes, but our hearts, to be a welcoming place for Christ and for each other.
The Christ Candle: The Culmination
After the four Sundays of Advent, the Christ Candle—the fifth, white candle in the center of the wreath—is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. White is a symbol of purity, holiness, and light, and this candle represents Jesus Christ himself, who is the light of the world.
Lighting the Christ Candle is the moment of culmination, the end of the journey and the beginning of the celebration. It signifies that the waiting is over and the promises of hope, peace, joy, and love have been fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. It is the heart of the wreath and the reason for the season.
Advent Traditions and Variations Around the World
While the core themes of the four Sundays remain consistent, the way people celebrate Advent varies widely across different Christian traditions and cultures.
- Catholic and Lutheran Traditions: Often strictly adhere to the purple and rose candle colors, with the rose candle symbolizing Gaudete Sunday. The liturgy is a structured progression, with specific prayers and readings for each week.
- Eastern Orthodox Traditions: The Orthodox Church observes a more extended, forty-day fast called the Nativity Fast, which begins on November 15th. While they don’t use an Advent wreath, the season is still a time of intense spiritual preparation and fasting in anticipation of Christmas.
- Protestant Traditions: Many Protestant churches have adopted the Advent wreath, but some use blue candles instead of purple, which they see as a less penitential color, focusing more on the themes of hope and expectation. Others may use a simpler color scheme or have unique family traditions for lighting the candles.
- Cultural Traditions: In some countries, Advent is marked with special calendars, pastries, or folk customs. For example, in Germany, the Adventskalender (Advent calendar) is a cherished tradition, and in Sweden, the Feast of St. Lucia on December 13th is a major part of the season.
These variations highlight the universal nature of the Advent season. While the specifics may differ, the underlying purpose—to prepare for the coming of Christ with hope, peace, joy, and love—remains the same.
A Journey of Meaning, Not a Race to Christmas
The Advent season is a powerful reminder that some things are worth waiting for. In a world that prizes instant gratification, Advent asks us to slow down. It’s not a frenzied race to Christmas morning, but a deliberate journey of the heart.
The four Sundays provide us with a roadmap for this journey. They guide us from the ancient longing for a Messiah, through the call to prepare our hearts for his arrival, to the joyful realization that he is near, and finally to the ultimate fulfillment of love.
As you light the candles on your wreath this year, don’t just see them as markers on a calendar. See them as a story unfolding, a narrative of God’s faithfulness and his incredible love for you. See them as a story of hope, a story of peace, a story of joy, and a story of love—a story that began in a humble manger and continues to echo in our hearts today.
