The Advent Wreath and the Meaning of the Four Candles

The four candles represent the four virtues—hope, love, joy, and peace--Jesus brings with his coming; the middle candle (white) is referred to as the Christ candle lit on Christmas Eve.

In 16th-century Germany, as the Reformation began to take shape following Luther’s nailing of the 95 theses, certain practices were added to the Church in response to the superstitious rituals of the Roman Church. The Reformers wished to put tangible things that would remind/restore the imagination to more noble activities of the church. The Advent Wreath was one of those practices. It was a way to count down to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The Advent Wreath is a Reformation addition to church life. “The wreath is made out of evergreens in the shape of a circle to represent eternal life.”

The four candles represent the four virtues—hope, love, joy, and peace--Jesus brings with his coming; the middle candle (white) is referred to as the Christ candle lit on Christmas Eve. The meaning of each candle has changed a bit over time, but the idea of the first four candles representing the gifts Christ brings on his arrival is still fairly common.