What Colors Are Advent Candles?
Advent is an exciting season of celebrating church traditions that have expanded hundreds or even thousands of years. One of these Advent traditions is lighting the Advent candles. Meant to reflect that Jesus is the “light [that] shines in the darkness,” (John 1:5), the Advent candles are rich in Christian symbolism and meaning during this special season.
Each candle is placed within a wreath, symbolizing the life of the evergreen branch. One candle is lit every Sunday leading up to Christmas Day, and together, the four candles celebrate what we anticipate from the coming Messiah—hope, peace, joy, and love. Finally, on Christmas Eve, the last Advent candle located at the center of the wreath is the Christ candle, celebrating the long-awaited birth of God’s Son. Let’s take a deeper dive into what each candle typically looks like and what they should represent.
The Hope Candle: Purple
On the first Sunday of the Advent season—usually four weeks before Christmas Day—the Hope candle is lit. The purple candle represents the royalty of King Jesus who was born on earth to give hope to all people. Not only did Jesus give us hope when He came to earth as a baby, He also gives us hope that He will one day return again to bring His heavenly Kingdom here to earth.
The Peace Candle: Purple
On the second Sunday of Advent, both the Hope candle and the Peace candle are lit. The Peace candle will also be a purple color, representing the royalty of Christ. This Sunday, we reflect on how Jesus has given us the gift of having peace with God and peace with others. He restored the relationship between sinful humans and God Almighty, and He also teaches us how we can love others in peace and reconciliation through His love.
The Joy Candle: Pink
On the third Sunday of Advent, you will light the Hope and Peace candles. Then, you will light the only pink candle—the Joy candle. The pink color traditionally represents joy, which is fitting for the day it celebrates. This day is special because it is also known as “Gaudete” Sunday, which is the Latin word for “Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 teaches us that we can have joy in Christ not only because He was born on earth, but because He also promises to be with us always.
The Love Candle: Purple
On the final Sunday before Christmas Day, you will light the first three candles—Hope, Peace, and Joy. Then, you will light the final purple candle—the Love candle. The Love candle represents God’s love that was made manifest in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension all teach us about His great, life-transforming love.
The Christ Candle: White
On Christmas Eve, the final candle is lit at the center of the wreath with all previously lit candles around it. As the weeks have continued, you should notice that the light grows brighter as more and more candles have been lit. Each previous candle points to the culmination of the final candle—the Christ candle—which is the only white candle in the collection. White represents the purity and holiness of Jesus Christ—the One to whom all of Advent has been pointing. As you light the Christ candle, reflect on the Messiah who came to earth to save His people from their sins. Even as the anticipation of Christmas ends, we still remain in our season of waiting and anticipation until Jesus Christ returns to earth once again, just as He promised.
Want to learn even more about the history of Advent traditions? Take a look at the Daily Grace Co’s Just As He Promised digital study to guide you through Advent history, the story of Christ’s birth, and time for meaningful reflection this Advent season! Also, check out our Advent men’s study for the men in your life who want to spend intentional time in the Word this Advent season. We pray you find each of these resources helpful for you and your family as you celebrate the true meaning of Christmas together.
