What is Advent? Advent is from a Latin word meaning “coming” and has existed in the Christian church since at least the fifth century. It begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas, marking four weeks of distinct themes related to aspects of Christ’s birth.

 

Specific to the Advent tradition is the Advent wreath. This wreath features four candles, often including a fifth white candle in the center. In the Catholic tradition, the four main candles include three violet or purple candles, symbolizing penance, and a rose candle for the third Sunday to represent Gaudete Sunday, a term meaning “to rejoice” in Latin.
 

Protestant churches also sometimes use four red candles as a color associated with Christmas along with a white center candle that is lit at either a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service. The white candle represents the birth of Christ and His coming or “Advent” to earth. Many add that it represents Jesus as the light of the world.

In many Protestant traditions, the four wreath candles symbolize hope, peace, love, and joy. Each week also includes a biblical reading. This first week of Advent focuses on the angel's appearance to Zechariah in Luke chapter 1. The birth of John the Baptist would prepare the way for the Lord.