Catholics all over the world today welcome the season of Advent, the start of another liturgical year. Advent comes from the Latin word “adventus” which means “coming.” The season has a two-fold character: to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s first coming is remembered, and to anticipate Jesus’ second coming as judge of the world.
The tradition of putting up Advent wreaths with four candles at home, in church, or work places has a special meaning.
Here are what the symbols convey:
– The circular shape of the wreath represents an eternal God with no beginning and end.
– The green color of the wreath represents hope. The boughs making up the wreath should be natural for the same reason we don’t use artificial flowers in the liturgy.
– Four candles on the wreath—three purple and one rose or pink—are lighted every Sunday. The candles also symbolize the 4,000-year wait of humankind for the Messiah from the time of Adam and Eve to the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.
– Purple symbolizes penance. The pink candle is lighted on the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete or joyful Sunday.
The rose color is a symbol of joy.
– The light on the candles represents Jesus, the light of the world.
* There are only four candles of the wreath which correspond to the four Sundays or weeks of Advent. The use of which candle in the middle of the wreath, which is lighted on Christmas Day, is not mentioned in the norms pertaining to the Advent wreath in the Book of Blessings. It has no liturgical meaning or significance and therefore strictly must not be introduced.
Source: Archdiocese of Cebu’s Commission on Worship