Advent wreath facts for kids
The Advent wreath is a special Christian tradition. It helps people count down the four weeks of Advent. Advent is a time of preparation before Christmas. This tradition started with Lutheran Christians. Now, many other Christian groups use it too.
An Advent wreath is usually a circle of evergreen leaves. It holds four candles. Sometimes, there's a fifth white candle in the middle. Each Sunday in Advent, one more candle is lit. This is often done with Bible readings and Christian prayers. By the last Sunday of Advent, all four candles are shining. If there's a fifth candle, called the Christ candle, it is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. This custom began in homes but is now also common in churches.
The Story Behind the Wreath
The idea of the Advent wreath began in Germany in the 1500s. However, the wreath we know today came much later.
A Lutheran pastor named Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808–1881) is often credited with the modern Advent wreath. He worked with children in need in Hamburg, Germany. In 1839, the children kept asking when Christmas would arrive. Wichern used a large wooden ring from an old cartwheel. He decorated it with 24 small red candles and four large white ones. He lit one small candle each weekday and Saturday. He lit a large white candle each Sunday.
This idea became popular among Protestant churches in Germany. Over time, it changed into the smaller wreath with four or five candles we see today. Roman Catholics in Germany started using the custom in the 1920s. By the 1930s, it had spread to North America.
Long ago, Advent was a time of quiet reflection. People thought about the future return of Jesus. Today, many see Advent mainly as the exciting time leading up to Christmas. The Advent wreath helps remind everyone that Christmas is getting closer.
In 1964, a homemade Advent wreath was shown on the BBC children's TV show Blue Peter. This became a very popular craft project. It introduced the tradition to many families in the United Kingdom. Later, for safety, the candles were sometimes replaced with ornaments.
More recently, some Eastern Orthodox families have also started using Advent wreaths. Their wreaths often have six candles. This represents their longer Christmas fasting period, which is similar to Advent.
What the Advent Wreath Means
The circular shape of the Advent wreath shows God's endless love. The evergreen leaves represent the hope of eternal life that Jesus Christ brings. The candles inside the wreath stand for the four weeks of Advent. They also symbolize "the light of God coming into the world through the birth of Jesus."
Each of the four candles has a special meaning. They represent Christian ideas like hope, peace, joy, and love. One candle is lit each week during Advent. Many Advent wreaths also have a white candle in the center. This is called the 'Christ candle'. It symbolizes the arrival of Christmastide. It is first lit on Christmas Eve, which starts the Christmas season. The Christ candle is white because white is a traditional color for celebrations in Western churches.
Sometimes, the candles have even more specific meanings:
- The first candle can be called the Messiah or Prophecy candle. It reminds us of the prophets who foretold Jesus' coming.
- The second is the Bethlehem candle. It represents the journey of Joseph and Mary.
- The third candle stands for the shepherds and their joy.
- The fourth is the Angel's candle, representing peace.
In many Catholic and Protestant churches, the candles have specific colors. Three of the four candles are often violet or blue. These colors represent a time of reflection and hope. The third candle is often rose-colored. This is for the Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday. "Gaudete" means "rejoice," so this candle represents joy.
In other Protestant churches, especially in the United Kingdom, Advent wreaths often have four red candles. These red candles are sometimes linked to weekly Bible readings. They can represent different groups looking forward to Christ's coming: God's people, the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, and Mary.
An Eastern Christian Advent wreath can have six different colored candles. These celebrate the six weeks of their 40-day Advent and Christmas period. Each candle has a meaning:
- Green (first Sunday): faith
- Blue (second Sunday): hope
- Gold (third Sunday): love
- White (fourth Sunday): peace
- Purple (fifth Sunday): repentance
- Red (sixth Sunday): communion
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An Advent wreath with three purple candles and one rose candle.
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One of the four candles is lit every Sunday of Advent until Christmas.
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An Advent wreath with one rose candle and three purple candles, all lit.
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An Advent arrangement from the Czech Republic.
See also
In Spanish: Corona de adviento para niños
- Advent calendar
- Chrismon tree
- Christingle
- Daily devotional
