A Catholic tradition, which started in the home and of recent times has made itself into the Church, is the blessing of advent wreaths and lighting the candles.

The wreath and candles are full of symbolism tied to the Christmas season. The wreath itself, which is made of various evergreens, signifies continuous life. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life we find in Christ. Even the individual evergreens that make up the wreath have their own meanings that can be adapted to our faith. The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering. The pine, holly, and yew signify immortality and the cedar signifies strength and healing. The pine cones that decorate the wreath symbolize life and resurrection. 

The wreath as a whole is meant to remind us of both the immortality of our souls and God’s promise of everlasting life to us through Christ. 

The candles also have their own special significance. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and one candle is lit each Sunday. Three of the candles are purple because the colour violet is a liturgical colour that signifies a time of prayer, penance, and sacrifice. 

The first candle symbolizes hope. It is sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. 

The second candle represents faith. It is called the “Bethlehem Candle” as a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. 

The third candle is called the shepherds candle. It is pink to symbolize the joy of the shepherds who found Jesus among the lowly, and it is our joy of being halfway through advent.

 The fourth candle, the “Angel’s Candle,” symbolizes peace. It reminds us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.” Some people like to have a fifth, white candle, to light on Christmas day.

What a beautiful way to mark time for our children so they can see how long is left to wait until Jesus arrives.