The Advent wreath acts as a symbol for the passage of the four weeks in Advent. The concept of the wreath originated among German Lutherans in the 16th century, but the design we have today did not appear until about three centuries later. Pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern was working as a missionary among the poor in Hamburg, Germany when he founded the Rauhes Haus (“Rough House”) school to serve neglected children by feeding, housing, and educating them.

In 1893, Wichern was trying to contain the children’s excitement leading up to Christmas and ended up creating the blueprint for the modern Advent wreath. He built a large wooden ring, adorned with twenty small red candles and four large white candles, and each day during prayer, a child got to light a candle until they were all finally illuminated on Christmas Eve. As the tradition spread throughout Germany and the rest of the world, evergreen branches were added to the circle of the wreath, the number of candles were reduced to just the largest four to represent the Sundays in Advent, and the “Christ Candle” was added to the middle of the wreath, traditionally lit on Christmas Day, to symbolize the arrival of Christ’s light in the world.

For believers today, the symbolic meanings held by the Advent wreath remind us of what we are really getting ready to celebrate at Christmas - the arrival of the long-expected Jesus.

Isaiah 9 contains one of the Messianic Prophecies given in the Old Testament about the coming of Christ, and it compares His arrival to a great light coming on the earth: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).

The continuous lighting of candles on the wreath throughout Advent signifies the increase of light pouring into the world as Christ’s arrival draws near. Lighting the candles one by one over the four weeks symbolizes the posture of anticipation we adopt in this season. The flame of each candle pushes back the darkness, and by Christmas Day, the fully illuminated wreath radiates a brightness to serve as a reminder that the Light of the World came to defeat darkness forever and dwell with His people.

Four candles sit around the ring of the wreath, each one pointing us to a different aspect of Advent. The colors of the candles vary with different traditions, but there are usually three purple or dark blue candles, one pink or rose candle, and one white candle in the center.

The purple or dark blue represents both our need for personal penitence and the royalty of the coming King. The pink represents the joy of Christmas and the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah. Finally, the white represents the purity of Christ, the unblemished Lamb of God.

• The first candle, sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle,” symbolizes the Hope for a Savior we see in the prophets of Israel, and begins the season with a spirit of anticipation for the coming Christ.

• The second candle symbolizes the Peace God promises to all mankind through the Messiah.

• The third candle symbolizes the Joy of the Good News given to the shepherds in the fields by the heavenly hosts at Jesus’s birth. This candle is traditionally pink or rose, and serves as a turning point in the Advent season, giving us a visual reminder that the period of waiting is coming to an end.

• The fourth and final candle in the circle of the wreath symbolizes Love and reminds us that the ultimate act of love was God sending His one and only Son into the world to eventually be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

• The center candle is traditionally white and called the Christ Candle, lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to symbolize the arrival of Christ and His light in the world.

The traditional Advent wreath is arranged in a circle, with no beginning or end, to symbolize that God’s good will toward man, brought about by the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, will never cease. Advent is the season when we get to celebrate the miracle of the Word of God becoming flesh through the birth of Christ. However, the circle of the wreath reminds us that this miracle came to pass because of God’s endless love and mercy for us.

The Advent wreath is typically made up of evergreen branches. The color green alone symbolizes the hope of renewal and potential for new life, but the use of evergreens serves as an even sweeter reminder to us of the promise of eternal life we have access to through Jesus Christ the Messiah.

Advent gives us an opportunity to look back on the first coming of Christ, and also look forward with hope to the time when King Jesus will come back to rule and reign over His kingdom forever. When the Son of Man first came to earth, Israel had been abused by their kings, enslaved by their enemies, and led astray by apathetic religious leaders for generations. They were longing for their promised Messiah-King to rise up and lead them as God’s chosen people.

During Advent, we acknowledge that we are just like Israel—heavy with anticipation, and waiting for our promised King to come. However, we can also give thanks, trusting that because Jesus came before, He will come again. Advent reminds us to hope so that as anticipation builds, our hearts can shake off the heaviness, and take on a posture of joyful expectancy for Christ’s glorious return. Lighting the candles one by one reminds us that though we are waiting, we are waiting with a hope that will one daylight the whole world.

Since the Advent wreath is present for the whole Christmas season, it can double as a festive decoration in our homes. They are traditionally placed on a table or flat surface near the front door as a welcome sign, but can be made in a variety of different sizes and styles, so there is plenty of room for some creative flair. The essentials for building your own wreath include four or five candles, a circular frame, and evergreens (or something similar). You can keep it traditional with the classic wreath shape and colored candles, or mix it up by building a wreath in a decorative box with jars and votive candles.

Feel free to add pine cones, holly, small ornaments, or berries to your wreath for some extra decoration. If you have kids (or just have a sweet-tooth) give an edible doughnut Advent wreath a try! All you need is a doughnut, icing, green sprinkles, and birthday candles. There are so many ways to build an Advent wreath, so find a style that works best for you and your home, and enjoy it all season long.