Every year, as Christmas approaches, many churches and Christian families bring out an Advent wreath with four candles. One candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, another on the second, and so on until all four are burning.
But what do these candles actually mean? Why are three usually purple and one pink? And why do some churches use different names for the same candles?
The four Advent candles are commonly associated with hope, peace, joy, and love. Each represents a theme Christians reflect on during one of the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Together, they point toward the coming of Jesus Christ, whose birth Christians celebrate at Christmas.
What Do the Four Advent Candles Represent?
The four Advent candles represent four Christian themes associated with the weeks leading up to Christmas:
- First candle – Hope: God's promise to send the Messiah.
- Second candle – Peace: The peace Jesus brings through reconciliation with God.
- Third candle – Joy: The joy announced by the angels at Jesus' birth.
- Fourth candle – Love: God's love revealed through the gift of His Son.
A new candle is lit on each Sunday of Advent. The earlier candles are usually lit again, so the light grows as Christmas approaches.
The exact names and order can differ between churches. However, hope, peace, joy, and love are widely used themes that help Christians reflect on the meaning of Jesus' coming.
The Meaning of Each Advent Candle
First Advent Candle: Hope
The first Advent candle represents hope. It is traditionally purple and is sometimes called the Prophecy Candle because it points to the Old Testament prophets who spoke about the coming Messiah.
For generations, God's people waited for the promised Savior. The prophet Isaiah spoke of a coming King who would bring light to those living in darkness.
Isaiah 9:2 (ESV) says:
"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone."
This prophecy points toward the hope fulfilled in Jesus Christ. His coming was not an unexpected event. God had promised a Savior, and Jesus came as the fulfillment of that promise.
The first candle also speaks to the hope Christians have today. Our hope rests in Jesus and the salvation He provides, not in the idea that life will always go according to our plans.
Romans 15:12-13 connects the promised Messiah with the hope believers receive through faith.
Lighting the first candle is a way of remembering that God kept His promise by sending His Son.
Second Advent Candle: Peace
The second Advent candle represents peace. It is usually purple and is sometimes called the Bethlehem Candle.
Bethlehem is significant because it was the birthplace of Jesus, the promised Messiah. The prophet Micah foretold that a ruler would come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
Isaiah also described the coming Messiah as the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV) includes these words:
"And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Jesus came to bring peace between God and humanity through His saving work. Sin had separated people from God, but through Christ, believers can be reconciled to Him.
Jesus also spoke about the peace He gives to His followers.
John 14:27 (ESV) says:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you."
The peace Jesus offers is different from the temporary calm that comes when everything around us is going well. It is rooted in our relationship with Him.
The second candle gives Christians an opportunity to reflect on the peace Christ brings and the call to live peacefully with others.
Third Advent Candle: Joy
The third Advent candle represents joy. Unlike the other three candles, which are traditionally purple, this one is usually pink or rose.
It is also known as the Shepherd's Candle.
The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word meaning "rejoice." This Sunday marks a joyful point in the Advent season as Christmas draws closer.
The connection between this candle and joy comes naturally from the Christmas story.
When the angel appeared to the shepherds, he announced the birth of Jesus with a message of great joy.
Luke 2:10-11 (ESV) says:
"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"
Notice that the angel's message was not only for the shepherds. It was good news for all people.
Jesus came as the Savior, and His birth brought the fulfillment of God's promise of redemption.
The pink candle represents the joy Christians have because of Christ. This joy is not dependent on having a perfect Christmas, receiving gifts, or enjoying a trouble-free season.
Philippians 4:4 (ESV) says:
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice."
Lighting the third candle is a way of celebrating the good news of Jesus' birth and the salvation He brings.
Fourth Advent Candle: Love
The fourth Advent candle represents love. It is traditionally purple and is sometimes called the Angel's Candle.
The theme of love points to the reason Jesus came into the world: God's love for humanity.
The birth of Jesus was part of God's plan to save people from sin. His coming was an expression of divine love that would ultimately be demonstrated through His death and resurrection.
John 3:16 (ESV) says:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
This verse connects God's love directly to the gift of Jesus.
First John 4:9-10 also explains that God's love was revealed through the sending of His Son so that we might live through Him.
The fourth candle gives Christians an opportunity to reflect on the love God has shown through Christ.
It also points toward the way believers are called to love others. Jesus taught His disciples to love one another as He had loved them (John 13:34).
As Christmas approaches, the Love Candle brings the four Advent themes together by focusing on the gift of Jesus, through whom God's love was made known.
What Do the Advent Candle Colors Mean?
The colors of Advent candles have their own traditional meanings, although churches do not all follow exactly the same arrangement.
The most familiar Advent wreath uses three purple candles and one pink candle.
Purple or Violet Candles
Purple is traditionally associated with preparation, repentance, and the royal nature of Christ.
It is used during Advent as Christians prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus, the promised King.
The first, second, and fourth candles are commonly purple in the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love arrangement.
Pink or Rose Candle
The pink candle represents joy. It is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday.
Its different color marks a joyful point in the season as Christmas approaches.
Other Advent Candle Colors
Some churches use blue candles instead of purple. Others use red, white, or four candles of the same color.
These differences reflect the traditions of different Christian communities. The color arrangement is not a universal biblical requirement.
What Is the Fifth White Advent Candle?
Some Advent wreaths have a fifth candle placed in the center. This candle is white and is known as the Christ Candle.
Unlike the four candles that are lit during the four Sundays of Advent, the white candle is traditionally lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
It represents Jesus Christ and His birth.
The color white is commonly associated with purity, holiness, and the sinless nature of Christ.
John 1:4-5 (ESV) connects Jesus with light:
"In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Jesus also described Himself as the Light of the World in John 8:12.
The Christ Candle brings the focus of the Advent wreath directly to Jesus. The four candles prepare Christians to celebrate His coming, while the central white candle marks the celebration of His birth.
Not every church includes a fifth candle. It is an additional tradition rather than a requirement for observing Advent.
Are the Four Advent Candle Meanings the Same in Every Church?
No. Different Christian churches have different traditions for naming the Advent candles.
The most familiar arrangement is:
- First week: Hope
- Second week: Peace
- Third week: Joy
- Fourth week: Love
However, another arrangement uses Hope, Faith, Joy, and Peace.
Some churches also associate the four Sundays with biblical people connected to the coming of Jesus:
- The Patriarchs, including Abraham and David.
- The Prophets, who foretold the coming Messiah.
- John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus.
- Mary, the mother of Jesus.
These differences can cause confusion when you visit different churches or read Advent resources.
There is a simple reason for this: the Bible does not give Christians a specific command to use four candles with four fixed names. The Advent wreath and its candle themes developed as Christian traditions over time.
The purpose is to help believers prepare for Christmas and reflect on the biblical message surrounding Jesus' coming.
So, if your church uses a different arrangement, that does not automatically mean it is wrong. It is helpful to understand the tradition your church follows and the biblical truth each candle is meant to represent.
How the Advent Wreath Points Us to Jesus
The Advent wreath is more than a Christmas decoration. Its increasing light gives Christians a visible way to mark the weeks of waiting before Christmas.
The candles point toward Jesus, who came into the world as the promised Savior.
John 1:5 (ESV) says:
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
The wreath also connects the celebration of Jesus' first coming with the Christian expectation of His return.
Advent looks back to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, while also looking forward to the day when He will come again.
Revelation 22:20 records the words of Jesus:
"Surely I am coming soon."
The season of Advent gives Christians a chance to remember what God has already done through Christ and look forward to what He has promised.
How to Light the Advent Candles in 2026
Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which is November 29 this year. Add one candle each week, and light the earlier ones again so all the flames burn together:
- November 29: the first purple candle (hope)
- December 6: both purple candles (peace)
- December 13: add the pink candle (joy)
- December 20: add the last purple candle (love)
- December 24 or 25: add the white Christ candle in the center
Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year, December 25. Many families light the candles at dinner after reading a short passage, and the verses above work well for that. Some light the week's candles every evening instead of only on Sundays.
A short prayer to say as you light each one:
Heavenly Father, as I light this candle, help me wait for You. Slow me down this week and turn my eyes to Jesus, who came to Bethlehem and will come again. Amen.
If you're lighting the candles with your family, change "I" to "we."
Conclusion
The four Advent candles represent hope, peace, joy, and love. Each theme points toward the coming of Jesus Christ and the promises fulfilled through Him.
As Christians light another candle each Sunday, they remember the Messiah who came into the world and look forward to His promised return.
The wreath may be a tradition, but the person it points to is the heart of Christmas: Jesus Christ.
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