What are its origins? What do the colors of the candles mean?
The Advent Wreath The custom of the Advent wreath dates back to the folk practices of people in early cultures who gathered evergreen wreaths and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light. In ancient Rome, people decorated houses and public buildings with evergreen wreaths and garland to welcome a New Year. Christians continued to practice these traditions and by the 16th century, Catholics and Protestants throughout eastern Europe used these symbols to celebrate their Advent hope in Christ. The use of the Advent wreath spread to other parts of the Christian world. The Advent Wreath represents the long time when people lived in spiritual darkness, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the Light of the world. Each year in Advent, people wait in darkness for the coming of the Lord. The Advent wreath holds four candles, one for each week of Advent. Three candles are violet or purple, the traditional color of Advent, to symbolize waiting, expectation and preparat
