Advent Wreath Meaning and Symbolism: A Guide for Creative Worship

Updated for Advent 2025

It may surprise many to learn that Advent wreaths are a fairly new tradition, only dating back to the 19th century. But it provides a powerful way to connect with your congregation through physical actions that remind us of spiritual realities. This isn't a how-to-guide (we'll link to some ones we like below), it's a why guide. Effectively communicating why we do to families in your congregation can change this from a "nice idea" to something that annually is a meaningful symbol of our eager Advent waiting.

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The Origin of the Advent Wreath

Christians have marked Advent for centuries—combining the remembered waiting for the savior, with our present waiting for Christmas, and combining both of these with our waiting for the Lord's future return.

However, the first Advent wreath we might recognize seems to have been created by Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808-1881), a German pastor who worked among the poor in Hamburg. At his mission school, Rauhes Haus, the children would ask throughout Advent, "Is it Christmas yet?" The story goes that he made a wooden ring out of an old cartwheel with 20 small red and four large white candles. Small candles were lit every weekday and Saturday, while on Sundays, a large white candle was lit.

Over time, the custom grew among Protestant churches, taking the form of a wreath with four or five candles we know today, crossing the Atlantic in the 1930s and now being used across Protestant and Catholic churches in the United States.

Ideas for Creating Your Own Advent Wreath

I’m a strong advocate for grace and creativity in Christian practices, especially practices that are relatively new. (Yes, a practice from the 1800’s is relatively new given Christians continue practices dating back thousands of years.)

With that said, now’s a great time to create an Advent Wreath for your home. Yes, you could buy an Advent Wreath. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you could also create one. Each choice will be intentional, adding to its meaning. The act of creating the wreath will be a prayer in itself. The point of a Christian practice is to help you connect with God. What will help you connect?

COLORS

Modern Advent Wreaths often use four purple or blue candles plus a white candle in the center. The purple/blue candles can represent many things- repentance, longing, waiting, sovereignty, night, etc. The white candle is often called the Christ Candle, representing Jesus, and isn’t lit till Christmas Eve. Sometimes, one of the purple/blue candles is replaced with a pink candle to represent joy.

Some Advent Wreaths use other colors. The “original” used red and white. What would it be like for the color of the candles to get lighter as you make your way to the white Christ Candle? What if the Christ Candle were gold or silver?

There’s no need to stress over authenticity or getting it right. Symbols are elastic. What colors will you choose? What do they represent for you?

CANDLES

Tapered candles will show the passage of time. Pillar candles are also beautiful. You could even use simple votive candles or tea lights. Be sure to use the needed candle sticks, platforms, or holders for your candles to burn safely.

NUMBER OF CANDLES

The “original” wreath used well over 20 candles, lighting one a day from the beginning of Advent to Christmas Eve. This connects that wreath to the popular Advent calendars or Countdown calendars. Most modern wreaths use 5 candles. One for each week of Advent plus the Christ Candle. How many will you use? Why?

SHAPE

Advent Wreaths are often shaped as a circle, a symbol of eternity. I’ve seen “wreaths” shaped like a spiral, a cross, or with the candles in a row like a path. What shape will you choose and why?

OPTIONAL ITEMS

• Fresh or artificial greenery. Evergreens, holly, and ivy are often used. How about poinsettia? What do you have in your yard that could be used?

• Use figures from your nativity set to decorate your Advent Wreath. How about an empty manger in place of the Christ Candle? Replace it with the Christ Candle on Christmas Eve and/or place the baby in the manger. I have an olive wood carving from Israel of a pregnant woman I love to use. On Christmas Eve, it’s replaced with a carving of a woman holding a baby.