Understanding the Meanings of the Candles on the Advent Wreath
One of the most beloved traditions of Advent: the Advent wreath—a simple circle of evergreens and candles meant to help us slow down and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. This is a great family tradition to start with kids when they are preschoolers and kindergarteners. Kids learn the meanings of the candles pretty quickly and are able to repeat them year after year.
But if you’ve ever Googled “Advent candle meanings,” you’ve probably discovered something confusing: there isn’t just one answer.
Different churches and families use different sets of meanings, and none of them are wrong. In fact, each one highlights a different part of the beauty of Christ’s coming.
So let’s work through three separate options for you—including the story-shaped version my family has used for years. By the end, you’ll understand exactly what each candle represents, how the traditions developed, and how to find (or create) meaningful Scripture readings to use with your wreath.
Quick Question: What is an Advent Wreath?
If you’re new to the tradition, here’s the simple overview: an Advent wreath is a circle of evergreen branches with four candles around the outside—one for each week leading up to Christmas—and an optional center candle representing Christ. The tradition traces its origins all the way back to Johann Hinrich Wichern in 1839.
The wreath is usually lit once a week, often on Sunday, with families or churches reading Scripture, praying, and reflecting together. The evergreens symbolize eternal life, and the growing light of the candles reminds us that the Light of the World is coming.
Because the Advent wreath developed across different Christian traditions, the meanings of the four candles vary slightly. There has never been one universal “right” way to do it. Below are the three meaningful ways to observe them today.
Advent Candle Meanings Version One: Hope – Joy – Peace – Love
This is the possibly the oldest and most widely accepted interpretation of the Advent candles, especially in Protestant churches and family traditions. Each candle points to a core theme of Christ’s coming:
- Hope — remembering God’s promises and the longing for the Messiah
- Peace — the peace Jesus brings to our hearts and world
- Joy — the joy of Christ’s arrival, often celebrated with the pink candle
- Love — God’s love displayed in sending His Son for us
This version is simple, beautiful, and easy to remember—perfect for families who want a traditional, gospel-focused approach with clear weekly themes. This one typically uses 3 purple candles and 1 pink candle (for Joy) along with the white Christ candle.
Advent Candle Meanings Version Two: Prophecy – Bethlehem – Shepherds – Angels
Another popular and meaningful version uses elements of Christ’s birth. Instead of focusing on themes, this framework focuses on events and characters in the Nativity story:
- Prophecy — Old Testament promises pointing to Christ
- Bethlehem — the humble place where Jesus was born
- Shepherds — the first witnesses to the good news
- Angels — God’s messengers announcing the Savior’s arrival
Churches that follow the church calendar or lectionary often use versions of this approach. Some who use this version still use the traditional pink and purple candles, but others will use all white or red or other colors of candles.
A New, Third, Candle Meanings Version: Prophets – Angels – Shepherds – Wise Men
The third version is the one my family has used for years—a simple, story-shaped framework that follows the flow of the Christmas story from promise to fulfillment. We created this when our children were young because it was easy to remember, rooted in Scripture, and connected Christmas to the gospel, not just the manger.
Here is what each candle represents:
- Prophets — the ones who told us a Savior was coming and described how to recognize Him: born in Bethlehem, from the line of David, Light in the darkness.
- Angels — God’s messengers who announced that the promised Messiah had finally arrived, declaring good news for all people.
- Shepherds — the first to hear the news and the first to share it, reminding us that the gospel is for everyone, not only the powerful or important.
- Wise Men — seekers from far away whose gifts revealed who Jesus truly was: gold for our King, frankincense for our High Priest, and myrrh for our Sacrificial Lamb.
This version moves through the Nativity in a way children grasp instantly, yet it carries rich theological depth for adults. It begins with promises, moves through proclamation and witness, and ends with worship—showing the fullness of who Jesus is.
Finding Readings for Different Advent Candle Meanings
One of the most confusing parts of Advent is discovering that there’s no official, universal set of candle readings.
Different churches, traditions, and devotional guides choose different Scriptures based on which set of meanings they use. Even the Catholic Lectionary follows a three-year cycle, meaning the readings change each year.
The good news?
This gives your family freedom to choose Scripture that fits the candle theme you’re using—whether traditional, narrative, or the story-shaped version above. Scriptures should be chosen prayerfully, but you are free to choose and reuse scriptures to meet your needs.
If you want ideas or a place to start, here are a handful to get you started.
Trusted Sources for Advent Candle Readings
- Advent Readings for Each Sunday and Week of Advent 2025 | Christianity.com
- 5 Powerful Advent Readings for Church Services – Church Ministry Help
- Advent Series: Week One – Living Lutheran
- Advent Prayers for Each Week of 2025 Advent Season | Bible Study Tools
- Candle Lighting Litanies for Advent and Christmas | Reformed Worship
- A Family Liturgy for Sundays in Advent — Joy of Advent
- What is an Advent Wreath? How-to Guide for Celebrating Advent – Christmas and Advent | Crosswalk.com
- Build Your Own – Choose prophecy readings for Week 1, announcement readings for Week 2, shepherd passages for Week 3, and Luke 2 for Week 4.
Free Download: Weekly Advent Readings
If you want something simple and ready to use, I created a free one-page printable that pairs beautifully with the story-shaped version my family uses. It includes:
- Weekly candle themes
- Scripture suggestions for each week
- A short reflection
- A simple prayer for families
Since the Prophets/Angels/Shepherds/Wise Men version doesn’t appear anywhere else online, this printable gives you a meaningful, easy-to-follow guide without needing to hunt down verses or mix and match your own.
You can download the free printable for free in the shop.
How to Use This In Your Home
If you’re new to the tradition and you’re worried about doing it “right,” again there isn’t just one “right” way.
Using an Advent wreath looks different from family to family depending on their schedules, kids’ ages, and preferences. And also, there’s no need to overcomplicate this incredibly simple tradition.
Start Using Your Advent Candle Wreath Today
- Choose your preferred candle version. Decide when you will do these readings, whether it’s Sunday morning before church or Sunday at supper – any time is the right time.
- Begin with a simple overview of your chosen Advent candle meanings. (We repeat this each time.)
- Announce or ask your children which candle is the candle of the week and talk about what it represents. Light the candle (take turns lighting candles each time.)
- Read your selected scriptures together – include children who are old enough to read.
- Talk about what the scriptures reveal about Jesus and God.
- Pray and thank God for those things.
- Optional: End with a relevant hymn or contemporary Christian song such as O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, or O Little Town of Bethlehem.
That’s all there is to it, and it’s the simplest, easiest tradition of them all. For many families, weekly readings together are sufficient. However, for some, daily readings are preferred.
Deeper Advent Study: Optional Daily Readings
Many families enjoy going deeper than the weekly candle lighting by adding daily Scripture readings or a family devotional. This creates a gentle rhythm that keeps hearts focused on Jesus throughout December.
If you’re looking for something simple, Christ-centered, and easy to use with kids, I’ve created two Advent resources that pair beautifully with the candle readings:
- My 26-day Advent Devotional — a gospel-centered countdown through the names, themes, and wonder of Jesus’ coming
- ABC Advent Cards — a simple, daily walk through the Christmas story from A to Z
Either can be used on their own or alongside weekly candle lighting for a fuller Advent rhythm.
Make Room For Jesus
Whether your family lights candles for Hope and Peace, for Prophecy and Bethlehem, or for Prophets and Wise Men, the heart of Advent remains the same: we are preparing room for Jesus.
Every one of these traditions—old or new—points us back to the One who came in humility, lived in righteousness, died for our sins, and will come again in glory. There’s no “right” version to use. There is only the version that helps your home slow down, breathe deeply, and look to Christ with expectation.
If you’re ready to bring a simple, meaningful rhythm into your Advent season, be sure to download the free Weekly Advent Candle Readings printable. It’s an easy way to light your candles with purpose and Scripture each week—without any extra planning or overwhelm.
May the Light of His Coming fill your home with hope, peace, joy, and love this season.
Click here to download the free Advent Candle Readings printable.
ABC’s of Advent, Christmas Countdown
A Christ-centered way to help your kids count down to Christmas during the advent season, these beautifully illustrated ABC Advent cards tell the biblical story of Jesus’ birth with watercolor pictures, reference scriptures, and key words.
*Note: This file is a .pdf download that is available immediately after purchase. No physical item is included. Once your transaction is completed, click on the big purple button to begin the download.*
Waiting in Wonder: Gentle Family Devotions for the Season of Advent
A peaceful, Scripture-rich Advent devotional for families who long to slow down, breathe deep, and return to the heart of Christmas. Through 26 simple, meaningful ABC-themed readings, Waiting in Wonder helps your home find a sacred rhythm of anticipation — without rushing, striving, or adding more to your plate.
The Light of His Coming – Weekly Advent Candle Readings
A simple, gospel-centered guide to your weekly Advent candle readings. Includes Scripture suggestions, short reflections, and a prayer for each week of Advent.
**This is a digital file available for immediate download.**
