| The advent candles have a great history within the | | | | Additionally there great symbolic nature of the candle |
| church history. They are in integral part of the | | | | light. By moving though the period of advent, the |
| advent wreath and to focus on the season of | | | | light of one candle does give off very small amount |
| Advent itself. The use of the Advent candle reaches | | | | of light. Though the second week when the second |
| back to the 8th century. The origins of the advent | | | | candle is lit it reveals a little more because the two |
| wreath and in kind the advent wreath are sketchy | | | | candles provide more light. As we move to the third |
| although many agree that there was the use of a | | | | week and the joy the light of the three candles give |
| wreath in German and the wheel of candles of the | | | | off we become more away of the warm light of |
| Scandinavian countries that used the advent candle | | | | Christ. Just like we are happy over the warm light our |
| to light the long nights. | | | | candles give off lighting the long winter nights. |
| Candles were initially used in pagan worship but the | | | | Above all the advent candles help light our way |
| Church has taken many pagan rituals. Incense was | | | | though the penitential season of Advent. We use our |
| also used in the pagan tradition but the church | | | | wreath and the nightly candle lighting service to |
| embraced these elements when they were working | | | | remind us to pray and to fast so we are fully |
| toward converting the early Christians. Other | | | | prepared to receive our Lord at his birth on |
| byproducts of pagan ritual are the Christmas tree | | | | Christmas, or ready ourselves for the second coming |
| and Christmas itself which was originally part of the | | | | of our Lord. There is a definitely duality in Christmas |
| winter solicits celebration. These items seem to | | | | of looking to the past or waiting for the future. |
| greatly enhance the religious and spiritual experience | | | | The advent candles traditionally come in purple which |
| creating an atmosphere for worship. | | | | in the church conveys the penitential nature of the |
| The advent candles and the advent wreath are ways | | | | season, just the same as Lent does. The third candle |
| to mark the special time of the year known as | | | | is pink which reminds us of our joy. The third week |
| advent. The candles have much significance because | | | | should remind us that Christmas is almost here. In |
| they are used to mark the four weeks of advent. | | | | more recent times the candles have moved out of |
| Symbolically the diminishment of the candles shows | | | | the tradition realms. For example the Irish often used |
| the passing of time though the advent season. Week | | | | an emerald green in place of purple and pale green in |
| one by the end of advent is usually very short and | | | | place of the rose Candle in their Celtic Advent |
| needs a replacement advent candle. The candles also | | | | Wreath. This is fine to do as long as the spirit of the |
| provide light, just as Christ is the light of the world. In | | | | season does not get lost. Advent strengths the |
| the 8th century these candles were used to light the | | | | family and continues to be handed down though the |
| long nights of Winter. | | | | generations. |