Fr John Flader: Advent wreath precedes Christ

Q: In recent years I have seen more and more Advent wreaths, both in homes and in churches. Is this just a nice decoration like a wreath on a door, or does it have some spiritual meaning?

For those who may not know, an Advent wreath is a ring of greenery, preferably from an evergreen tree, with four candles. Usually three of the candles are purple and one rose. One of the purple candles is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, this one plus another one on the second Sunday, these two plus the rose one on the third Sunday, and all four on the fourth Sunday.
The wreath may have its origin in pre-Christian times when people in northern Europe used wreaths with lit candles in the dark, cold months of Winter as a sign of life and of hope in the coming warmth and light of Spring.
Advent wreaths have been used by Christians since at least the Middle Ages. By the end of the 16th century both Catholics and Lutherans in northern Europe had formal practices associated with them.
The wreath is rich with symbolism. For example, the evergreen boughs can be seen as a symbol of everlasting life. The fir tree, such as the pine or spruce, is green even in the winter and can therefore be a symbol of the everlasting life that Christ brought to the world.
This is seen in the popular German Christmas carol O Tannenbaum (“O Christmas Tree”), which speaks of the truth, or faithfulness, of the tree’s needles, which are green not only in the summer but also in the winter. Another verse speaks of the “clothes” or needles of the tree teaching us of hope and steadfastness, and providing comfort and strength at any time. This can aptly refer to the long years of hopeful waiting for the Messiah, who brings us comfort and strength. 
The fact that the wreath is round and unending also speaks of everlasting life, or eternity, brought by Christ.
The four candles represent the four Sundays of Advent. The length of Advent can vary, depending on which day of the week Christmas falls, but it always begins on a Sunday and comprises the four Sundays before Christmas plus whatever number of days remain until Christmas.
As regards their colour, in the Catholic tradition the vestments worn by the priest in Mass during Advent are purple, except for the third Sunday, when they may be rose, or pink. For this reason the candles have the same colours, and the rose candle is lit on the third Sunday.
The colour purple, which is also used in Lent, symbolises the prayer, penance and good works carried out in preparation for the coming of Christ.
Rose is a joyful colour and is used on the third Sunday of Advent, also called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. The Entrance Antiphon for this Sunday begins with the word “Rejoice”, taken from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice” (Phil 4:4). We rejoice on this Sunday because we are now beginning the second half of Advent and we are drawing closer to Christmas.
The light given off by the candles symbolises the light brought by Christ, who is “the light of the world” (Jn 8:12). As the candles are progressively lit on the four Sundays, this light increases, symbolising Christ drawing ever nearer.
The Church recognises the Advent wreath officially in its Book of Blessings, which contains a blessing for the wreath to be carried out on the first Sunday of Advent. One of the blessings provided asks that the light of the candles may reflect the splendour of Christ, and another asks that the wreath and its light may be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
And the Vatican’s Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy says that the wreath, with the progressive lighting of its four candles, “is a recollection of the various stages of salvation history prior to Christ’s coming and a symbol of the prophetic light gradually illuminating the long night prior to the rising of the Sun of justice” (cf Mal 4:2; Lk 1:78); n 98). All in all, the Advent wreath is a beautiful custom and it is much to be encouraged. It focuses our attention on the very heart of the season, on the coming of Christ who brings light and everlasting life, and thus helps to avoid our becoming distracted by the more material aspects.
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