Advent candles are the four candles of the Advent wreath, one for each of the four Sundays before Christmas. The traditional set has three violet (purple) candles and one rose candle. The rose candle is lit on the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. In 2026, Advent begins on Sunday, November 29, so the candles are lit on November 29, December 6, December 13 (the rose candle), and December 20. Many families also place a white candle in the center and light it on Christmas.
Below you will find the colors and their order, the meaning families give to each week, a simple way to light the candles at home with a short prayer, and how to choose a set made to last.
What Advent is and when it begins in 2026
Advent is the season of preparation before Christmas. It covers the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of the Lord's birth. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the season begins on the Sunday that falls on or closest to November 30, the feast of Saint Andrew, and it always includes four Sundays.
In 2026, the four Sundays of Advent fall on these dates:
- First Sunday of Advent: November 29, 2026
- Second Sunday of Advent: December 6, 2026
- Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday): December 13, 2026
- Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 20, 2026
Christmas then arrives on Friday, December 25. The Church describes Advent as a time of devout and joyful expectation, with a gentle note of penance in the sense of quieting and preparing our hearts. It looks two directions at once: back to the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem, and forward to his coming again.
The four Advent candles and their colors
The classic Advent wreath holds four candles: three purple and one rose. The bishops note that, ideally, three candles are purple and one is rose, though white candles may also be used when colored candles are not available.
Why three purple candles and one rose
Purple, also called violet, is the liturgical color of Advent. Like Lent, Advent is a season that prepares us for a great feast, so the Church uses the same color of prayer, penance, and quiet preparation. The three purple candles stand for that spirit of getting ready.
The single rose candle belongs to the Third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday. The word Gaudete is Latin for rejoice. On that Sunday the tone lifts: the long wait is more than half over, and joy breaks through. That is why the priest may wear rose vestments at Mass and why one rose candle glows among the purple.
The white Christ candle in the center
Many families add a fifth candle, white, in the center of the wreath. It is often called the Christ candle. It is not part of the older four candle custom, but it has become a beloved tradition. Families light it on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to celebrate that the One the wreath was waiting for has arrived. White is the color of Christmas joy and purity.
Advent candle colors in order: the meaning of each week
Beyond the liturgical colors, many families give each candle a theme. The most common devotional naming is hope, peace, joy, and love. This is a popular tradition rather than an official rule of the Church, and the names do vary from one family or parish to another. Some use the older names of the Prophecy candle, the Bethlehem candle, the Shepherds candle, and the Angels candle. Both are fine.
Here is the order most families in the United States follow:
- First week (purple): Hope. We remember the promises of the prophets and the long hope of Israel for a Savior.
- Second week (purple): Peace. We think of John the Baptist calling hearts to prepare the way of the Lord.
- Third week (rose): Joy. Gaudete Sunday. The rose candle lifts our eyes: rejoice, the Lord is near.
- Fourth week (purple): Love. We turn to Mary and her yes, and to the love of God coming to dwell among us.
Because the naming is a devotional custom, feel free to keep the theme your family grew up with. Spanish speaking families often connect these weeks to the same spirit found in the meaning of devotional candle colors. Our guide to the meaning of veladora colors, written in Spanish, is a lovely companion for readers who pray in both languages.
How to light the Advent candles week by week
You do not need anything elaborate. A wreath, the four candles, and a few quiet minutes as a family are enough. Here is a simple rhythm.
- First week: Light one purple candle. Let it burn during your evening prayer or dinner all through the week.
- Second week: Light the first purple candle and a second purple candle together.
- Third week: Light the two purple candles and the rose candle. Three flames now, joy growing.
- Fourth week: Light all three purple candles and the rose candle.
- Christmas: If you use a white Christ candle, light all five.
A short prayer helps children feel the meaning. You might pray together: "Lord, as this light grows week by week, prepare our hearts to welcome you. Come, Lord Jesus, and fill our home with your peace. Amen." Many families add a Scripture reading from the Sunday Mass, then let the youngest child blow out the candles at the end.
Advent is also a wonderful season to read Scripture as a household. If your family is choosing a Bible to read together this year, our guide on how to choose a Catholic Bible walks through translations and gift editions in English and Spanish.
Where the Advent wreath comes from
The Advent wreath has deep roots. Long before Christ, peoples of northern Europe lit candles and gathered evergreens during the darkest weeks of winter, longing for the return of light and warmth. As the faith spread, missionaries took up that very human longing and gave it its true meaning: the light we await is Christ himself, the sun of justice who scatters every darkness.
Over the centuries the custom settled into the form we know today, a circle of evergreens holding four candles, and it moved from churches into homes across the world. What began as a hope for the winter sun became a prayer for the coming of the Lord. That is why the wreath still speaks so gently and so powerfully at the start of the Christmas season.
The Advent wreath: what the circle and evergreens mean
The wreath itself preaches. Its round shape has no beginning and no end, a picture of eternity and of the everlasting life we find in Christ. The evergreen branches, which stay alive and green even in the cold of winter, speak of that same enduring life and of hope that does not fade.
As the weeks pass, the growing light of the candles carries the message forward. Each Sunday adds one more flame, so the wreath grows brighter as Christmas nears. That rising light is the heart of Advent: the world grew darker, and then the true Light came into it.
Safety and placement at home
Real candles ask for a little care, and a few habits keep Advent peaceful.
- Set the wreath on a stable, heat safe surface, away from curtains, greenery that has dried out, and the edge of the table.
- Trim wicks to about a quarter inch before lighting for a cleaner, calmer flame.
- Never leave burning candles unattended, and keep them out of the reach of small children and pets.
- Keep a small dish of water or a candle snuffer nearby.
- If your wreath uses fresh greenery, mist it with water through the season so it stays green and does not dry near the flames.
Place the wreath where the family naturally gathers: the dining table, a prayer corner, or a mantel you pass every day. Advent is meant to be lived, not just displayed.
Choosing quality handmade Advent candles
A wreath you light night after night deserves candles that burn cleanly and hold their color. At Nuestra Fe, our devotional candles are handcrafted by Mexican artisans, many of them near La Villa de Guadalupe, with an eye for even burning and a true, deep color that reads well by candlelight.
When you compare sets, look for a few marks of quality:
- Even, slow burn: a well made candle burns down the center without heavy dripping, so it lasts across the four weeks.
- True color: violet that is genuinely purple and a rose that is clearly rose, not a washed out pink, so Gaudete Sunday stands out.
- Steady base: candles sized to sit firmly in a wreath or holder.
- A complete set: three purple and one rose in matching height and finish.
A good Advent candles set of four should give you three matching purple candles and one rose candle of the same height and finish, so the wreath looks balanced as the weeks add up. If you want the option of a Christmas candle, choose a set that pairs well with a separate white pillar for the center. Buying the four as a coordinated set saves you the trouble of matching colors and sizes later.
You can see our handmade Advent candle set of four and explore the wider range of devotional candles for the prayer corners of your home.
Frequently asked questions about Advent candles
What color are the four Advent candles?
Three of the four candles are purple (violet) and one is rose (a soft pink). Purple is the color of preparation and prayer during Advent. The single rose candle is lit on the Third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the mood turns to joy. Some families use a fifth white candle in the center for Christmas Day.
When do you light the pink Advent candle?
The rose or pink candle is lit on the Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday. In 2026 that falls on December 13. Gaudete means rejoice in Latin. By the third week the wait is more than half over, so the brighter rose color marks a note of joy in a season of quiet preparation.
What order do you light Advent candles in?
Light one purple candle the first week, add a second purple candle the second week, add the rose candle on the third week (Gaudete Sunday), and light all four on the fourth week. Each Sunday you relight the earlier candles too, so the wreath grows brighter as Christmas approaches.
What do the four Advent candles mean?
Many families name the four candles hope, peace, joy, and love, with joy falling on the rose candle. This naming is a devotional tradition, not an official rule, so the themes vary from home to home. In the liturgy, the purple candles express preparation and prayer, while the rose candle expresses joy on Gaudete Sunday.
Can you use white candles instead of purple and rose?
Yes. The bishops note that while three purple candles and one rose are ideal, white candles may be used when colored candles are not available. Many families still prefer the traditional colors because the rose candle makes Gaudete Sunday stand out and the purple carries the spirit of the season. A traditional wreath holds four candles in all, one for each Sunday, with an optional fifth white candle in the center for Christmas.
Why is one candle pink and three purple?
Purple is the liturgical color of Advent, a season of prayer and quiet preparation, so three of the candles are purple. The single rose or pink candle belongs to the Third Sunday, called Gaudete Sunday, when the tone lifts to joy because the long wait is more than half over. That one brighter candle marks the moment the Church pauses to rejoice.
Are there four or five candles for Advent?
The traditional Advent wreath holds four candles, one for each Sunday of Advent, three purple and one rose. Many families add a fifth white candle in the center, called the Christ candle, and light it on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. That fifth candle is a beloved custom rather than part of the older four candle tradition.
What is the Catholic meaning of the Advent candles?
Liturgically, the three purple candles carry the spirit of Advent, a season of prayer and preparation much like Lent, while the rose candle brings the joy of Gaudete Sunday. The wreath around them speaks too: its circle has no beginning and no end, a sign of eternity, and its evergreens stay alive through winter, a sign of enduring life and unfading hope in Christ.
Does an Advent wreath need to be blessed, and can a family bless it at home?
A blessing is customary rather than required. It usually takes place on the First Sunday of Advent or the evening before, so in 2026 that means November 29 or the night of November 28. A priest, deacon or lay minister may bless it, and when the blessing happens at home it is fitting that a parent or another member of the family lead it. The USCCB publishes the short blessing text families use.
Do you light Advent candles every day or only on Sundays, and how long do you leave them lit?
Sunday is the anchor, because the number of lit candles matches the current week of Advent. Many families also relight them on weekdays at dinner or night prayer, a custom the Church's own blessing rite treats as fitting. No rule sets a burning time. Light them for the length of the prayer or the meal, keep the set on a heat safe surface, and never leave a flame unattended.
How long do you leave the Advent wreath up after Christmas, and what do you do with the candles?
Advent closes on Christmas, so the wreath has finished its work by December 25. Nothing obliges you to remove it that day. Many homes keep it in place through the Christmas season, which ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, January 10 in 2027, lighting only the white Christ candle. If the set was blessed, burn the candles down or bury the remains instead of discarding them.
Keep the light burning in your home
Advent is a gentle, hopeful season, and a simple wreath can carry a family through it beautifully. When you are ready, browse our handcrafted devotional candles and the Advent candle set of four, made by artisan hands to light your prayers from the first Sunday to Christmas morning.