The use of four candles during Christmas is often associated
with the Advent season. Advent is a period of preparation and anticipation for
the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which takes place on Christmas
Day. The four candles are typically arranged in an Advent wreath, and each
candle represents a specific theme or aspect of the Advent season. The four
candles are often lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.
The significance of the four candles is as follows:
First Candle (Week 1): Hope: This candle is also known as
the "Prophecy Candle" or "Hope Candle." It symbolizes the
hope and expectation of the coming Messiah, representing the anticipation of
the fulfillment of God's promises.
Second Candle (Week 2): Peace: The second candle is often
called the "Bethlehem Candle" or "Peace Candle." It
represents the peace brought by the presence of Jesus in the world and reminds
believers of the tranquility that comes from faith in God.
Third Candle (Week 3): Joy: Known as the "Shepherd's
Candle" or "Joy Candle," the third candle represents the joy
that the arrival of Jesus brings. It is a time of rejoicing as the Savior's
birth draws near.
Fourth Candle (Week 4): Love: The fourth candle is often
called the "Angel's Candle" or "Love Candle." It symbolizes
the love of God, who sent His Son into the world as an expression of divine
love for humanity.
In addition to these four candles, there is often a central
candle, known as the "Christ Candle" or "Candle of Christ,"
which is lit on Christmas Day. This candle represents the light of Christ
coming into the world.
The use of Advent candles and the Advent wreath is a
tradition in many Christian denominations as a way to mark the weeks leading up
to Christmas and to reflect on the spiritual significance of the season.
