Traditional Advent Symbols and Their Meanings

The images that we see around us during the Advent, the four weeks of spiritual preparation leading up to Christmas day, are rich with meaning and traditions. Everything from the tree we put up to the images seen on Christmas cards have a special meaning and purpose during the season.

Much of the symbolism associated with advent is associated with the advent wreath. The advent wreath is typically a circular wreath made of evergreen branches with five candles, three purple, one pink, and one white, arranged on the wreath. The circular shape is a symbol of eternity. The evergreens used on the wreath symbolize hope and renewal.

The five candles together on the advent wreath symbolize Jesus being born as the light of the world. The first purple candle is the prophets candle, and it symbolizes hope. The second purple candle is the Bethlehem candle. It represents Christ's manger and symbolizes love. The third candle is pink and it is called the shepherd's candle. The shepherd's candle symbolizes joy.

The fourth candle is purple and is called the Angel's candle. It symbolizes peace. The final candle is white and it is lit on Christmas Eve. The white candle symbolizes Christ who has come into the world to save it from its sins.

The traditional colors of Advent are purple, pink, and white. Each of these colors are represented in the candles of the Advent wreath. Purple is a color associated with repentance as a reminder to prepare internally the coming holiday.

It is also associated with royalty, in anticipation of the birth of the coming king. Pink is used during the third Sunday of advent and it represents joy. It marks a shift in the season away from repentance towards rejoicing. White is associated with purity. The white candle in the center of the advent wreath represents the sinlessness of Jesus.

The bells that are associated with Christmas are a symbol of worship. They are a reminder of the angel's announcement of the birth of Christ followed by a joyous song. The dove is also often seen in Christmas decorations and it is a symbol of peace.

The evergreen trees uses for Christmas trees are a symbol of life, hope and renewal. The evergreen tree is an exceptionally apt symbol in the winter since it has retained its greenery when all other trees have lost their leaves. The round ball-shaped Christmas ornaments used on Christmas trees are a symbol of eternity and endlessness.

They are also a symbol of the world that Christ came to save. The star at the top of the tree is a symbol of Jesus, called the "bright and morning star" in Revelations. The star also symbolizes Epiphany, the day the three wise men visited Jesus, a reminder that all wise men follow the star.