ADVENT WREATH GUIDE
Including schools/family blessing ceremony
The Advent wreath is a traditional centrepiece
leading up to the Christmas season. A candle is lit
on each of the four Sundays preceding
Christmas. The first candle (violet) represents
hope, the second (violet) peace, the third (rose)
joy, and the fourth (violet) love. The central white
candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents
Christ.
The wreath itself is also symbolic. The circle of
evergreen in which the candles are placed
represents everlasting life. The seedpods, nuts
and cones used to decorate the wreath are
symbolic of life and resurrection, the laurel
signifies victory over persecution and suffering,
pine and holly signify immortality, and fruits (such
as apples) represent the nourishing fruitfulness of
the Christian life.
The word ‘advent’ means ‘coming’; lighting the
candles on the Advent wreath symbolises the
coming of Light (Jesus) into the world. The
Advent Wreath teaches us about Christian
preparation for celebrating Jesus’ birth and
making our hearts truly ready to receive Him.
The Advent Wreath can be a way to involve even
very little children in learning about Christian
preparation for celebrating Jesus’ birth and
making our hearts truly ready to receive Him.
Using the Advent Wreath in your home or
classroom:
On the first Sunday of Advent, you might
sprinkle the wreath with holy water and
bless it before the first violet candle is lit.
The appropriate Advent collect can be said
as the candle[s] are lit each day of the
week, followed by the blessing before
meals, if you use the wreath at mealtime.
The second Sunday two violet candles are
lit; the third Sunday, two violet and one rose;
and all candles are lit on the fourth Sunday.
All four candles and the middle white candle
are lit on Christmas Day.
Making the Advent Wreath a Daily Custom:
The Advent wreath helps us keep our thoughts
focused on the coming of Christ at Christmas, so
we should integrate it into our daily activities. This
could be done during daily morning school
assembly/prayer, or as a class at a set time of the
day. Everyone gathers around the wreath and
someone lights the appropriate candle(s). A
leader prays the Advent wreath prayer for that
week, and the candle(s) are left burning until the
end of the day or for as long as possible. (For
detailed instructions, see How to Light the Advent
Wreath.)
Adapted from Catholic Online and About.com
Blessing for the Advent Wreath (two
examples)
Lord God,
Your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its
Saviour, who enlightens our hearts
and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin.
Pour forth your blessings upon us as we light the
candles of this wreath; may their light reflect the
splendour of Christ, who is Lord, for ever and
ever.
Amen
Lord our God,
We praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: he is
Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples, he is the
wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Saviour of every nation.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay. We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
Amen
© Books of Blessings, 1989, p. 650.
www.caritas.org.au/advent
Last updated 2021
Making Your Own Advent Wreath:
It is very easy to incorporate the Advent wreath into your preparations for Christmas. You will need five
candles—traditionally, three violet, one rose, and one white, though you can substitute them all with white. If
you want the candles to stay lit for a prolonged period of time you could use battery operated candles to reduce
risk.
You will need some green leaves/branches to arrange around the candles. They don't have to be in a circle;
you can place them in a straight line.
You can gather materials for the wreath from nature and assemble it individually or as a group. Suggestions
include: evergreens, holly, pine cones, apples, laurel, nuts and seedpods.
Make a paper Advent wreath.
Use the symbols on the following pages to create a paper Advent wreath.
• The seedpods, nuts and cones are used to decorate the wreath and are symbolic of life and resurrection.
• The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering.
• Pine and holly signify immortality.
• The apple represents the nourishing fruitfulness of the Christian life.
Participants can make their own individual wreaths using their handprints as the base on green paper or by
using green paint. Or you could make a large Advent wreath on a wall in green, you can decorate it each day
by printing and cutting out a symbol, writing a prayer on the back and pining them to your Advent wreath.
MAKE YOUR OWN ADVENT WREATH
www.caritas.org.au/advent
Last updated 2021
Laurel
Nuts
