Truth & Beauty

Q: What’s the origin of the Advent wreath? 

In many churches and homes, the start of the Advent season is marked by the appearance of the familiar evergreen wreath and four candles. Lighting the candles as the weeks of Advent progress—one candle the first week, two the second, and so on—is a cherished tradition for many Western Christians, often accompanied by prayers, Scripture reading, and hymn-singing. But where did this custom originate?

The precise origin of the Advent wreath is uncertain. Some believe it began in pre-Christian Europe, where people lit candles as a sign of warmth and light during the dark and cold month of December. The candles may also have symbolized hope in the eventual return of spring. According to some accounts, Christian missionaries later used this custom as a way to teach pagan peoples about Christ, the true light who enters a darkened world to bring salvation.

It was not until the 16th century in Germany that we find evidence of a candle-lighting custom being explicitly linked to the Church’s season of Advent. Some sources suggest that Lutherans developed the practice of lighting candles to mark the time until Christmas, while others note that a similar tradition could already be found among both Lutherans and Catholics.

What is more certain is that the Advent wreath as we know it today did not take shape until the 19th century. German theologian and educator Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808–1881) is generally credited with devising the pattern of lighting an increasing number of candles to count down the days until Christmas. The number and color of the candles developed over time—and even today vary among Western Christian communities. In any case, the basic practice caught on among Catholics and Protestants alike and soon spread throughout Europe and North America.

If you’ve never brought this tradition into your home, it’s not too late to start. The Advent wreath brings together so many important elements: prayer, Scripture, hymn-singing, catechesis on the Incarnation, and the simple beauty and mystery of candlelight. It’s a wonderful place to begin praying together as a family, and it leaves children with fond memories and a lovely tradition they will be eager to pass on to their own families.