Advent - Fourth Sunday - Love Candle

What Does the Fourth Advent Candle Stand for?

While Advent wreaths as we know them have been around for nearly 200 years, the tradition of celebrating Advent goes back much further. As a result, advent wreath designs and the number of Advent candles vary worldwide and across denominations.

In contemporary Western Christianity, the typical Advent wreath has four candles inside an evergreen wreath. Each one is lit during a new week of Advent and has a particular meaning attached to it. Candle 1 is known as “Hope, or sometimes, the Prophet’s Candle,” and it stands for hope. Candle 2 is known as “the Peace, or Bethlehem Candle,” and stands for peace. Candle 3 known as “the Joy Candle” and stands for joy. Candle 4 is known as “the Love Candle, also often called the Angel’s Candle,” and stands for love.

Some Christians add a fifth candle, known as “Christ’s Candle,” which stands for baby Jesus. This candle is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the culmination of Advent.