Exploring the Advent Wreath: Part One

Weeks of Illumination

WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

-Isaiah 9:2

This month, Christians all over the world enter the season of Advent. It is a time of joyous anticipation, a time to remember God’s promises and his faithfulness to those promises. It is also a time for reflection, introspection, and repentance as God’s word urges us to prepare our hearts and minds to receive our king. 

“It is a time of joyous anticipation, a time to remember God’s promises and his faithfulness to those promises”

One of the greatest Advent traditions that the Church utilizes is the Advent wreath. If you have never seen one, they aren’t hard to miss. They are most commonly a circular green wreath adorned with three purple candles and a single pink candle. While this may just seem like a common winter Christmas decoration, the wreath is full of symbolism with a lot to say about the advent season. Each Sunday leading up to Christmas, a new candle is generally lit – with each candle symbolizing one of the four aspects of the Advent season: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

The Wreath

While the candles tend to steal the show, there is actually much symbolism tied into the wreath itself. Generally made of different types of evergreens, this type of tree is a symbol of the everlasting life that God the Father promises us through the life, death, and resurrection of his son Jesus. Because the evergreen lives year-round – so also shall we live through all eternity with Christ.

Moreover, the wreath is most often circular –without beginning or end. This reminds us of the eternal nature of God and beckons us to reflect on the mystery of the incarnation where the eternal God becomes manifest in a mortal human being. Even pine cones which are often added as decoration have a special significance as they draw our minds to new life and resurrection. The wreath itself therefore serves as the foundation of the advent season. Just as the wreath upholds the candles, so also God himself is the underlying sustainer who upholds all things by his very nature. Apart from him, nothing can stand. 

We will begin to explore each Advent candle next week.

Article written by Drew Matz

A native of Southeastern Ohio, Drew moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where he earned an MA in Theology from Concordia Theological Seminary, cultivating a love for Historical Theology and Biblical Languages. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Franklin University. Being from the Appalachian Foothills, Drew is passionate about the outdoors and the natural wonder it inspires. Drew currently resides in Fort Wayne with his wife and daughter.