Typically, three of the four Advent candles are purple—the first, second and fourth ones. The first candle, or "Prophet's Candle," symbolizes hope. The color means royalty, repentance and fasting.

The Advent wreath is made of four candles and a circle of branches. Before the first candle is lighted, the household gathers for this blessing. The blessing of an Advent Wreath takes place on the ...

The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839 when a Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath of the wheel of a cart, placing 20 small red candles and four large ...