Are you looking to make your family celebration of Christmas more meaningful? An advent wreath pointing to Christ’s birth can be a great way to keep the focus of the holiday season on Jesus! Read on to learn about symbolic weeks of advent as well as how to make your own traditional yet modern advent wreath – a wonderful way to honor Christ this time of year!

Keeping the Focus on the Spirit of Advent: Jesus’ Coming

Making an advent wreath to kick off the Christmas season has been on my radar for a while now. When we first started attending our church a few years ago, each Sunday, beginning with the Sunday after Thanksgiving, they lit a candle on an advent wreath.

I didn’t really have much knowledge or background about this Christmas tradition of lighting advent candles, but I knew that this was something I wanted to do in my own home, with my family. It just seemed like a very moving, lovely way to keep the attention on Christ.

Last year, I found a very simple advent candle ring, that I picked up at the end of the season, and I set it away to use next year.

As Christmas rolled around this year, I knew this was one project I needed to bump to the top of my list. For the first time, we are adding an advent wreath and candle celebration to our Christmas festivities, and I’m so excited for it.

However, traditions are empty, unless you know the meaning and significance, right? So, let’s start with a little background and history of the advent wreath before we get to the easy DIY for advent season.

What does ‘Advent’ Mean?

In its simplest definition, advent means ‘coming’ in Latin. For centuries, a Savior, a Messiah, was prophesied to the nation of Israel. As Israel was waiting, God’s voice suddenly went silent. For 400 years. Nothing – no word, no prophecy.

Yet, Israel continued to believe and hope that their Messiah would come.

Advent celebrates the long-awaited coming of the Savior-Messiah – Jesus Christ.

The purpose of celebrating advent is to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus on Christmas Day.

What is the Meaning of the Advent Wreath and Candles?

Though some see the season of advent and using wreaths and candles as a Catholic tradition, both Catholics and Lutherans alike celebrate with an advent wreath and candles.  The origins of an advent wreath can be traced to Germany, as far back as 1839.

An advent wreath has 4 candles (sometimes a 5th center candle). Not only does each candle have symbolic meaning in itself (explained below), but each one also represents 1,000 years, a total of 4,000 years from the fall of man at creation to the coming salvation of man in Christ.

Catholics typically use 3 purple candles, as it’s a liturgical color that represents prayer, penance, and sacrifice. The pink candle symbolizes joy (sometimes it’s the 3rd candle that is lit, and there are others that light it the 4th week).

The fifth candle in the center (sometimes it’s optional) is usually white to represent the purity and light of Christ, a Savior who was pure and blameless. This white pillar candle is lit on Christmas Eve.

{I’m not Catholic, so I do not use pink or purple candles, but you are free to choose any candles colors you like!}

Evergreen branches and fresh greenery are used to circle the candle holders, and they symbolize the continuous, eternal life we receive as a gift from Christ. The red berries represent the blood of Jesus that was poured out for us. The pine cones symbolize our new life in Christ.

Even the circle of the wreath – no beginning and no end – symbolizes the eternity of God and His never-endling love for us.

What Does Each Candle Symbolize?

The symbolism of the candles can sometimes vary, depending on what source you’re using for advent. Many have their own interpretation of the advent wreath and its candles. Below is a simple and common overview of the candles themselves, and the emphasis for the week, beginning with the first week of advent.

Week 1: Hope

This first candle is lit the first Sunday of Advent, and it represents the hope and promise of a Savior. It is also called the “Prophecy Candle,” which points to the prophets (specifically Isaiah) who foretold the birth of Christ (Isaiah 7:14), the hope of a coming Messiah.

The emphasis for the week is to reflect on hope: what it means to have hope, where our hope lies, what we are still longing and hoping for.

Week 2: Faith

This candle is lit on the second week of Advent, and it represents the peace on earth for mankind through the birth of Jesus, the promise kept. This candle is sometimes called the “Bethlehem Candle,” referencing the foretelling of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, like King David (Luke 2:12).

{Note: Some use this candle to celebrate peace.}

The emphasis for this week is preparation or waiting. As John prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry, this week we prepare our hearts for His coming – repentance, reflection, releasing sin and doubts in faith and truth.

Week 3: Joy

The third candle is lit on the third Sunday, and it represents the great joy of Jesus’ birth that was announced to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-11). This is also called the ‘Shepherd’s Candle,’ and some light the pink candle rather than the purple one on this week.

The emphasis for this week is joy: the joy in His birth, in His indwelling spirit and presence in us, the joy in anticipating His second coming.

Week 4: Peace

The final candle is lit on the fourth Sunday, and it symbolizes the love of Jesus for mankind, on whom God’s favor now rests and who now have peace with God. It is also called the “Angels Candle”, pointing to their great announcement (Luke 2:23-24).

{Note: Some use this candle to celebrate love.}

The emphasis for this week is love or adoration. We focus on the great love God has for us in sending His Son and offering our adoration to Him.

Christmas Eve: The Celebration of His Coming

This fifth white candle in the center of the wreath is the Christ candle, and it represents Christ’s purity – the sinless, spotless Savior who has come and makes us pure (Isaiah 1:18).

While this represents the long-awaited birth and arrival of Jesus, it also speaks of our hope in His future coming, the advent we are now waiting and hoping for.

It also represents Jesus as the light of the world.

You can read further on Advent right here!

How to Make Your Own DIY Advent Wreath

While we are here to explain how to make your own advent wreath, it’s really not about perfection or the right look. This project is about finding a tangible and meaningful way to keep the focus on Jesus.

There are a few easy ways to make a homemade advent wreath, which can be as simple as getting a round foam wreath form, making holes for taper candles, and sticking in faux greenery and embellishments. This is a wonderful and easy option if you have children.

You can also take a tray, a large bowl- even a bucket – and add a rectangle piece of floral foam to the center, place taper candles in the top, and surround with real or faux greens and decorations from the craft store.

You can even make a simple advent wreath by bundling chunky pillar candles together on a wooden tray or riser with a little greenery around it.

You can make this as easy or complicated as you like.

I’m going to share how I made an easy advent wreath craft from mostly thrift store items.

Materials for Advent Wreath

Base (bowl, tray, riser, cake stand, etc.)

Advent Candle Holder with 4 openings

Flat Evergreen Wreath (or individual faux or real greens)

Embellishments (red berries, pine cones, etc.)

4 Taper Candles

1 Pillar Candle (hurricane vase optional)

 

Instructions for a Traditional Advent Wreath

1| Find a base.

I chose a large ceramic bowl from the thrift store as mine. I painted it with a mixture of chalk paint and baking soda to add a little texture. You can use a round riser, cake stand, round tray, oversized bowl, etc.

For my own DIY advent wreath – because I had a round candle holder, I needed a round base.

2| Place circular candle holder on top.

This is a very simple and inexpensive advent candle holder from Hobby Lobby. Their items are 60% off in November, well before December, so this just a few dollars.

3| Place wreath on top of candle holder.

I was fortunate enough to find a full wreath and candle centerpiece at a thrift store that worked perfectly for this project. I just placed the entire thing right over the dandle holder.

If you don’t have something like this, you can feed stems of greens through the bottom of the candleholder to fill it out. Or, you can purchase a simple, flat evergreen wreath and place it right over the top.

4| Add in extra embellishments.

I wanted to stay with some of the symbolism of berries and pine cones, so I added those in myself. There were also some decorations that I wasn’t too crazy about on the original item, so I cut those off.

I also added some extra greens because the centerpiece didn’t fully cover the candle holder, so I wanted to fill it out a little more.

I didn’t need to, but feel free to reinforce with a hot glue gun if necessary.

5| Add candles to the wreath.

Here’s where you place your taper candles in the candle holders.

I really liked the contrast of black with the greens, so I chose black rather than purple and pink candles. It’s your choice for the colors!

I also added a white center candle to represent Christ. That’s optional – not every advent wreath has a center candle.

You can add a hurricane vase in the center and place a chunky pillar candle inside. Or, you can just place the pillar candle inside the wreath itself.

As always, if you’re using real candles rather than LED or battery-powered candles, use caution and do not leave candles unattended!

This wreath can be used as a lovely centerpiece, displayed on your dining table or any place where you can to give it central focus.

Our dining room table is a little chaotic, so we set it on the hearth of the fireplace. The light of the candles adds to the overall weight of what the Christmas story means.

6| Find an Advent Devotional to use each week for your Advent Celebration.

Below, I’ve shared a few advent guides to get you started. The kind of guide you use will depend on the ages of your kids. I have three recommendations, just to keep it simple. Of course, feel free to do your own deep dive, but this can point you in the right direction!

Family Friendly Weekly Advent Devotionals

For families with younger children:

I really like Advent Wreath Devotional Guide because it keeps things simple, which is great if you have small ones and you’re just introducing the good news of Christ’s birth and the tradition of advent. Each devotional is fairly short and is good for children with short attention spans.

This Advent Family Devotional from Dori Turner Interiors is also another good one that is a little lengthier, but still short enough for younger (elementary age) children. This is Week 1, and it links to all the subsequent links.

For families with older children:

Advent, The Coming of Christ, from The Village Church is a bit lengthier, but has lots of discussion questions and activities to go along with light the candles. This is a great resource to go deeper and make this an integral part of your family’s Christmas celebration. This one also includes Christmas music to go along with each week’s theme.

Modern DIY Christmas Advent Wreath: Keeping the Tradition Alive

I love this entire activity for the entire family. It’s not only a great time to bond and come together, but it’s establishing a wonderful family tradition that continues to point children to Christ all season long, at the very least, on a weekly basis as you gather together. To me, that’s the best part of the entire season – better than Christmas morning.

DIY Christmas Advent Wreath

Print

Materials

• Base (bowl, tray, riser, cake stand, etc.)
• Advent Candle Holder with 4 openings
• Flat Evergreen Wreath (or individual faux or real greens)
• Embellishments (red berries, pine cones, etc.)
• 4 Taper Candles
• 1 Pillar Candle (hurricane vase optional)

Notes

1| Find a circular base (round tray, large ceramic bowl, round riser, cake stand, etc.).

2| Place circular candle holder on top.

3| Add greens. Use a flat evergreen wreath or use thread individual green stems through the candle holder. If you have a pre-made wreath centerpiece with pillar candle holder in the center, that should work beautifully as well!

4| Add in embellishments: extra greens, red berries, pine cones, etc.

5| Add candles to the wreath. Place taper candles in the candle holder. Add pillar candle to center, with or without a hurricane vase, if desired.

(As always, use caution if using real candles rather than LED or battery-powered candles. Do not leave candles unattended!)

6| Choose an advent family devotional to read together each week.

Below you can check out a collage with other ideas for advent wreaths, which may be a little more to your personal taste or style!

More Holiday Resources for the Entire Family

For more ways to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s as a family, check out these posts!

Free Advent Calendars, Numbers, Activity Cards Printable Bundle (+ 72 Activity Cards!) – 22 pages!

30+ Free Printable Advent Calendars & Activities

Christmas Bucket List for Families: 30 Free | Cheap Activities!

22 Meaningful Printable Christmas Bible Studies to Focus on Jesus

21 Very Best Christmas Movies for Families (+ Printable List}

25+ Meaningful & Fun New Year’s Family Traditions You’ll Love

If this inspired you to create an advent wreath of your own, I’d love to see it! Please tag me on Instagram @100affections! 

Other thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below1