Advent Wreath Candle Order 2026: Colors, Dates and How to Make
Light the Advent candles in this order: purple, purple, pink, purple. In 2026, the 1st candle is lit on Sunday, November 29, the 2nd on December 6, the 3rd (the pink one, for Gaudete Sunday) on December 13 and the 4th on December 20. An Advent wreath is simply a circle of evergreen branches holding those four candles, with 3 purple and 1 pink in liturgical tradition, and many families add a white candle in the center for Christmas.
| Sunday in 2026 | Light this candle | Candles burning |
|---|---|---|
| November 29 | Purple | 1 |
| December 6 | Purple (next one around) | 2 |
| December 13 | Pink | 3 |
| December 20 | The last purple | 4 |
| December 24 or 25 | White, in the center (optional) | 5 |
It doesn’t have to look like a magazine wreath. Four sturdy candles and a few green branches are enough to change the feel of the Sunday table. Below you’ll find the materials with measurements, step-by-step assembly, what the colors mean, a 5-minute Sunday routine and candle safety tips for home. For the bigger picture of the season, read our guide to what Advent is and when it starts.
What the circle, the greenery and the candles mean
The circle of the Advent wreath represents eternity: a shape with no beginning and no end, a reminder of God’s love that never runs out. That’s why the base is always round, even on the simplest wreaths.
The evergreen branches symbolize hope and life that endures. In Europe, pine boughs were among the few signs of life in winter. Wherever you celebrate, the message is the same: the family prepares with hope for the coming of Jesus.
The candles represent light that grows as Christmas draws near. Each Sunday there’s one more flame, an image that echoes the Gospel of John, in which Jesus calls himself the light of the world.
Where the Advent wreath comes from
Its origin is usually credited to Johann Hinrich Wichern, a Lutheran pastor in 19th-century Hamburg, who used a wheel with candles so the boys living in his care home could count the days until Christmas. Over time, the wheel gained evergreen branches and was reduced to four candles, one for each Sunday, and the custom spread through Catholic and Protestant churches alike.
Materials for an Advent wreath
To make an Advent wreath you need a round base, evergreen branches, 4 candles with holders and a fireproof tray. Attaching the greenery works much like making a homemade Christmas wreath for your door; the difference is that an Advent wreath lies flat and holds lit candles.
| Item | Quantity and size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base (wire, straw or foam ring) | 1 ring, 25 to 35 cm (10 to 14 in) | 30 cm (12 in) fits a table for 4 to 6 nicely |
| Greenery (arborvitae, pine, rosemary or artificial) | 10 to 15 sprigs, about 20 cm (8 in) long | Fresh greens dry out quickly in a warm room |
| Purple candles | 3 candles, 5 to 6 cm (2 to 2.5 in) wide, 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in) tall | Thick candles are less likely to bend |
| Pink candle | 1 candle, same size | This is the 3rd Sunday candle |
| White candle (optional) | 1 candle, slightly taller | Goes in the center and is lit only at Christmas |
| Metal or glass holders | 4 or 5 with wide bases | Keep wax and flame away from the greenery |
| Thin floral wire and pliers | 1 spool | To attach the greenery |
| Fireproof tray | 1 tray, 5 cm (2 in) wider than the wreath | Protects the table |
Thin candles soften next to a sunny window or a heater, so go with thick ones. Fresh greenery dries out within days and becomes flammable: mist it with water or swap out the branches.
How to make an Advent wreath, step by step
An Advent wreath takes about 40 minutes, and the ideal day to make it is Saturday, November 28, 2026, the day before the 1st Sunday. If you pick up candles and holders on Black Friday, November 27, you still have a day to spare.
- Choose the spot: a sturdy table or sideboard, away from curtains, drafty windows and fans.
- Set the base on the tray and make sure nothing hangs over the edge of the table.
- Prep the greenery: cut pieces 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in) long and gather them into bundles of 3 or 4.
- Wire the bundles on, always in the same direction, each one covering the stems of the last, until the circle is closed.
- Mark 4 evenly spaced points, like 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock on a clock face. Decide which way you’ll light them (clockwise is most common) and save the third position for the pink candle.
- Set the candles in their holders on the wreath. Don’t push candles straight into foam or greenery: foam melts and dry branches catch fire.
- Leave 3 cm (1 in) clear of leaves and ribbon around each candle, because the flame drops lower as the candle burns.
- Place the white candle in the center, in its own holder, if you’re using one, and finish with pinecones or purple ribbon around the outside.
If you used fresh greenery, check it on Sunday, December 13, and replace any dry branches.
Advent candle order for 2026, Sunday by Sunday
In 2026, the Advent candles are lit on Sundays, November 29, December 6, December 13 and December 20, adding the new candle to the ones before it each time. Advent lasts 26 days this year, and the last week is short: just 5 days between the 4th Sunday and Christmas Eve.
| Sunday | Date in 2026 | Candles lit | New candle | Popular theme (optional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Sunday | November 29 | 1 | Purple | Hope |
| 2nd Sunday | December 6 | 2 | Purple | Peace |
| 3rd Sunday (Gaudete) | December 13 | 3 | Pink | Joy |
| 4th Sunday | December 20 | 4 | Purple | Love |
| Christmas | Night of December 24 (Thursday) or December 25 (Friday) | 4 + white | White, in the center | Birth of Jesus |
The themes in the last column are a widespread devotional custom, not a rule. The sequence that matters is the colors: purple, purple, pink, purple.
The most common mistake (almost every family makes it once) is placing the pink candle wherever it looks prettiest and then reaching the third Sunday with the pink one already lit. Before the first Sunday, decide which direction you’ll go around the wreath and put the pink candle in the third spot.
If your family relights the candles at dinner during the week, the 1st candle will burn much longer than the 4th: at 15 minutes a night, the 1st adds up to about 6.5 hours by December 24, and the 4th to just over an hour. The candles end up in a staircase of heights, and that’s perfectly normal.
Advent candle colors: why 3 purple and 1 pink
In Catholic liturgical tradition, the Advent wreath has 3 purple candles and 1 pink, the same colors used in worship during the season. Other combinations are family or decorative customs.
Purple and pink
Purple is the color of Advent and stands for preparation, watchfulness and repentance. Pink (rose) appears on the 3rd Sunday, called Gaudete, a Latin word meaning “rejoice” that opens the entrance antiphon of that day’s Mass. It’s a sign that the wait is nearly over.
The white candle in the center
The central white candle, which many families call the Christ candle, is lit on the night of December 24 or on December 25. It’s a common addition in homes and in many churches, but it isn’t part of the basic liturgical form of the wreath.
Popular color variations
| Combination | Where it comes from | A liturgical rule? |
|---|---|---|
| 3 purple + 1 pink | Catholic liturgical tradition | Yes, it’s the standard |
| 4 purple | Some churches and families | Accepted, without the Gaudete highlight |
| 4 red or 4 white | Decorative custom in parts of Europe | No |
| 4 different colors | Popular devotion, each color with its own meaning | No |
No pink candle? Use a lilac one, or tie a pink ribbon around the holder of the third candle.
A 5-minute Advent candle lighting routine for families
Lighting the Advent candle takes 5 minutes each Sunday and works best before lunch or dinner, with everyone seated:
- Minute 1, gather: dim the main lights and put phones away.
- Minute 2, read: a passage from that Sunday’s Gospel, a Bible verse or a sentence about the week’s theme.
- Minute 3, light: an adult lights the earlier candles and then the new one; a child can hold the adult’s hand or say the candle’s name.
- Minute 4, share: each person picks one kind act for the week, like calling Grandma or setting aside a toy to donate.
- Minute 5, close: a short prayer, a Christmas carol or a moment of silence.
To help kids count the days between Sundays, pair the wreath with a homemade Advent calendar.
Advent wreath candle safety: the rules that matter
The number one safety rule for an Advent wreath is never to leave the candles burning without an adult in the room. Greenery dries out, ribbon burns fast and open windows bring drafts.
- Always supervise: put the candles out before you leave the room, leave the house or go to bed.
- Distance: at least 1 meter (3 ft) from curtains, long tablecloths, paper and fans.
- Kids and pets: keep the wreath in the middle of the table, out of reach; children never light candles on their own.
- A stable base: put the tray on a steady surface, with no tablecloth that can be pulled.
- Upkeep: replace dry branches, and replace a candle when only 5 cm (2 in) is left.
- Use a snuffer: blowing out the flame scatters hot wax onto the leaves.
- Alternative: with babies or lots of pets, LED candles keep the ritual going without a flame.
If a fire starts that you can’t smother, leave the room and call 911 or your local emergency number.
An Advent wreath in a summer Christmas
If Advent falls in summer where you live, as it does in Australia and New Zealand, the heat changes two things. Fresh greenery dries out in a few days, so an artificial or dried base lasts the whole season, and thin candles can bend on a warm table or near a sunny window. Thick pillar candles, a spot out of direct sun and lighting the wreath after dark, when the room has cooled, keep the ritual simple. LED candles are a good choice for outdoor tables.
Whatever your wreath looks like, may each Sunday bring a few quiet minutes around the table, and may the light grow a little in your home along with the candles.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Advent wreath be hung on the door?
A traditional Advent wreath lies flat on the table because it holds lit candles. Hung on a door, it becomes a decorative wreath and should never have real flame candles.
How long does the Advent wreath stay up?
Advent ends on the night of December 24, but many families keep the wreath, with its white candle, until Epiphany on Wednesday, January 6, 2027. Dried-out fresh greenery should be replaced before then.
Does an Advent wreath need to be blessed?
It isn’t required. Many parishes bless wreaths on the 1st Sunday of Advent, which in 2026 is November 29, and families can also say a blessing prayer at home.
What if we forget to light the candle one Sunday?
Light it on the day you remember, along with the earlier ones, and carry on as usual. What matters is reaching each Sunday with the right number of candles: 2 on December 6, 3 on December 13 and 4 on December 20.