An Advent wreath is one of the simplest ways to keep the four weeks before Christmas: a circle of evergreen, four candles, one more lit each Sunday until the room is full of light. Choosing one raises the same questions every year in churches and homes alike: which colors, which candle goes when, and, most often, which candles actually fit the wreath you have.
This guide answers each in turn, with the dates for this year and a short checklist at the end.
Advent 2026 at a glance
- First Sunday of Advent: November 29, 2026
- Second Sunday: December 6
- Third Sunday (Gaudete Sunday): December 13
- Fourth Sunday: December 20
- Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24, when many churches and families light the Christ candle
Advent always begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, so it falls between November 27 and December 3. Plan to have your wreath and candles in hand the week before.
The colors and what they mean
Traditions differ, and all of these are in common use:
- Three purple and one rose: the most familiar set. Purple is the color of preparation; the rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin for "rejoice."
- Four purple: for churches that keep one color through the season.
- Blue, or three blue and one rose: many Lutheran, Methodist, Anglican and other churches use blue, sometimes called Sarum blue, for the hope and expectation of the season.
- A white Christ candle: set in the center and lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Many churches give each Sunday a theme, most often hope, peace, joy and love, though the order and the names vary from one tradition and one congregation to the next. Use whatever your church already uses; the wreath works the same way.
The order of lighting
| Sunday | Candles lit | A common theme |
|---|---|---|
| First (Nov. 29) | One purple (or blue) | Hope |
| Second (Dec. 6) | Two purple (or blue) | Peace |
| Third (Dec. 13) | Two purple and the rose | Joy |
| Fourth (Dec. 20) | All four | Love |
| Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) | All four and the white Christ candle | Christ, the light of the world |
Each week, light the candles from earlier weeks first, then the new one. If your church uses four purple or four blue candles, simply add one each Sunday.
Match the candles to your wreath
This is where most Advent orders go wrong. Wreaths hold candles in sockets of a set size, and a candle that is too thin leans while one that is too thick will not go in. Check the socket size on your wreath, or measure across the opening, before you order. Four sizes cover nearly every wreath:
For the center, a Christ candle in a 3" socket suits most church wreaths; tabletop wreaths with a fifth holder take a white taper of the same size as the others.
Wax, refillable or flameless?
- Wax candles come in paraffin, stearic and 51% beeswax. Emkay's 51% beeswax church sets need a follower, a brass cap that sits on top of the candle to keep the flame steady and the wax in: use 1-1/2" followers for 1-1/2" candles.
- Refillable candles are permanent shells you refill, so they never get shorter and the wreath looks even all season. There are refillable oil sets in 7/8" and 1-1/2" sizes, which burn liquid paraffin, and refillable pillars in 4", 6" and 8" heights.
- Tube candles keep the look of a tall candle all season: a spring pushes a wax candle up inside the tube as it burns. Will & Baumer's 13-1/2" tube candle set has brass tops and fits 1-1/2" sockets.
- Flameless candles suit classrooms, nursing homes, offices and homes with small children. The LED Advent set has three purple and one pink candle; each takes two AAA batteries.
Keeping the wreath even
The first candle burns every Sunday, and the last only once, so by Christmas wax candles stand at four different heights. That is part of the tradition, and many people like it. If you would rather the wreath look even, choose taller candles so the first one never burns down too far, use followers on church candles, or switch to refillables. Keep a spare set of candles in case one breaks or burns down early.
Safety
- Fresh greenery dries out over four weeks. Keep it clear of the flames, or use artificial greenery, and check it each week.
- Set the wreath on a stable, heat-safe surface, away from curtains, papers and anything that can catch.
- Trim the wicks and put the candles out with a snuffer before you leave the room; never leave a lit wreath alone.
- In classrooms and anywhere with small children, use flameless candles.
Checklist
- Colors chosen: purple and rose, all purple, or blue
- Socket size checked: 7/16", 7/8", 1-1/2" or flat plates for pillars
- Four Advent candles plus a white Christ candle
- Followers for 1-1/2" church candles, if your candles need them
- Liquid paraffin, if you use refillables; AAA batteries, if you use LED
- A spare set of candles and a snuffer
- Everything in hand before Sunday, November 29
You will find every wreath and candle in this guide in our Advent collection and Advent candles, and our Advent bundles pair wreaths with candles that fit. Planning a candlelight service too? See our Christmas Eve candlelight service planner. If you are not sure which candles fit your wreath, call us at (720) 767-2553.