Need to learn how to light the Advent candles? We will advise you in which direction and what to pay attention to!

Do you need help with lighting the Advent candles?

We can guide you on how to do it correctly!

The lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath is a significant symbol of the upcoming Christmas season. It is also a valuable time we can spend with our loved ones.

Are you unsure whether to light the wreath clockwise or counterclockwise? Are you confused about whether to light the candle in the morning or the evening?

Let’s discover how to light the Advent wreath together!

When to light the first Advent candle?

Advent is a four-week period that precedes the Christmas holiday. It is a time of spiritual preparation and reflection for believers as they anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ. During this period, people engage in various spiritual practices, such as prayers, fasting, and meditations, to help them focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

For many of us, though, Advent is a time of pre-Christmas stress and hustle and bustle. Despite this, the tradition of lighting the Advent candles on the wreath can serve as an anchor amidst the chaos. The Advent wreath is a circular wreath made of evergreen branches, symbolizing the eternity of God.

It has four candles, which are lit in succession, one for each week of Advent and a fifth one in the center, which is lit on Christmas day.

The first Advent candle is lit on the first Advent Sunday, also known as Iron Sunday. This date falls between November 27th and December 3rd, depending on the year. The candle represents hope, and its lighting marks the beginning of the Advent season.

As the season progresses, the subsequent candles are lit, representing a different aspect of the Christmas story – peace, joy, and love.

Overall, Advent is a time for spiritual reflection, anticipation, and preparation. By lighting the Advent candles, we can immerse ourselves in the true meaning of Christmas and reconnect with our faith amidst the festive chaos.

When is the first Sunday of Advent in the next ten years? You can find out the dates of all Advent Sundays using our table.

Traditionally, you light all four Advent candles in the early evening of a given Advent Sunday.

On the first Sunday of Advent, also known as Iron Sunday, you light the first candle and let it burn for a while.

On the following Sunday, Bronze Sunday, you will light the first candle again and add a second Advent candle.

You will do the same on Silver Sunday by lighting the first two candles and adding a third Advent candle. Finally, on Golden Sunday, you will light all four Advent wreath candles. If the wreath also contains a fifth candle in the middle, it should be lit on Christmas Day after sunset.

How to properly light an Advent wreath?

The answer to this question is not completely clear, and it depends, for example, on whether you have all the Advent candles of the same color or not, whether you have the candles spread out in a circle or straight one behind the other, or whether you have candles of different lengths.

If you choose the classic arrangement of candles, where the individual Advent candles could be connected using an imaginary square, the candles are generally lit in a counterclockwise direction. If you have all four candles of the same color, it doesn’t matter which one you start first.

You can watch the procedure through the following video.

5 | Advent Wreath -- Chuck Knows Church

If you have three purple candles and one pink candle, light the purple candle first, diagonal to the pink candle. If you have chosen candles of different lengths for your Advent wreath, then, of course, start with the longest one.

And how do you light the Advent candles if arranged in a row? In this case, the candles are lit from left to right, for example, with a straight Advent wreath.

How to avoid the risk of fire?

Although the lighting of Advent candles is a beautiful tradition, unfortunately, it is also associated with many fires that start from the Advent wreath every year. The reason may be the Advent candles themselves and the other material of the wreath, which is usually very flammable.

Fortunately, the danger of a fire from an Advent wreath can be avoided relatively easily by following a few simple rules.

How to light an Advent wreath safely?

• Give preference to Advent candles made of non-drip wax.

• Place a small, non-flammable cup under each candle to catch any wax leakage.

• Try to place the Advent candles as straight as possible.

• No flammable decorations or loose twigs should be near the candles on the wreath.

• Candle wicks should not be longer than half a centimeter.

• Place the whole advent wreath on a non-flammable base, such as metal or ceramic; there should be nothing potentially flammable around it, such as curtains.

• And, of course, never leave an Advent wreath burning unattended.

In addition to the classic advent candles made of paraffin, there are also special LED candles for flashlights, which can be a safer alternative, for example, if you have small children or stubborn pets.