ADVENT AND ADVENT WREATH

The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means "coming or arrival".

Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas.  It is composed of four Sundays in which the fourth and last Sunday is the Sunday before Christmas.  

Advent has a penitential spirit similar to that of Lent.  The liturgical theme during Advent is the preparation for Christ's Second Coming which is called the Parousia.  

Advent is symbolized by an Advent Wreath, which is made of evergreen branches formed into a circle or any green leaves (in the absence of evergreen branches) that can be formed into a circle, and four candles - three violet or purple  candles and one pink candle which are inserted into the branches.  A candle is lit every Sunday until all four candles are lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent.  The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which is also called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word which means "Rejoice".  This word is taken from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon of this day's mass.  The color pink symbolizes joyful anticipation of Christ's coming.

THE MEANING OF THE ADVENT WREATH