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Advent wreath guide 2026: candle meanings, Sunday dates and simple family prayers
An Advent wreath is one of the simplest ways to keep Advent at home. Four candles, a ring of greenery and a few minutes at the table each evening mark the weeks of waiting for Christmas.
Advent 2026 begins on Sunday 29 November and ends on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December. This guide covers what the wreath and candles mean, which candle to light when, the Sunday Gospels for this year and a simple way to pray around the wreath as a family.
What the wreath means
- The circle has no beginning and no end, a reminder of God's eternal love.
- The evergreens stay green through winter, a sign of hope and of life that does not fade.
- The candles stand for the light of Christ coming into the world. One more is lit each week, so the light grows as Christmas comes closer.
The custom spread from Germany and is now kept by Catholic families, parishes and other Christians around the world.
The candles and their colors
The traditional Catholic wreath has three violet candles and one rose candle, matching the colors the priest wears at Mass in Advent. Some families use four violet candles, and in some places blue is used. Follow the custom of your parish if you are unsure.
- First candle (violet): often called the candle of hope or the prophecy candle
- Second candle (violet): often called the candle of peace or the Bethlehem candle
- Third candle (rose): lit on Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin for "rejoice", the candle of joy
- Fourth candle (violet): often called the candle of love or the angels' candle
The names for each candle vary between families and books. What matters is that one more candle is lit each week. Some families add a white candle in the center and light it on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Free printable: Advent wreath calendar 2026
| Sunday | Date | Candles lit | Sunday Gospel (Year B) | Done |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Sunday of Advent | 29 Nov 2026 | 1 violet | Mark 13:33-37 | |
| Second Sunday of Advent | 6 Dec 2026 | 2 violet | Mark 1:1-8 | |
| Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete) | 13 Dec 2026 | 2 violet, 1 rose | John 1:6-8, 19-28 | |
| Fourth Sunday of Advent | 20 Dec 2026 | All 4 | Luke 1:26-38 | |
| Christmas | 25 Dec 2026 | All 4, plus a white center candle if you use one | Readings for Christmas Mass |
The Church's year 2027 begins with this Advent, and the Sunday readings follow Year B, so the Gospel for most Sundays is from Mark. On weekdays, light the candles for that week each evening.
Setting up your wreath
- Get it ready before 29 November. Many families set it up on the Saturday evening before the First Sunday of Advent.
- Choose a base. A ready-made wreath ring, a plate with four candle holders, or a simple ring of greenery laid on the table all work.
- Add greenery. Fresh pine, fir or holly smells lovely but dries out. Artificial greenery is safer near flames and lasts year after year.
- Place the candles with the rose candle where it will be third in order as you go around.
- Ask for a blessing. Many parishes bless wreaths at Mass on the First Sunday of Advent, or you can ask your priest. The Church also has a short order for a family to bless its own wreath at home.
A simple family prayer time
Keep it short: five to ten minutes after the evening meal is enough. One pattern that works well:
- Turn off the main lights and light the candles for the week.
- Read a short passage: the Sunday Gospel, or a verse such as this one from the prophet Isaiah.
- Sit quietly for a moment, then share one thing each person noticed.
- Pray together in your own words, then finish with an Our Father or a Hail Mary.
- Sing one verse of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" before blowing out the candles.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.” (Isaiah 9:2, WEB)
For a prayer in your own words, something as simple as this works: "Lord Jesus, as we light this candle, help us get ready to welcome you. Fill our home with your light this week. Amen." Change it each week to fit the theme of hope, peace, joy or love.
Feasts to mark during Advent 2026
- Sunday 6 December: Saint Nicholas, whose day falls on the Second Sunday of Advent this year. Many families still put shoes out the night before.
- Tuesday 8 December: the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation in the USA.
- Saturday 12 December: Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- 17 to 23 December: the O Antiphons, a lovely addition to wreath prayers in the last week.
Practical tips
- Never leave lit candles unattended, and keep them away from curtains and dry greenery
- Buy spare candles: the first violet candle burns for four weeks and may run out
- Give everyone a job: lighting, reading, choosing the hymn, snuffing the candles
- If you miss an evening, simply light the candles the next night and carry on
- Keep the wreath up through Christmas Time, adding a white candle, until the Baptism of the Lord on Sunday 10 January 2027