Today, November 30, is the first day of Advent and the first day of the Church’s new liturgical year. Advent is a Season of Anticipation, Repentance and Preparation for the Birth of Jesus at Christmas. It begins 4 Sundays before Christmas, so its length in days can vary from year to year, as long as 28 days and as short as 21 days depending upon the calendar, but it always includes 4 Sundays.
The color purple marks the Season of Advent—a color traditionally associated with fasting and repentance, similar to Lent, when we anticipate the birth of Christ. The church is sparsely decorated during this four-week period for the same reason.
The Advent Wreath has a long Catholic tradition of German origin. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. One belief is that each week represents one thousand years, to represent the estimated 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior.
The three purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, preparation, sacrifices and goods works undertaken during Advent. The rose (pink) candle is lit on the third Sunday, called Gaudete Sunday, it is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and we are close to Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming at the end of time.
Keeping up on your Catholic terms
Advent—derived from the Latin word “Adventus” meaning “coming”.
Gaudete—a Latin word meaning “Rejoice Ye”