There have to be at least four pieces, everyone knows that much. But that's not all that needs to be taken into account when making an Advent wreath. If you want to do it right, you should pay attention to the order of the candles when lighting. It has a purpose.
Which order should you choose when lighting the Advent candles?
There is no general order when lighting Advent candles. The selection can be influenced by factors such as size, numbering, appearance, personal preferences or Catholic custom. Circular wreaths are often lit counterclockwise and elongated wreaths are lit from left to right.
What is the correct order for lighting the candles?
The Advent wreath, invented by Johann Hinrich Wichern in Hamburg in 1839, originally had as many candles as the days of Advent. Nowadays the Advent wreath usually only has four candles. What is certain is that one candle can burn on the first Advent and another candle will be lit with each new Advent. The order of the candles, on the other hand, isnot generally defined The following factors can determine this:
- Size or length of the candles
- numbering already applied
- visually appealing order
- personal preference
- Catholic custom
- Aim for all candles to burn evenly
In what order do Advent candles like to be lit?
With circular Advent wreaths, the candles are usually litcounterclockwise. If the Advent wreath is on a sideboard, one of the front candles is usually lit first. Otherwise the choice depends on chance or your own preferences.
For elongated Advent arrangements, lighting is most often carried out from left to right. For unusual Advent wreath alternatives, we decide individually and based on our own feelings about what is right.
What order does Catholic custom provide?
In Germany, the Catholic Advent wreath has either four red candles, the color of which is said to symbolize the blood of Jesus Christ, or three purple and one pink candles. In the second case, the order must be such that thepink candle is lit on the third Advent. This should be the signal that there is only one more week of Advent until Christmas Eve.
What does the size of the candles have to do with the order?
Not all Advent candles are lit equally often. Therefore, without tricks, it is not possible for the candles to burn evenly. While there is only a pitiful remnant of the first candle left, the last candle still looks almost like new. To prevent this scenario, some Advent wreaths have candles of different heights attached to them, and more rarely candles of different thicknesses. The longest or thickest candle is lit first, then the second longest candle, etc.
In what order do identical candles burn evenly?
There is amathematically based trick when lighting a fire. This is based on a certain order or frequency, but also requires five candles. This is the calculated order:
- 1. Advent: Candle 1
- 2. Advent: Candles 2 + 3
- 3. Advent: Candles 1 + 4 + 5
- 4. Advent: Candles 3 + 4 + 5
If you do the math, you will find that every candle is lit on two Sundays in Advent. If they burn for the same length each Advent, there will be four remaining candles of the same size on the wreath at the end of the Advent season.
Tip
Easily retrofit the fifth candle at home
Most Advent wreaths that are available for sale only have four candles. Of course, the trick with five candles cannot be carried out. Look for a wreath model that you can easily spruce up at home with a fifth candle.
