The Advent wreath is part of our long Catholic tradition. However, the actual origins are uncertain.
The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life.
The evergreens have a traditional meaning: the laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering; pine and holly, immortality; and cedar, strength and healing. Holly also has a special Christian symbolism: the prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns.
The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ.
The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior.
