tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post5520344128683042002..comments2023-10-23T12:09:50.512-04:00Comments on Clergy Confidential: What's Up with the Pink Candle?Tim Schenckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13913584491460599491noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-67942087924988686102014-12-17T06:56:49.596-05:002014-12-17T06:56:49.596-05:00Just returned from Regensburg where we were shown ...Just returned from Regensburg where we were shown an 'Advent' wreath on the town fountain which had 24 red candles and four whites. We were told it was put there originally by the Bishop to show the children who were constantly asking when Christmas would come. He put a red candle for each day and a white for each Sunday and told them when they were all lite it would be Christmas. We were told the wreaths were used about mid 19th century in Anglican and Lutheran churches, gradually picked up by other Protestant churches in the 1930s in the USA. Every cathedral we went into had a giant wreath suspended over the Table with four red candles. I guess the bottom line as i see it is like quilting….no right or wrong, just use what speaks to your heart.Carole Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-88056147715754088092014-12-15T11:49:05.427-05:002014-12-15T11:49:05.427-05:00Heh. Learned something entirely new...as a Baptist...Heh. Learned something entirely new...as a Baptist we had NO advent wreathes or candles. Very interesting. Merry Christmas!anny cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03769733659120481918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-43247598628641887672014-12-15T08:22:37.773-05:002014-12-15T08:22:37.773-05:00There's actually no evidence of liturgical use...There's actually no evidence of liturgical use of Advent wreaths before the middle of the nineteenth century. The first ones had red candles for the Sundays of Advent, sometimes interspersed with white ones for each weekday. It's not until Catholics and Anglicans adopt the custom in the first third of the twentieth century that we see purple and rose candles in the wreath, and blue comes still later as American Episcopal churches invent the allegedly ancient custom of using "Sarum Blue" vestments and paraments for Advent. It seems a little odd to me that we sometimes use a rose candle with the blue ones, since rose was originally meant to be a lighter shade of the purple of the season.Bill Doggettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-45426282174416604732014-12-11T15:12:11.752-05:002014-12-11T15:12:11.752-05:00I have no problem with the pink candle; it's i...I have no problem with the pink candle; it's included in the Advent candle set. But a complete set of Rose Vestments to use twice a year?? Seems like not much bang for the buck.Katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09656147607042777871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-90607711367115401982014-12-11T11:09:08.819-05:002014-12-11T11:09:08.819-05:00And here I always thought it was because one year ...And here I always thought it was because one year the dye didn't work in the candle making so the altar guild had to come up with some symbolism to cover it up.Webfoothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15074655819092412632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-7824724827531510322014-12-10T22:35:30.476-05:002014-12-10T22:35:30.476-05:00I'm an all blue priest in Advent. Have been si...I'm an all blue priest in Advent. Have been since 1979. Purple and pink worked when Advent was "little Lent." No more. Do blue and emphasize hope or purple and emphasize repentance, with a little joy on 3rd Sunday. Be consistent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-47101363329372910942014-12-10T21:57:19.580-05:002014-12-10T21:57:19.580-05:00I'm Lutheran- gotta go with blue candles. But ...I'm Lutheran- gotta go with blue candles. But I grew up, a Lutheran minister's son, with white, all purple, and two purple/1 pink/1 purple, and finally the blue. I've done it all, and ultimately, it's hard to do it wrong. Because Advent is, "it's the most wonderful time, yes the most wonderful time, it's the most wonderful time of the year!"Dan Schoofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05651116692064123171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-50765597186681075352014-12-10T21:35:31.853-05:002014-12-10T21:35:31.853-05:00Actually the use of purple and pink candles is a r...Actually the use of purple and pink candles is a rather late development for Advent wreaths. Liturgical candles should always be white as they represent the Light of Christ. Originally, the four white candles were decorated with a purple or pink ribbon to coordinate with the four Sundays of Advent. Now we forego the ribbons and simply use the colored candles. I personally favor white candles. <br /><br />Rev. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15417188138969162240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-48839627880382787902014-12-10T20:59:27.251-05:002014-12-10T20:59:27.251-05:00My understanding has always been that the purple s...My understanding has always been that the purple symbolizes penitence as we get closer to the coming of Christ, which in the end will be symbolized by a white candle. The pink says penitence has worked and we're almost at the appearance of Christ. The lighter pink shows movement, progress in the journey of Advent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-48357271715771588102014-12-10T20:27:11.356-05:002014-12-10T20:27:11.356-05:00have always loved the enigma of purple-purple-pink... have always loved the enigma of purple-purple-pink-purple. everyone seems to want to put it 4th; knowing it's third is kind of like the episcopal secret hand shake.It's almost like when we pass on to heaven, the pearly gates will be locked with a padlock, and the combo will be purple purple pink purple.<br />Mike Essignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381472662149763328.post-40219343737763598002014-12-10T19:27:00.658-05:002014-12-10T19:27:00.658-05:00You know what happens if you use the wrong color o...You know what happens if you use the wrong color of candle? You RUIN ADVENT. So make sure you're using the right colors. I've learned the hard way.Scott Gunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04775271116737644034noreply@blogger.com