Advent candles are traditionally white, though other Christmas-themed colors have become popular.

Every ornament, tree skirt, angel, advent candle, you name it was made in China.

An Advent candle is a candle marked with the days of December up to Christmas Eve.

The custom of having an Advent candle seems to have started in Germany, where children traditionally insert a small candle into a decorated orange.

Swedes prepare for Christmas, jul, with Advent candles and opening Advent calendars.

Blue is also a popular alternative color for both Advent vestments and Advent candles, especially in some Anglican and Lutheran churches.

The readings for the first Sunday in Advent relate to the old testament patriarchs who were Christ's ancestors, so some call the first advent candle that of hope.

In Catholic churches, the most popular colours for the Advent candles are violet and rose, corresponding with the colors of the liturgical vestments for the Sundays of Advent.

The type of candle used in this way is called the Advent candle, although this term is also used to refer to a candle that decorates an Advent wreath.

But for now there is a sense that a major passage has been concluded, that there is time to light the Advent candles and sip the spicy wine, to savor the hard-won normalcy.

In the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist churches the celebrant wears violet-coloured or blue vestments on this day, and the first violet or blue Advent candle is lit at Mass.

The other day, Maryanne Loux's prekindergarten class sat cross-legged in a circle on the carpet, clasped hands, lighted the four Advent candles and heartily began: "Here we go round our circle of friends, our circle of friends.

The two part event includes fun activities for young children, food and singing; the next part of the event is a processional to the chapel for a formal service and the official lighting of the Christmas decorations and the Advent candle.

In households in some Western European countries, a single candle marked with the days of December is gradually burned down, day by day, to mark the passing of the days of Advent; this is called an Advent candle.

In recent times the most common observance of Advent outside church circles has been the keeping of an advent calendar or advent candle, with one door being opened in the calendar, or one section of the candle being burned, on each day in December leading up to Christmas Eve.