Some of you may have noticed that mysteriously one of the blue candles on the advent wreath at St. James became pink last week, and that it was lit on Sunday with two of the blue candles. Some controversy ensued. Before the change was made all of the clergy were consulted and were comfortable with the change. Little did we expect passions to be aroused.

Fr. Tom said in conversation this afternoon that the advent wreath was a recent liturgical innovation, so I decided to do a little research. While one must approach information on the internet with considerable caution, wikipedia above all, I did find it interesting that according to that source, the modern advent wreath became a common custom in Germany only around 1900, and then only among Protestants. It probably arrived in the US in the 1930s or so.

The color of the candles is dependent on the liturgical color of Advent. Traditionally among Roman Catholics, because Advent was seen as a penitential season, the liturgical color was purple, the same as in the season of Lent. But like Lent, which had a Sunday “off”–Laetare Sunday–when the liturgical color was rose (pink), it became the custom to use pink on the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday.

As a result of the liturgical changes in the twentieth century that sought to de-emphasize Advent’s penitential nature and to distinguish it clearly from Lent, blue became a popular liturgical color, especially among Protestants. Anglicans could appeal to the Medieval traditions of Salisbury (the “Sarum” rite) which used blue during Advent. In most Episcopal churches, whatever the color of the other candles on the wreath, there is one pink or rose candle, which is usually lit on the third Sunday (though according to some traditions on the fourth).

I suppose that the most “liturgically correct” thing to do would be to get a set of vestments to match the pink candle. But remember, the color of the candles doesn’t matter a great deal; what does matter is what the season of Advent is about, to help us prepare for the coming of Christ.