Each of the four colored candles in the Advent celebration represents a week leading to Christmas. Traditionally, three of the candles are purple, and one is pink. The final candle is white and is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The use of the candles and even the color may vary for those who celebrate/

It was once a tradition for the pope to give someone a rose on the fourth Sunday of Lent before Easter to "liven up" the somber tone of the season. The rose custom became part of the third Sunday of Advent. Eventually, the third candle turned pink as well. This is the origin of pink candle. Before the mass commercialization of Christmas, Advent was also a solemn time, as people fasted to prepare for the holiday.