What is the order of the advent candles?

Answer 1

Here are the four common candles and their symbolism: First Candle Color: Purple
Theme: Hope
First Sunday in Advent
Second Candle Color: Purple
Theme: Love
Second Sunday in Advent
Third Candle Color: Pink
Theme: Joy
Third Sunday in Advent
Fourth Candle Color: Purple
Theme: Peace
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Optional Center Candle, (not often used)
Color: White
Theme: Christmas
Christmas Day

Answer 2

There are a total of 5 candles, a tall (usually wider) in the center surrounded by three purple candles and one pink candles. At the vigil (or first) Mass of the first Sunday in Advent a prayer is offered and the 1st purple candle is light. It burns at all Masses through the week (It may be extincted between Masses. On the 2nd Sunday another purple is light, before Mass, no prayers are offered, and the two candles burn through the week. On the Third Sunday in Advent (laetare Sunday - "joyful") the pink candle is light before Mass, no additional Prayers offered before Mass, on the fourth Sunday light the fourth candle. On the first Mass of Christmas the four candles are replaced with white candles and those four burn with the white center candle.