Often times we think our main church traditions are really old. In fact, some of them are not old at all, such as with the Advent Wreath.
The Advent Wreath actually began as a prayer practice in the home to mark the passage of time throughout the Advent Season. It did not start early in church history, but later in 17th century Germany. It was not until the mid 20th Century that the Advent Wreath made its way into churches.
Even today, the Advent Wreath is seen by the church as simply a visual reminder of the passage of time during the Advent Season, best used as a personal devotion in the home. The Book of Occasional Services recognizes it as such, and calls upon only the simple act of lighting it as opposed to a full scale liturgy.
You can learn more about the Advent Wreath in The Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander's Celebrating Liturgical Time (pg. 44-45) and in The Book of Occasional Services.