Anticipation for Christmas

The Advent wreath is a beautiful symbol of anticipation, a lovely pre-Christmas decoration. And the candles on the Advent wreath? They shorten the time from the start of Advent until Christmas Eve. With each additional candle, the light grows brighter, symbolizing the increasing joy and anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ. For me, the beginning of Advent is always connected with making the Advent wreath – gathering the materials for it, which you can find yourself – in the forest, on the farm, in the garden, and then picking up the other bits and bobs.

Karin, my colleague and friend, loves this work just as much, and she is also a trained florist. She will now explain the steps for those who would like to make an Advent wreath themselves – have fun recreating it.

What do you need for a beautiful, traditional Advent wreath?

You’ll need a straw wreath base, fir branches, juniper, ivy, boxwood, or similar greenery. Plus, four candles, binding wire, a hot glue gun, candle holders or spikes for the candles, ribbon and wire for bows, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, stars, baubles, angel hair, and any other decorations you fancy.

How is an Advent wreath made?

First, cut the fir branches and other greenery to the right length. Attach the binding wire to the straw wreath base, and then you’re off! Make small bunches from the branches, place them on the straw wreath, and secure them with the wire. Repeat this process until the entire straw wreath is covered.

For the candles, warm the wire with a candle first; this makes it easier to push into the candles without them breaking. Depending on the size, insert 2 to 4 pieces of wire. Place the candles into the wreath and bend the excess wire underneath. Make bows, thread them through the wreath with wire below the candles, and bend the wire on the inside. Finally, glue on your decorations as you like with a hot glue gun – and just like that, the magic is complete!

Have fun recreating it. Karin and Katharina from Zittrauerhof Gastein, www.gasteinurlaub.com