On the eve of Christmas: how to make an Advent wreath with your own hands

The Advent period symbolizes the anticipation of Christmas. This tradition is already 500 years old and it came to us from Germany. An Advent wreath is one of the first pre-Christmas decorations that appears in our homes. They decorate not only our rooms, but also workplaces, restaurants and shops. Read on Joy-pup how to make a Christmas wreath with your own hands.

How did the custom of making Advent wreaths originate?

Advent is a time of anticipation for the birth of Christ and preparation for Christmas. A Christmas or Advent wreath is a decorative element during the holidays, but at the same time it also has deep symbolism as a sign of the approaching birth of Jesus Christ. The wreath can be placed on the table, hung from the ceiling or on the wall.

The custom of making Advent wreaths came to us from Germany. The first wreath was made in Hamburg by the evangelical pastor Johann Heinrich Wichern, the head of an orphanage. To create a unique atmosphere in the common hall where prayer services were held, he made a wooden wreath with a diameter of 2 meters. He placed candles on it, symbolizing the subsequent days of Advent. Every day people gathered around the wreath for common prayer and another candle was lit.

Currently, 4 candles are placed on the Advent wreath to mark the 4 weeks of Advent. They are lit every subsequent Sunday and indicate the passage of time, shortening the wait for the birth of Jesus Christ. Candles symbolize light and warmth. Each candle also has a separate meaning – the first is the Candle of Hope (forgiving the sins of Adam and Eve), the second is the Candle of Peace, the third is the Candle of Joy, the fourth is the Candle of Love. Red candles are most often used in decoration as a symbol of vitality.

How to make a Christmas wreath with your own hands?

Making a holiday wreath consists of the following main steps: forming the base, attaching candles and decorating it with various decorations. The symbolism of the wreath is multi-layered and rich in content. The round shape is a symbol of infinity, the eternity of God and a sign of the victory of Christ. Evergreen branches of coniferous trees (spruce, pine) are a symbol of life and community.

Materials:

• branches of coniferous trees (live or artificial);
• wire;
• glue gun;
• 4 thick candles;
• multi-colored bows, ribbons, stars;
• plants (artificial or dried);
• poinsettia flowers;
• nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts);
• Christmas decorations;
• dried citrus slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise;
• porcelain, metal or wooden figurines, such as angels.

Master class step by step

1. The basis of the wreath can be a circle made of thin wire, polystyrene foam, straw or flexible plant branches.

2. Using a thin wire, attach bunches of coniferous twigs to the base so that there is no empty space left. The branches should be placed tightly enough and at an angle so that subsequent branches overlap the previous ones.

3. The wreath can be supplemented with tree branches or decorated with stabilized moss.

4. Candles can be placed on the wreath using special candlesticks. If we don’t have such stands, we can attach the candles using wire or toothpicks. Cut a straight wire or toothpick about 5-6 cm long and insert it into the base of the candle (you will need 4 of these pieces for each candle). We can place the candles on the wreath at an equal distance or close to each other.

5. Using hot glue, attach the remaining decorations (pine cones, dried fruits, bows, flowers, balls, etc.) to the wreath.