This is my own advent wreath: Wrapped in traditional red bows. I loved the gourmet theme with frosted winter berries, cinnamon sticks, mushrooms and sugared gingerbread.
Now that it’s getting cold, dark and miserable outside, it’s time to snuggle up and decorate the house, transforming it into a cosy, magical winter hut to shelter from the howling wind outside.
On my recent trip to Berlin, I visited my favourite flower shop in Potsdam. The owner is a passionate and gifted lady, who creates stunning advent wreaths in the winter time.
The tradition of the advent wreath is a very old one: For centuries, homes in winter have been decorated with the evergreen branches. In the darkest time of the year, when nature sleeps under a deep blanket of snow, they bring light and the hope of new life into the house.
Combining this winter tradition with Christmas has been a relatively recent occurence. A Lutheranian pastor in Germany invented the advent wreath in 1860. In a children’s home in Hamburg, he hung a wooden wreath from the ceiling, lighting a candle every day to celebrate the lead up to Christmas. A few years later the wooden ring was adorned with evergreen fir, red ribbons and Christmassy embellishments. The 24 candles were replaced with four to make the decoration suitable for private homes.
Today, you can chose from many different variations of the advent wreath. In UK abodes, you will often find one hanging on or beside the front door. In Germany, it’s traditionally put on a coffee table, crowned by four candles.
Here are my favourite creations for you to enjoy and be inspired by!
Advent wreath adorned with real pomegranates, iced berries and branches.
I love kitsch! Hence I adore this lighted advent tree embellished with fairy lights, pine cones, feathers and baubles.
This hanging advent wreath looks like one of the very early incarnations that were first created in the late 1800s. if I ever own a big house, this is what will be gracing my hallway! Mummy Romantique in the background is fittingly dressed in a Santa red coat.
This beauty is now sparkling in Mummy Romantique and Rebel’s home: themed like the white winter wonderland.
A rustic creation of brown and bronze colours and retro ice skates.
This decorated fir branch is perfect for sideboards.