Advent Floristry: Ideas for a Cosy Run-Up to Christmas

Why evergreens at all? The Advent wreath as we know it isn't actually that old. In 1839, at his children's home Das Rauhe Haus in Hamburg, the theologian Johann Hinrich Wichern set up a wooden cartwheel with around two dozen candles — four large ones for the Sundays of Advent and smaller ones for the weekdays — so the children could count the days to Christmas. The exact number of candles varied with the length of Advent. Only around 1860 did this become the round, evergreen wreath with four candles for the four Sundays of Advent. The symbolism is lovely and simple: the circle stands for eternity without beginning or end, the green for hope and life, the light for the approaching feast. Knowing that, you bind the wreath with slightly different eyes.

1. Choose the right greenery. Not every conifer lasts the same in a warm room. Nordmann fir is the classic because it sheds needles late and they are soft. Noble fir smells intense and looks elegant thanks to its blue-green tone. Pine drops needles faster but adds structure. Feel free to mix: a few stems of eucalyptus, some ruscus or a touch of blueberry loosen up the dense green and turn the wreath into more than just „round fir“. A tip from the workshop: soak the greenery in cold water overnight before binding — well hydrated, it survives the dry heated air far longer.

2. Bind the Advent wreath yourself. You need a straw or wire wreath base, green binding wire and scissors. Cut the greenery into short pieces and bundle four to five sprigs each. Lay the first bundle on the base and wrap the wire around it three or four times, pulled tight — the wire is never cut, it runs continuously. Lay the next bundle slightly offset like a roof shingle over the stems of the previous one, so no wire shows. Work your way around, always in the same direction. At the end, tuck the last stems under the first bundle — and the closed shape is done.

3. Set candles and decoration. Four candles is tradition, but no law — three tall pillar candles at uneven heights often look more modern than strict four-way symmetry. Candle holders with a spike give grip and are safer than pushing the candle straight into the greenery. With decoration, less is more. A few matte baubles in one tone, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cones or dried flowers like pampas grass set accents without smothering the green. Pick one lead colour and stick to it — a wreath in white-green-silver looks calmer and more refined than a colourful mix.

4. Beyond the wreath: arrangements and bowls. Advent floristry is more than the wreath. A flat arrangement on floral foam on the dining table, a planted bowl on the windowsill, an Advent bouquet of evergreens with a few amaryllis and red berries in a vase — all of it spreads the mood through the whole room. Asymmetry often feels more alive than the perfect centre: set a visual focal point of three elements and let the rest trail loosely. Berries of holly, skimmia or rosehip, cones and a little dried material add depth.

5. The amaryllis — Advent's quiet star. Few blooms embody December like the amaryllis (botanically Hippeastrum, German Ritterstern). It flowers exactly when almost nothing else does — from December to February — pushing tall stems with palm-sized trumpet flowers out of a single fat bulb. Symbolically it stands for pride, strength and quiet splendour, which makes it the perfect festive gesture. As a cut flower in the vase or as a potted bulb in a glass, it draws every eye. Important for households with children and pets: all parts of the plant, especially the bulb, are strongly toxic — they contain lycorin and other alkaloids, and even a few grams of the bulb can cause serious poisoning if eaten. So keep the bulb and plant firmly out of reach. If you like, pair it with hyacinths, whose scent fills Advent even more.

6. Don't forget longevity and safety. Evergreens live off moisture: don't place arrangements directly above a radiator and mist the greenery with water now and then, so it stays fresh longer and smells stronger. Dry conifer and open flames are a serious fire hazard — never leave burning candles unattended and never let them burn all the way down. With a little care, a well-bound wreath carries you through all four weeks of Advent.