How to Make Your Own Adventskranz

The Christmas season is upon us and Christmas lights light up the streets of towns and cities in Switzerland during the long and dark nights of early winter. Soon, most kids (and many adults) in Switzerland will start counting the days until Christmas with their Christmas calendars.

The Adventskranz

Another way Swiss people count the days to December 24th and the big celebration is the Adventskranz (advent wreath). An Adventskranz is usually a decorated circular wreath made of fir branches with four large candles fastened on it. As opposed to Christmas calendars that start counting the days until Christmas on December 1st, advent wreaths count the last four weeks before Christmas eve. The first candle is lit on the Sunday four weeks before Christmas eve and then every week an additional candle is lit.

You can buy an Adventskranz at most supermarkets in Switzerland. However, I find it much more exciting to create your very own. My mom used to buy a styrofoam ring to create a wreath with twigs and leaves and then decorated it with colorful ribbons, candles, nuts and other Christmassy deco. I haven't had a chance to try myself at Adventskranz-making and won't be able to this year since I'm traveling but if you want a more contemplative, festive Christmas item in your house I suggest you give it a try!

How to make your own Adventskranz

Shopping list:

Styrofoam or straw ring as a base (available at Migros, Coop and other stores)
Twigs and leaves (can also be gathered in the forest)
Wire and string
4 candles
Ribbons and other decorative items (nuts, cinnamon sticks, stars, etc.)

Instructions:

Tie the twigs and leaves around the straw ring until it is all covered in green
Tie ribbons around the wreath
Add decorative items by tying them to the wrath or sticking them into the base ring with
Carefully stick a piece of wire into the bottom of the candles and stick them into the base ring

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