You know, all year long we're chasing something. We want to keep our homes in order, we want to do our best at work, and we want to take care of our children. The days are flying by like crazy, and the calendar shows us almost halfway through November. It's that time of year to slow down and enjoy the magic of Advent. But the power and message of Advent is not just the symbolism of the approaching Christmas holidays. It carries a deep historical and religious significance. From this perspective, Advent is meant to remind humanity, and especially believers, that Christ is coming and that their lives should be about waiting for him. Thus, in the season of Advent, people are not only concerned with historical events that took place many years ago, nor with material security and haste.
Perhaps the most beautiful symbol of the season has become the Advent wreath. Whether placed on the table or hung on the front door, it is a part of everyone's home. As our work also includes the manufacture of exterior doors, which are the ideal place to place this decoration, we feel it is pleasing to bring you a wider range of themes at this time of year. The emergence of the Advent wreath predates an old custom originating in the Nordic countries in Europe. People there used to bring home cut green branches of trees tied in a circle during the winter. The green colour of the twigs and the circle in this case symbolized the strength and zest for life, its closed circle. The light of the burning candles signified for the people the hope in coping with the gloomy atmosphere of the winter season and waiting for the first spring sun. The wreath on the door is thus considered a protective symbol.
The door points to the passage and main entrance to our houses. Our ancestors believed that the threshold of the door is the mythical boundary of two different worlds, so they always tried to protect the entrance from negative energies. However, the history of the typical Advent wreath with four candles began in a German orphanage in 1838, when Johann Henrich Wichern of Hamburg made one for the children living there. It is said that Johann wanted to silence the curious questions of the children constantly asking when Christmas would finally be here, so he made a wooden circle with 24 candles. The thin candles represented the normal weekday candles and the thick ones were symbolic of Sundays. The 4 main candles have survived from this creation and still commemorate the coming four Sundays until Christmas. The four candles have different roles. The first one burning represents peace. The second one has become a symbol of the faith we should keep within us. The third candle carries a message of love, and the fourth symbolizes undying hope. The candles on the Advent wreath are lit one by one, with all four burning together on the last Sunday before Christmas.
However, in order not to focus only on history and tradition, we must not forget aesthetics, whose function is also irreplaceable. The style and effect of a wreath hanging on your door reveals a lot about you and your home and expresses your taste perfectly. When the aromatic scent of pine needles is added to the visual pleasure, you've won. The base for the wreath should be strong enough to support the weight of the live needles, so a polystyrene circle, some kind of straw body or a cut down section of a tree stump is ideal. Apart from candles, without which the Advent wreath would be meaningless, you can use practically anything to decorate it. Simple green wreaths are timeless and elegant, but you can easily liven up a wreath with natural materials. Pinecones, acorns, dried fruit, branches, bark, cinnamon and even fragrant star anise will be the right choice.
In case you are a lover of all things sparkly and frilly, you can also use various Christmas decorations, balls, stars, but we are in favour of natural aesthetics. Modern advent wreaths come in a variety of colours, we've seen black too, but the harmony of the season is best captured and brought to you by earthy colours lightly enlivened by snow white or Christmas red. So you don't have to buy the best accessories for your advent wreath in the shop. Just head out into the woods with your family and gather some chinkapin and other natural materials that you can playfully use in your decorating. You will be rewarded not only with a beautiful Advent wreath, but especially with the magic of bonding with your family and spending time together while making the decoration. That's what it's all about at this time of year. Love, family, slowing down and having a good time.
So, have we inspired you? :-)
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