For several years our family has had an Advent wreath. The children love it, and it’s a wonderful project to do together.

I’ve been meaning to make this tutorial for at least 8 or 9 years to share this joy with other families, and each year procrastination and/or perfectionism has gotten in my way. This year I am finally making it happen!

My husband is an advertising photographer, and I have had grand ideas of using his beautiful images, along with my children taking part in making the wreath for the project. However, this year my husband and children (who aren’t children anymore) are busy (one is even overseas in Sweden).

And I’m so determined to make the tutorial this year because I am teaching the parent/child class at our Steiner school and have made an advent wreath to bring to class next week and I want to show the parents how they can make a wreath for themselves. AND today is the beginning of advent, so there’s no time like the present.

Gather Your Supplies:

• greenery

• willow branches or other vines with leaves removed

• flowers - if they’re in season where you live (I used red mānuka flowers)

• newspapers

• green wool

• candles

• candle holders

• grosgrain ribbon

• 2 straight pins

• scissors

• secateurs

• plate to rest the finished wreath on

Advice: When handling the greenery wear long sleeves and possibly gloves if you will be dextrous enough. I got hives from handling the saps and oils from the greenery.

Going for a walk in the woods with children to collect the greenery for the Advent wreath can be a wonderful adventure and a great way to involve them in the process of making your advent wreath.

Making The Newspaper Base

Form a ring by rolling up sheets of newspaper and shaping it with your hands as you move around the circumference. Make the base about the same size as the plate that will hold your finished wreath. Add more pieces on to add bulk. This newspaper will give you a base to add greenery onto later and has the added benefit of retaining water to help your wreath stay fresh.

Wrapping Wool Around The Newspaper Base

Next take your wool and wrap it around the newspaper base to bind the base together. Continue to shape the newspaper into a circular shape as you do this. It’s important to use wool or cotton yarn for this step so when Christmas is over you can place the whole wreath on the compost pile.

Wrapping Willow Branches and Vines Around Base

Wrap the willow branches or vines around the newspaper base, tucking the ends in under the wool. These branches will give you places to tuck the evergreen boughs into.

Wrap More Wool

Wrap another round of wool over the layer of willow branches to stabilise the base even more.

Adding Greenery

Add greenery to your wreath, tucking the ends of the branches into the willow branches and under the green wool. First work your way around the top of the wreath, then add greenery to the bottom, inside and outside. After you have a base layer of greenery attached, bind it all together with another round of green wool. Then add more greenery over the top to hide the wool.

Wrapping The Ribbon

Secure a red ribbon to the bottom side of the wreath with a straight pin and wrap it around, spacing it evenly. Pin the excess ribbon under your wreath with another straight pin.

Soak Your Advent Wreath

Now that your wreath is complete it’s time to give it an extra-long soak in the sink so the newspaper core holds plenty of moisture to keep the greenery looking fresh. I put mine in the sink, ribbon and all, for about 2 hours. After it has soaked, let most the water drip out of the wreath, and place the wreath on your plate, reshaping the wreath as necessary. You may need to tip water out of the plate again a bit later.

Celebrating Advent

Put your candles in the candle holders and place them in the centre of the wreath. Now you are ready to celebrate Advent.

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, marking a time of preparation and anticipation for Christmas Day. This year it starts today, 27 November.

In Steiner Schools we honour different kingdoms (minerals, plants, animals and humans) on each Advent Sunday and the week following. Start on the first Advent Sunday by lighting one candle to give gratitude for the minerals. On the next Sunday light two candles - one for the minerals and one for the plants. Begin on the next Sunday to light three candles for the minerals, plants and animals. And on the fourth Advent Sunday light all four candles for the mineral, plant, animal and human realms.

Here is a verse that can be spoken as you light each candle. (Apologies I don’t know to whom to credit this verse - please write to me if you know the author.)

The first light of Advent is the light of stones.

The light that shines in seashells, crystals and our bones.

The second light of Advent is the light of plants.

Plants that reach up to the sun, and in the breezes dance.

The third light of Advent is the light of beasts.

Animals of farm, forest and sea, awaiting the birth in greatest and in least.

The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind.

The light of hope, thoughts and deeds, the light of hand, heart and mind.

The Care and Feeding of Your Advent Wreath

Soak your wreath every few days, ribbon and all, to make sure it stays well hydrated. If the greenery dries out too much by the end of Advent, you can always add fresh greenery over the top to spruce it up a bit.

I hope you have a lovely Advent season and a very happy Christmas. Please get in touch if you have any questions.

Warmly,

Amy