“Each wreath has its own soul,” says Mariele Lang, who has been a member of the women’s group of the St. Otto parish in Ottobrunn since 1999. Their traditional Advent market, where self-tied Advent wreaths and door wreaths are sold for the benefit of social institutions, is well-known and popular. This year, seven women met to do handicrafts and above all made sure that the four Advent candles in their wreaths are effective and have a secure footing.
They use pillar candles, which have one to four pegs that are used to attach them to the Advent wreath. That sounds simpler than it is: “We’re trying to get the same distances between the candles as best we can. They have to be straight,” explains Lang. Depending on which branches and how they were tied around the straw Roman – that’s the name of the basic straw wreath – this is sometimes difficult. The hobbyists not only bind fir branches, but also yew, cedar, thuja, pine and ivy.
There are no limits to your imagination when it comes to binding and handicrafts. The women agree that red has the best effect as the primary color, both for the ribbons for bows and decorations and for the candles. But the latter in white can also be wonderfully combined with fruit and cinnamon sticks. Even blue candles look amazing, some with spray paint and others decorated with figures.
The do-it-yourselfers had a special idea with four candles depicting candy and Santa’s boots: they used them to create a special children’s Advent wreath. “Children can play with the plush figures at Christmas or hang the apples, cones and stars on the Christmas tree,” says Lang. She points to some pink candles that the women have combined with white flowers or with white balls and stars. You’ll be amazed: with the fir green, this creates a very special charm.
Immediately after Christmas, Mariele Lang is already looking for suitable materials for the next Advent and keeps her eyes open all year round. “If I see something I like, I think it could go well for this or for that.” From the sale of the wreaths at the Advent market, the women’s group donated 300 euros each to the “Mammalade für Karla”, the hospice group and the Ottobrunn food bank. Her joy in crafting together also brings joy to other people, says the Ottobrunn native. And smiles.
In the series “My number” the SZ presents people every day until Christmas, in whose life a number has a special meaning – from 1 to 24 like in an advent calendar.