Advent Inspiration: Count down the days with home crafted decorations

The season of Advent is marked by a variety of traditions, with the consistently charming Advent Calendar proving popular with families around the country, year-in-year-out. The onset of Advent is a time of joy and excitement – especially for younger family members – as the countdown to Christmas gets underway, children look forward to the school holidays and the carol singers herald the Nativity.

One of the most beautifully traditional and natural ways to adorn your home in the season to be jolly is through delightful ‘Christmas Star’ plants, more commonly known as poinsettias, which are now available in a wide array of colours, shapes and sizes to suit any kind of festive décor. Here, Dr Susanne Lux of Stars for Europe looks at how to get into the Christmas spirit in homespun style.

Advent Shelf Faffery

For committed home stylists, shelf faffery is a trend to savour and Advent offers ample opportunity to indulge your every whim. In this homemade Advent calendar, the surprises are contained in 24 beautifully wrapped cardboard boxes, arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree on a shelf or mantelpiece. A variety of wrapping paper, colourful ribbons, pine branches and cut poinsettias in flower tubes attached to the bows of some presents, create a decorative effect. The top of the tree is formed by a bright red poinsettia in a test tube filled with water, hung on the wall. To ensure the poinsettias stay fresher for longer, immediately after cutting, first dip the cut ends in hot water (around 60°C) for a few seconds and then straight into cold water. Tip: If necessary, use hot glue and/or adhesive pads at some points to ensure the structure doesn't collapse.

Simple but Effective

A bowl planted with mini poinsettias and with an Advent calendar candle in the middle makes a space-saving alternative to a classic Advent wreath and is ideal as a gift. A drainage layer on the bottom of the bowl helps to avoid waterlogging. Wax adhesive discs are ideal for securing the candle. Tip: Alternatively, you can make this arrangement with floral foam and cut poinsettias.

Vintage Vibes

The contrast between the red bracts and green crockery gives this modern homemade Advent decoration its charm. The upcycling idea can be arranged in a variety of ways and is easily achieved with just four different cups, candles and mini poinsettias. Tip: When choosing a location, make sure the mini poinsettias are protected from the cold and draughts. Water the plants regularly with a little room temperature water. Avoid waterlogging!

Table Centrepiece

This colourful DIY Advent decoration is super easy to create. Simply plant a bowl with colourful mini poinsettias, add four taper candles and place in a bright spot protected from the cold and draughts. Water the mini poinsettias regularly from above. Tip: A drainage layer at the bottom of the bowl will protect the plants from getting waterlogged.

Wreaths & Bouquets

This unusual Advent wreath in warm terracotta, salmon and red tones looks sophisticated and rustic at the same time. To create this natural centrepiece yourself, add four candle holders to a straw wreath frame and attach small terracotta pots around it with hot glue. Stick dried rose heads and pine cones between the pots. Finally, place mini poinsettias and matching dried banksias and proteas in the terracotta pots and add taper candles to the holders. Tip: Place your wreath in a bright, warm spot away from draughts. Water the mini poinsettias regularly from above with a little water.

The Gift

This crafted Advent calendar in gold and cream looks very luxurious. The gifts are contained in 24 festively wrapped, numbered parcels, arranged in a square. Stylish wrapping paper and ribbons, pine branches and cut cream-coloured poinsettias in flower tubes filled with water make the arrangement an elegant focal point in the run-up to Christmas. To keep the poinsettias fresher for longer, immediately after cutting, dip the stems first into hot water (around 60°C) for a few seconds, then straight into cold water. Tip: If you secure the presents to a panel, you can also hang up your Advent calendar.

What it says on the Tin

Upcycling can give classic Christmas decorations a new look: the basis for this Advent arrangement is a muffin tin. With red mini poinsettias, Advent candles (ready-made sets with the numbers printed on are available in stores), baubles, cones and pine greenery, this kitchen utensil can be turned into a modern alternative to the traditional Advent wreath in no time at all. This craft idea is great for making with children and works well as an original gift.

Festive Dining

What would a Christmas table be without candlelight and floral decorations? These DIY flower arrangements offer both at the same time. You can create these magical table arrangements yourself in just a few steps. You'll need small bowls, double-sided transparent tape, stemmed glasses, a hot glue gun and glue sticks, wool string and tealights. You will also need the following florals for the arrangements: poinsettias, silver dollar eucalyptus (Eucalyptus polyanthemos), crab apple (Malus floribunda), dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo), Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) rosehips (Rosa multiflora).

Cream poinsettias and dried flowers look beautiful in DIY vases made from Christmas baubles. For this elegant upcycling idea, you will need white lustre baubles, log slices (for example, birch wood), a hot glue gun and glue sticks, cut poinsettias and dried flowers. They are so easy to make. Simply remove the little caps from the baubles and, with the opening at the top, attach them to the log slices using hot glue. Fill each bauble vase with dried flowers and cut poinsettias. Place several vases together on your Christmas table for a striking centrepiece. Tip: Cut poinsettias will stay fresh in clean water for up to two weeks if, immediately after cutting, you first dip the cut ends in hot water (approx. 60°C) for a few seconds, then straight into cold water.

How the poinsettia became a Christmas plant

A native shrub of Mexico, poinsettias can grow up to 5m high in their native habitat. The Aztecs cultivated the plant, decorated temples with it and used it to produce a dye for colouring clothes and as a medicine to reduce fever. Poinsettia became favoured Christmas plants after the Spanish conquest, when missionaries to Mexico renamed it ‘Estrella de Navidad’ (Christmas star). Then, in the 17th century, the poinsettia made its debut in a procession of Franciscan monks and was gifted with the name ‘Flor de Nochebuena’ (Holy Night Flower), which marked the advent of its increasing use as a traditional Christian symbol.

Fast forward to the early 20th century and German-born emigrant, Albert Ecke, enjoyed seeing thew the bracts of wild poinsettias turning red in December. He had the brainwave of growing them in his fields with a view to selling the vibrant stems as cut flowers in the run-up to Christmas. After Albert’s death, his son, Paul, focused on establishing the poinsettia as the symbolic Christmas Star, although it wasn’t until the 1950s that varieties suitable to be kept as potted houseplants were successfully introduced. Henceforth, potted poinsettias started to replace the cut flowers, whilst the entrepreneurial Ecke family opened up shops in Hollywood and set about making the poinsettia into the world’s favourite festive houseplant.

Ends

Editors notes

For more information

For more Christmas trees ideas using poinsettias and lots of other information and decoration tips with this winter flowering plant, visit: https://www.starsuniteeurope.eu