How To Celebrate Christmas With An Advent Wreath

Do you know the story of Advent? Learn how to celebrate Christmas with an Advent Wreath. Make an easy modern Advent Wreath and download a free Advent Printable to tell the story of the Christmas season.

Have you ever celebrated Christmas with the lighting of an Advent Wreath? It’s a tradition often found in churches, in which a candle will be lit during each Sunday of Advent. On the first Sunday of Advent, the first candle is lit. On the second Sunday of Advent, an additional is lit, and so on through the four Sundays of the Advent Season. Each candle represents a different focus during Christmas; Love, Joy, Hope, and Peace. In the effort to create a meaningful home, I wanted to bring the tradition of the Advent Wreath into our Christmas Celebration.

Disclosure: I was provided product from DecoArt to create this project. All content, photos, and views expressed are my own.

I’m sharing this advent wreath as part of Handmade Holidays 2016 {yesterday, I shared a DIY Personalized Recipe Box gift}. Today’s theme is Handmade Holiday Decor, and if you are like me, Christmas brings out the crafty side. I want to fill my house with handmade decorations… in order to create a cozy Christmas home. How about you?

Supplies Needed

• Wooden Candle Holder (similar)
• Walnut Hollow Wooden Clock Panel
• Wood Glue
• Screw, Washer, and Screwdriver
• Paint Brushes
• DecoArt Enchanted Chalk Finish
• Sandpaper
• DecoArt Clear Creme Wax
• DecoArt Deep Brown Creme Wax
• Christmas Floral Garland
• Floral Wire and Wire Snips
• 4 Candles {various heights}

How to Make an Advent Wreath

To begin, assemble the pedestal stand. I attached a Walnut Hollow Wooden Clock Panel to a wooden candle holder. To ensure everything is centered, use a ruler to find the mid-point of the candle holder and mark that spot. Squirt wood glue onto the surface, then align the hole in the clock panel with the marked spot. Use a screwdriver to screw into the clock face and hold the two pieces tight. This will help keep the two wooden pieces tight and aligned while the glue is drying.

Once everything is dry, start painting. DecoArt Enchanted Chalk Finish is a classic green color that works perfectly for Christmas, but also the general blue and green palette found throughout our home. Therefore, this pedestal stand can be used year-round. After two coats of Enchanted Chalk Finish, I distress the edges with a sanding block. Next, apply a coat of Clear Creme Wax, followed with Deep Brown Creme Wax, for depth.

Once the pedestal has a nice, antique finish, let it dry. Afterward, place 4 candles of varying heights in the center of the stand and wrap the Christmas garland around them. Using wire snips, cut the garland to the correct length. Next, use floral wire to tie the ends together, creating a wreath around the candles.

The real magic happens when you remove the wrapping on the candles and start placing them back inside the wreath. I chose deep, black, pillar candles for the modern and dramatic look that they would create. Place the tallest pillar first, add the mid-sized pillars to each size, and finish with the smallest candle.

What is Advent? Download an Advent Printable

This Advent Wreath makes a beautiful centerpiece, on its own. However, we’ll be using it, as an illustration, to celebrate the story of Christmas this year.

If you’d like to celebrate the Advent with your family, download a Free Printable with details about the meaning of an Advent Wreath. As a note, I’ve also included the fifth candle, which is found in some Advent Wreath celebrations and lit on Christmas Eve.

I just love this combination of green and black and am thinking it will become a theme in my holiday decor this year. It’s just the right balance of modern, rustic and farmhouse style.

If you liked this Christmas Tradition post, you might also like:

17+ Modern Advent Wreath Ideas for a Beautiful and Meaningful Christmas!

How to Enjoy the Blessings of Intentional Living, with thoughts from Joanna Gaines. 

A Christmas Tradition: U-Cut Tree Farm Photos, and tips on documenting family memories.

Are you ready for more Handmade Holidays? Check out over 40 more decor ideas and create a holiday home. 

More Craft Projects for Advent

• Scripture Advent Calendar
• Felt Nativity Advent Calendar
• Acts of Service Advent Calendar