Advent candle decorations - 119th Tablescape Thursday

sunday it was First Advent, I don't know if you have the custom to make a wreaths with four candles, and lit a candle every Sunday until Christmas.

We do, it is custom in all Scandinavian countries, Germany and also Austria.

at home with my parents we used an old candle holder bought years ago at IKEA, but since

I live in Italy and near my german parents-in-law I learned to make them my self.

my mother-in -law had such a touch for these things, could make beautiful pieces with two sprigs, three leaves and one rose.

since she is not with us anymore, the feeling and her gentle touch are missing.

I've tried to pass this on to my italian girlfriends, it is funny how they are suspicious in the beginning not knowing exactly the meaning of it all, and then get so involved.

some even forget where they got the ideas from :DDD

an original Advents wreaths should be round and possible made of Norway spruce

 (Picea abies

but you can also make square ones, rectangular ones, use plates, trays or pots.

I usually make one big on the top of the fireplace, 4 big white candles together with

Blue Spruce( Picea Pungens ) and Ginger pine (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)

they smells so good, and they look fresh for at least 3 weeks in normal room temperature.

and then I make a little one, to put on the table.

this year was our 25th Anniversary of Marriage, so I thought silver could be a nice color :D

I used empty tomato cans, colored them silver and glued small shining stars here and there

4 rectangular silver candles, sprigs of the Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens) and plastic dark grey plastic pearls

for two of my friends

a glass plate with small red colored stones, tiny silver stars and bows of red/white ribbons.

and for Manfred my father-in-law a very simple one with terracotta candle holders, colored with some gold and Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens). I changed the red candles to white ones and added some red berries it looked better.

this is my contribution to Susan's Tablescape Thursday

please remember to stop by my fellow tablescapers