There are still more than two months to go until the first Sunday of Advent – which is exactly why now is the best time to think about what your wooden Advent wreath will look like this year. Those who get the base in September can relax. Those who hunt for one on the last weekend of November take whatever is left.
Why a wooden base instead of a classic evergreen wreath
It is a question many households ask every year as they look at the dried-out greenery after Epiphany. The answer has three parts.
A traditional wreath made of fresh fir branches has its charm, but also two drawbacks that everyone notices after a few years. First, you have to make it again every year – and either pay for it or give up half an Advent Saturday. Second, it dries out over the four weeks, and the drier it gets, the more flammable it becomes. On the fourth Sunday four candles are burning and the greenery is at its driest – exactly the opposite of what would be sensible.
A wooden candle holder or wreath base solves both. You buy it once and it lasts for decades. Each year you simply decorate it differently, so it never gets boring, yet you do not have to worry about finding the time.
And there is a third reason, less practical but all the more important. A wooden candle holder becomes a family heirloom. A fir wreath ends up on the compost after Epiphany. A candle holder that a family puts on the table fifteen years in a row belongs to Advent just as much as the smell of gingerbread.
🕯️ Getting ready for Advent this year? Wooden candle holders and tealight holders made from Czech wood – handmade to last for many years.
Browse Christmas candle holdersFour forms of Advent wreath
An Advent wreath does not have to be a circle – and in recent years it increasingly is not. The following four variants differ in how much space they need and in the overall impression they make.
The classic circle
The circle is the oldest form and has its meaning – it symbolises eternity and the passing of time. A round wooden base with four candle spots looks good on its own and can take richer decoration too.
It suits a larger dining table with space around it. For a small kitchen table for four, choose an elongated version that does not take up the middle of the table.
The elongated candle holder
A more practical option for everyday use. Four candles in a row on a wooden block or board take up little space, can be moved to the edge of the table and do not get in the way at mealtimes.
It looks more restrained and suits modern interiors well, where a richly decorated circle would stand out. A hint of decoration is enough – a few sprigs and a pine cone at the sides.
Four separate candle holders
A solution that has become more popular in recent years and has an unexpected advantage: you can set out the holders according to how many candles are lit. On the first Sunday there is one on the table, on the fourth all four. Gradually filling the table is more tangible for children than four candles of which only one is lit.
Between Advents, the individual candle holders can be used on their own all year round, which is not possible with a round wreath.
The hanging wreath
The hanging version has been making a comeback in recent years, especially in smaller flats where every centimetre of the table counts. It looks airy and works well above the dining table, where it becomes the natural centre of the room.
It is for those who have no space on the table. Hung above the dining table or in a window, it looks striking and takes up no surface. Do think about safety, though – with hanging structures it is wiser to use LED candles rather than an open flame.
Candle colours: tradition versus interior
The colour of the candles is the one decision people genuinely get stuck on with an Advent wreath. It helps to know where the traditional choice comes from – and that you can depart from it without guilt.
According to Christian tradition, the wreath has three purple candles and one pink. Purple is the colour of Advent as a time of quiet and preparation; the pink candle is lit on the third Sunday, known as Gaudete or "rejoice" Sunday.
In Czech homes today, most people choose according to their interior – white, natural beeswax, red or gold. There is nothing wrong with that. But if the traditional meaning matters to you, the purple and pink combination preserves it and, incidentally, goes better with natural wood than you might expect.
| Advent Sunday 2026 | Date | Traditional candle colour |
|---|---|---|
| First | 29 November | Purple |
| Second | 6 December | Purple |
| Third (Gaudete) | 13 December | Pink |
| Fourth | 20 December | Purple |
How to decorate a wooden base
This is where the fun begins. While you choose the shape and material of the base once for many years, you change the decoration every year depending on your mood, what materials are available and what you happen to have at home.
The advantage of a wooden base is that it can carry any decoration – or none at all. A bare solid-wood candle holder with four white candles looks superb in a minimalist interior.
If you want something richer, there is plenty of choice. Add fir greenery only in small amounts around the base – a few sprigs of fir or pine will scent the room and will not dry out as dangerously as a whole wreath. Pine cones, star anise and dried orange slices are classics that work for years. Dried rosehips and rowan berries add red colour without any artificial extras.
From our range, small wooden Christmas ornaments work well – little stars, angels or hearts placed between the candles. Unlike glass baubles they will not break if someone knocks them with an elbow, and after Advent they move on to the tree.
Safety first. Never leave burning candles unattended, especially if you have children or pets at home. Keep a sufficient distance between the flame and the decoration – greenery and dried materials dry out during Advent and become more flammable. Let candles burn down to no more than two thirds and then replace them. A safe alternative, especially for hanging wreaths and in children's rooms, is LED candles.
A tip for a family tradition: Have your family name or the year you bought it engraved on the wooden candle holder. In twenty years' time it will be an object passed down the generations – something that can never happen with a fir wreath. You can prepare the design in our online configurator.
Where the Advent wreath came from
The custom is younger than you might think. The Advent wreath in its present form only appeared in nineteenth-century Germany and originally had a practical, almost educational purpose – it helped children count how long was left until Christmas. Each flame lit meant the wait had become a week shorter.
It only spread into Czech homes in the twentieth century and today belongs to Advent as naturally as gingerbread. The original meaning has remained – the wreath is essentially a calendar you can look at. At a time when everything is counted down in apps, this slow, tangible version has its own charm.
The circular shape is interpreted as a symbol of eternity and the endless cycle of life, the green branches as a sign of life that survives the winter. Whether or not these layers speak to you, one thing applies to everyone: lighting a candle is a gesture that makes the evening stand still. And in December that is rarer than anything else.
The rest of your home in the same spirit
The wreath is the centrepiece of Advent decorations, but on its own it remains an island. A few small touches in a consistent style will transform your whole home without overwhelming it.
The window is the most rewarding spot. A single star, candle holder or small decoration in each window works from both outside and inside – and in a block of flats it is a friendly gesture towards the neighbours. Keep the same motif in all the windows, otherwise the building looks inconsistent from outside.
The hallway and front door set the first impression. The wreath on the door can be the same type you had in autumn, just tied with a different ribbon and topped up with greenery. That saves both money and effort.
Shelves and chests of drawers can carry one focused arrangement – for instance a wooden star leaning against the wall, two candles and a sprig. Again, the rule of odd numbers and a maximum of three colours applies.
What to leave for later: the tree and everything around it. Advent has its own, calmer aesthetic – a time of stillness. If everything in your home is lit up from the first of December, there is nothing left to add on Christmas Eve.
What to get when
Split your preparations into two parts and spare yourself the November stress.
Buy the permanent base in autumn. Buy a candle holder, wreath base or set of individual holders in September or October, when availability is best. If you want an engraving, allow extra time for made-to-order production – by November the workshop is busy.
Fresh materials only at the end of November. Add greenery, rosehips and anything fresh in the last week of November so it lasts through Advent. Dried materials and ornaments can be prepared earlier.
In short. A wooden Advent candle holder is an investment for decades – you buy it once and decorate it differently every year. Choose the shape according to the size of your table, the candles according to whether you care more about tradition or the interior, and keep the decoration restrained. Buy the base in autumn and add greenery only at the end of November. This year the first Sunday of Advent falls on 29 November.
Selected tips from our workshop
Frequently asked questions
When does Advent start in 2026?
In 2026 the first Sunday of Advent falls on 29 November, followed by 6, 13 and 20 December. Advent always begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve, so the date shifts slightly every year.
What colour should the candles on an Advent wreath be?
According to Christian tradition, three purple candles and one pink are used, the pink one being lit on the third Sunday. In Czech homes today, however, most people choose according to their interior – white, natural beeswax or red. Both are fine.
Why choose a wooden candle holder instead of a classic fir wreath?
A wooden base lasts for decades and you simply redecorate it every year. Fir greenery also dries out during Advent and becomes more flammable, while solid wood stays stable. You can add natural materials just as an accent.
When is the best time to start preparing Advent decorations?
Get the base – the candle holder or wreath – as early as autumn, when availability is good and there is time for an engraving. Add fresh greenery and natural materials only in the last week of November so they last the whole of Advent.
How long does a wooden Advent candle holder last?
With normal care, for decades. After Advent, wipe off the wax, store it in a dry place away from radiators and it is ready for next year. Remove any wax drips carefully once they have hardened, not while warm.
What Advent and Christmas decorations does AMADEA offer?
In our sheltered workshop we make Christmas candle holders and tealight holders, wooden ornaments, nativity scenes, and both illuminated and classic Christmas decorations. Everything is made from wood from Czech forests and many pieces can be engraved.
🌳 An Advent that becomes a tradition. Wooden candle holders, ornaments and Christmas decorations from a Czech sheltered workshop – with the option of engraving your family name.
Go to Christmas decorationsAuthor: Martin Portych – specialist in wooden products, gift advice and shop content
Editorial policy: Our content is based on the day-to-day practice of the AMADEA shop, the real needs of our customers and a commitment to clear, useful and trustworthy information.