Thursday 8 December 2016

The Biggest: Advent Wreath and Calendar

My hometown sometimes aspires to more or less questionable achievements such as "The biggest piggy-bank in the world" (a house-sized pig named Luise, with a small exhibition about money inside, aimed at children), or 10.000 Easter eggs on one single tree (as shown on my blog here).

This year, they have been aiming to display the biggest Advent wreath of... I don't know, all Germany? All the world? Anyway, it is large with a diameter of over 40 m, and last Sunday, O.K. and I went to have a look:


I'd read in the paper that the round straw bales used to form the base of the wreath will be re-used in the spring for the "Straw Festival" (something I truly wonder about - does my town need a Straw Festival?). The branches were donated from a community in the Black Forest.

The whole point of the "Biggest Advent Wreath" is charity: People can buy the cards with the hearts from 2 euros upwards, sign them and put them on the wreath. Proceeds from the cards go to a specific charity.

We didn't buy a card, but enjoyed the walk in the sun.


The day before, O.K. had given me the biggest Advent calendar I have ever had - an entire village:




It covers the whole surface of one of my sideboards in the living room, and each house is filled with delicious treats or a small gift (a pair of running socks, for instance)! When O.K. arrived on Saturday, he said I was not to enter the living room until he said so. I stayed in the bedroom and heard the mysterious rustling, and when I was finally allowed to come in, I jumped up and down with delight and surprise!

You can imagine that I look forward to opening another house every morning now until the 24th, when I will have TWO - the church nave and the bell tower.

18 comments:

  1. Such a lovely Advent calendar! It would be fun to pick gifts to go in one of those.

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  2. Meike,
    What delightful Advent Calendars you share with us, Meike. Thank you for sharing them and Merry Christmas to you both. McGregor

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    1. Thank you, McGregor! Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, too!

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  3. How wonderful! That OK is a keeper!

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  4. So fun! I think I like OK's Advent Calendar better than the one near the Palace!

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  5. That advent village is absolutely splendid! what a brilliant idea. OK sounds so nice!

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    1. It's great, isn't it! And actually, I think he is even nicer than I make him sound on here.

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  6. OK must think a lot of you to give you the advent calendar village. I am so pleased that you found each other.

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  7. What a fabulous surprise - that guy sounds like a keeper my dear!
    Love the houses - and the contents sound exciting as they are not ALL chocolate!
    Hugs for the holidays - Mary

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    1. I think the same, Mary :-)
      But even those houses that contain chocolate, it's different choccies every day. And today, for instance, it was a bag of fruit and nuts.
      Hugs back!

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  8. That really is a brilliant idea. I will be very surprised if it isn't copied next year (by me at least!)

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    1. What, setting up the biggest Advent wreath on the island or making a village for an Advent calendar? :-)

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  9. What a lovely surprise gift! (or 24)

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    1. It is, isn't it! Actually, it's 25 - the "church" for the 24th consists of two boxes, the nave and the bell tower.

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