Is Making an Advent Wreath in Berlin a Woman's Job?

Advent wreaths are more popular than ever in Berlin. Yet advent wreath-making workshops are booked almost exclusively by women, according to figures from booking platform konfetti*. Berliners increasingly favor individual, self-designed advent wreaths for their holiday-decorated tables.

It's almost that time again: in late November, advent wreaths make their way into many German households, bringing with them the anticipation of Christmas. According to a market research study, nearly one in three people design their own Christmas wreath**. What stands out, though, is that advent wreath workshops in Berlin are attended almost exclusively by women. According to figures from booking platform konfetti, women clearly outnumber men, making up 94% of participants*. At the same time, Christmas wreaths are becoming more popular in Berlin year after year.

Advent wreath workshops are mainly attended by women

"The capital is woke, stands for equality, and leads the way in many areas. But when it comes to advent wreath workshops, we observe that they're mainly booked by women," reports Wolfgang Mauer, founder and managing director of konfetti. The event platform offers creative classes throughout Germany and Austria. "We believe that the experience of creating something with your own hands and expressing your creativity can be enriching for everyone," the founder adds.

Beata Kascha (Wildflower Instincts) is a trained florist who, out of passion, offers her advent wreath workshops every November in a small creative studio in Berlin-Treptow: "People of all ages really do attend my workshops – friends, mothers with their children, grandmothers with their granddaughters. Men are rarely part of advent wreath-making though – usually only when their partners drag them along."

Would it do men good to make an advent wreath?

People who engage in creative activities have been shown to be happier and more satisfied***. It's also worth noting that the advent wreath was invented in 1839 by a man, Johann Hinrich Wichern, in Hamburg. Wichern, founder of the Rauhes Haus, created the advent wreath to help children count down the days until Christmas.

Why is it mostly women who make advent wreaths today?

"I think many people have it ingrained in their minds that floristry, anything involving flowers, is more of a thing for women," says Beata. In her view, men should also give floristry a try and discover the field for themselves: "My advice is simply to give it a shot. I often notice in my workshops that men get dragged along by their partners and end up surprised by their own abilities, having the best time. There's creativity slumbering in all of us."

Advent wreaths – a form of self-expression

For four years now, Nadine Gärtner, together with her colleague Linda Starke, has also been offering advent wreath-making classes at their creative studio "Grimms Garten" in Berlin-Mitte. "Advent wreaths are something very personal. Tastes vary a lot. That's why more and more people want to design their own advent wreath," says Nadine. Generally, anything goes – by the end of the workshop, participants go home with an advent wreath that matches their own preferences.

While the classic advent wreath used to consist of pine branches, four red candles, a few pine cones, and dried orange slices, that's long since changed in Berlin. Glitter, dried flowers, peacock feathers – with all these options, advent wreaths offer a wide range of ways to express yourself.

At the same time, Nadine knows from experience: "The more extravagant the advent wreath, the deeper you'll have to dig into your wallet when buying one."

More glitter or more nature – opinions differ

Although the first advent wreath workshop date is still a few weeks away, the workshop leaders are already prepared and have sourced their materials from regional suppliers.

"The trend for 2024 is still dried flowers, artfully arranged in the wreath. Small decorative figures are also on the rise – for example, a pink flamingo, something that has nothing to do with Christmas at all," Nadine predicts. That's likely another case of that Berlin urge to break with convention. Among the materials, you'll find traditional items alongside a few new decorative objects each year. "We place great importance on sustainability – nothing goes to waste here," Nadine emphasizes.

Beata, in her workshops, relies mainly on natural materials: "For me, Christmas shouldn't follow trends. Trends mean waste and fast-paced consumption to me. With my style, I want to convey something more grounded, and I stay true to that with the natural materials in my workshops."

Advent wreaths – Berliners love them more than ever

Both Beata Kascha and Nadine Gärtner report that tickets for advent wreath workshops in Berlin have never sold out as quickly as this year. "The workshops are often fully booked before anyone's even thinking about Christmas," says Nadine.

Maybe a few male readers out there have decided to design their own Christmas wreath this year. Anyone considering making their own advent wreath this year should make up their mind quickly. Konfetti offers advent wreath workshops all across Berlin.

Sources:

* konfetti analyzed the number of successfully completed bookings on gokonfetti.com between November 1, 2023, and October 31, 2024, in the "advent wreath-making" category in Berlin. This included all advent wreath and Christmas wreath classes available on the platform during that period.

** Statista (2024): Will you have an advent wreath in your home this year?. (Retrieved November 1, 2024).

*** American Psychiatric Association (2023): Creative Arts: Enhancing Mental Health and Well-being. (Retrieved November 1, 2024).