Advent decoration can be so many things. In the private sphere, it ranges from the Advent wreath or the arch of lights in the window to decorative elements, which some lovingly, others disparagingly call "Stehrümchen" (and whose quantitative dimensions can vary significantly from person to person), to the central element of the Christmas feast, the magnificently decorated tree. The nativity scene is also an indispensable part of the Christmas decoration in many places.

There are two serious tree decorating traditions. The first comes from the Biedermeier period, the last tasteful epoch of the past 200 years. The Biedermeier tree decorations always consisted of only a few pieces: apples, gilded nuts, brass and painted pewter figures, wooden Erzgebirge toy miniatures and pastries.

The feeling of anticipation that inevitably comes over everyone who holds a beautifully wrapped gift in their hands and unwraps it with relish is inextricably linked to the act of giving. And so gift-givers not infrequently rack their brains over how to wrap their gifts appropriately and attractively.