Cherry tree branch cut off on St Barbara’s day and ready to blossom on Christmas Eve
Advent is often overshadowed today by the rush of shopping lists, glittering ads, noisy and cheesy music, overloaded shopping, busy planning, and the endless pursuit of perfect gifts, festive decorations, clothes and parties, yet its true spiritual essence lies far deeper than material preparations. I’m prepared to be ,chill out’ and enjoying Advent as peaceful time.
It is meant to be a season of quiet anticipation, of reflection, and of turning inward to prepare not just our homes but our hearts. When we pause to step away from the frenzy of tasks and presents, we rediscover the spiritual richness of Advent as a time to cultivate patience, gratitude, and hope. Looking back on simple old customs like Barborka (German —the cutting of a cherry branch on St. Barbara’s Day and waiting for it to bloom by Christmas Eve—reminds us that the most profound joys often come from small, humble acts. A bare branch blossoming in the heart of winter speaks more eloquently than any wrapped gift about renewal, faith, and the promise of light in darkness. By embracing traditions like these, we allow Advent to become not just a countdown to festivities, but a journey into deeper meaning, where the spiritual outweighs the material and where hope blossoms quietly, just as the cherry branch does.
Every year on December 4th, households across Austria, Czechia, Germany mark the feast of St. Barbara with a charming ritual that blends faith, folklore, and the quiet magic of nature. Known as Barborka (little Barbara) or Barbarazweige, the tradition calls for cutting a branch from a cherry tree and placing it in water indoors. The branch, bare and seemingly lifeless in the cold of early winter, is given warmth and care in the hope that it will blossom by Christmas Eve. It is better than so commercial house plants such as hyacinth. It reminds me Hyacinth Bucket, Lady of the house is speaking loudly to Basil Kipper who got sloshed like fish at Christmas party taking place at Bodo Schloss and he tries yodelling. Perhaps Royal Mail, their letters delivery takes ages now. Possibly wandering around the pudding lane, not in the dessert for more than 40 years. Ok, 4 days at least. We also get less paper Christmas cards and more electronic general wishes, that’s why keeping with any nice old tradition is important touch added to your own Advent time and Christmas. Does it remind us the spring time of new life, hope ? Does it looks like famous cherry blossom trees in Japan?
When the delicate white flowers appear, they are seen as a sign of good fortune for the coming year. In older times, the blossoming branch carried even deeper meaning, so for similar like celebration of the lights – St Lucia. People were scared in last centuries of any dark winter time, they worries about the harvest, they were frightened of any bad omen, ghosts. The magic of new blossom, a symbol of new life meant positive outcome in the darkness. The custom reflects love of weaving symbolism into everyday life, where even a simple branch becomes a messenger of hope. St. Barbara herself is remembered as a protector against sudden misfortune, the workers in dangerous jobs such as the miners or firefighters and her day marks the beginning of the festive season. Families often cut several branches to increase the chance of blossoms, and the sight of cherry flowers against the backdrop of winter becomes a reminder that beauty and renewal can arrive even in the darkest days. Though modern households may treat the practice more as decoration than prophecy, the ritual endures as a gentle act of patience and faith, a way of inviting light and joy into the home before Christmas. I remember as a small child the brisk walk with my father to the countryside and climbing the bare tree with the goal to find the best branch. The tradition carries a particularly joy and warm resonance , connecting generations through a shared belief in the promise of blossoms. In a season filled with carols, candles, and festive meals, the cherry branch stands quietly in its vase, waiting to bloom, embodying the spirit of anticipation that defines Christmas itself.
Do you have any own Christmas customs ? Such as Christmas ugly jumper, decoration and anything beyond ?
Practical Tips for Barborka in the UK
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Best Place: Use a cherry tree in your own garden or ask permission from a friend/neighbour.
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Avoid Public Trees: Do not cut branches from parks, streets, or public land—this is prohibited.
- Wildlife Protection: It is illegal to cut branches if doing so would disturb nesting birds or bat roosts, protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
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Preservation Orders (TPOs): If the cherry tree is protected by a TPO, you must apply to your local council before cutting any branches
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Alternative: If you don’t have access to a cherry tree, some people substitute with other fru branches (like apple or forsythia), though cherry is traditional.
- Timing: Tradition says branches should be cut on December 4th. For best results, place them immediately in lukewarm water indoors.
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