Penny Tree

I'm not sure if this is a tradition much practiced outside my own household as I've never seen anyone else do it. Basically, it's an advent calendar. A branch is "planted" in a plant pot with plaster of paris then the whole thing is sprayed gold and covered in chocolate pennies hung from little bits of string. It's all made to look more tasteful than I'm describing. As of the 1st of December, a child is entitled to one penny per day until Christmas in the usual advent calendar fashion.
I suppose it's quite quaint and definitely better than an overpriced, purple, cardboard monstrosity but it's a hell of a lot of effort...

Does anyone else do this!?