Wreath

It’s time for Christmas!  Planning family gatherings, shopping for the perfect gift, and decorating our homes with garland and wreaths.  Have you ever stopped to wonder WHY we use the wreath as a holiday decoration?

It’s believed that holly wreaths were used as far back as the time of the Druids and Celts, during their “Yule”, or celebration of the Winter Solstice.  Because holly keeps its shiny green leaves and bright red berries throughout the harsh winter months, it was thought to hold magical properties.  Thus, it was worn and given for luck.

The Roman Empire had already adopted the use of the wreath, usually a laurel wreath, as a symbol of victory, importance and reverence.  When Roman travelers returned with holly and stories of its mystical powers, they incorporated the green and red plant for their Saturnalia celebrations during winter, giving holly wreaths as gifts.  They felt holly brought luck, so the more wreaths you acquired at this time, the more blessed you would be.

Early Christians originally hung wreaths on their homes in Rome to “blend in” and avoid persecution.  But along the way the line between Pagan representation and Christian meaning blurred, and it was adopted as a traditional Christmas decoration, with the prickly leaves symbolizing the thorn of crowns worn by Jesus, and the circle as a representation of eternal life.

In today’s secular usage of the holly wreath, the bright colors and elaborate decoration not only dresses up the home, but has come to signify the gathering of family and sense of community during Christmas.  This winter season is the time of year to reunite with your loved ones to show appreciation, reflect on the past year, and just enjoy each other’s company.

Making a wreath isn’t difficult and allows for a lot of individual creativity.  You can use twigs, leaves and berries from your own yard or purchase holly or evergreen boughs from your florist.  Some people incorporate colored ribbons, bright fruits, or strongly-scented herbs like rosemary, bay leaf, mint or sage.  If you are making your own wreath, it’s a good idea to use moss as a core or backing, since it will hold moisture to make your wreath stay fresh longer.  Another way to extend the life of this living decoration is to spray it with a water mist every day to avoid browning and withering.

No matter the reason you have for decorating with a wreath this holiday season, take a moment to think  about this symbol used so universally, tying everyone together at this magical time of year.

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