A Brief History of the Christmas Wreath
Hanging a wreath on your door for the festive season is almost as essential to decorating your home as putting up the Christmas Tree and, as it happens, both traditions have originated from the same place.
Made by twisting evergreen branches - which are traditionally a symbol of strength and hope in the dark months, into a large circle and adding foliage and decorations the wreath may have evolved over the years but is still as popular as it ever has been.
The custom of bringing the outdoors inside at Christmas time began in the 16th Century among Northern and Eastern Europeans with Germans credited for starting the Christmas Tree Tradition.
This tradition of bringing an evergreen tree inside to be pruned and decorated led to the offcuts being used in what we now consider the traditional Christmas wreath.
As popular today as when it was first introduced to the world, the wreath dates back as far as Pagan times and the ancient Persian empire.
The wreath that was hung on family doors during these times were a symbol of wealth and power and were also worn on heads as a show of status using jewels and other decorations.
The Greeks then continued this with laurel wreaths to celebrate the Olympic games winners and leaders of the Roman Empire such as Julius Caesar wore them as a sign of victory and prominence.
Eventually these wreaths made their transition to door decorations for the Athletes to display their victories and families to show their status, very similar to a family crest. From here, the original tradition of hanging a door wreath made from evergreen branches began.
The Pagan traditions transferred to Christian traditions where a wreath was hung during advent, usually with four candles in the middle of an evergreen circle, a circle with no beginning and no end which to the Christian religion is a symbol of ‘eternity’.
The word wreath comes from the old English word “writhen” meaning “to writhe” or “to twist”. As the years have passed it has become a very popular Christmas decoration, these days you can barely pass a home not adorned with one over the festive period.
It’s interesting to think that something as simple and honest as a foliage wreath for your home has such a long history!
One thing for sure though is that whilst many people will be looking to make their own their own Festive Wreath for Christmas there is a majority who don’t and would rather make the small investment by purchasing a hand made design by their favourite florist. They needn’t cost the earth and we can certainly produce a simple yet lush foliage wreath from around £25. Larger, more elaborate design start from £50 but are the perfect way to showcase not just the time of year but also the entrance to your home!
For more information about our Christmas Wreaths then please give us a call to discuss requirements or order online from our website
Our Signature Dried Winter Wreath