What Does a Wreath on Your Door Symbolize?
This time of year, Christmas wreaths are hung in every place imaginable—from doors and fences to lampposts and windows—even the front grille of the car! How did a round bit of greenery come to symbolize the holidays?
Wreaths are part of many ancient traditions dating back to the earliest civilizations. The circle is a symbol of immortality; throughout history, wreaths have been associated with life, rejuvenation, and renewal. Originally, wreaths were worn around the head, neck, or waist.
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The Greeks awarded laurel wreaths to their triumphant athletes; in the Persian Empire, they were worn on the head as a symbol of importance; and ancient Romans wore them like crowns. In Sweden, candles were incorporated into the wreaths to celebrate the return of light after the winter solstice. Nowadays, we use them in a window or on a door as a sign of welcome during the holidays.
They can be used flat on a table for decoration or as an advent wreath, which also contains candles, one for each Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“Yule” Love This Wreath
Every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, my local library holds a wreath-making workshop. The library supplies the greens and wire, and you bring your own wreath form, gloves, clippers, and enthusiasm. The wreaths made that day are beautiful and different. Luckily, there are no hard and fast rules for wreath-making. Whatever pleases you is a success!
Every wreath starts with a base of some sort; it can be wire, straw, vine, or wood. Stalks of woody herbs like rosemary, lemon verbena, artemisia, or summer savory can be wrapped into a circle to make a fragrant base. Gather small bunches of evergreens together and wire them to the base. Overlap the bunches to hide the stems. Tuck small bunches of herbs and other interesting greens into the base using more wire to hold them, if necessary. Using greens of different colors and textures will give your wreath its richness. Add cones, dried flowers, berries, and fruit for accents. Don’t forget the bow!
See our video with step-by-step instructions on How to Make a Christmas Wreath.
Herbs can add symbolic meaning to your wreath:
- Rosemary for remembrance
- Sage for good health
- Thyme for bravery
- Lavender for purity
- Rue for virtue
- Juniper for life and hope
- Hawthorn berries for protection and joy
Throw in cedar for strength, holly for immortality, and pine cones for long life and prosperity.
Whatever your family traditions are, at its very core, a wreath celebrates the cyclical nature of life.
See more Christmas customs and traditions!
Robin Sweetser
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I like to use a grape vine hoop and tuck the greens into the stems. It is good to avoid using metal wire, or coat hangers, for ease of composting. Please avoid using invasive or non-native plants if possible. No Oriental Bittersweet, Japanese Barberry, Wild rose hips ,Moonseed vine or anything else you don't want growing on your compost pile or spread by birds .Cheers
Wreaths also were used to show the death of someone in the home.
A word of caution putting a wreath on a vehicle's grille. After spending many years in the automotive repair business, it was seen many times that when the needles on the wreath are dislodged, they will be sucked into the radiator and/or A/C condenser by the fan and plug the fins and result in a very overheated cooling system causing at times the hoses and/or radiator blowing apart, even in the dead of winter.
How long does a real (as in, not fake/plastic) wreath last? An how to care for it to make it last??
They tend to last quite a while—2-3 months, depending on where they’re kept. A wreath will last longer hung in a cool, shady spot than in a location that gets full sun, which will dry out and could discolor the pine boughs.
Hey very interesting to read the symbolic meanings of the ingredients use to make home made wreaths. Think I'll try to get my family interested in giving wreath making a try next year. Some for personal use, and perhaps some for gifts to others.
Tues. Dec. 17th. 2019 06:50 hrs.
Tis truly nice to read such pleasant articles in The Old Farmer's Almanac!
Merry Christmas & a Excellent Yr. in 2020 of Health & Prosperity!
Time as an adult passes through so quickly that we as adolesents do not
know / appreciate the miracle of one's life cycle! Chirstmas to me has al-
ways meant such a tremendous time for Family, Relegion, the God sent
richness of hope, sharing, caring and of course the Birth of Jesus! The
pagentry is so marvelous it lingers in our minds the rest of our lives! We
marvel at the subtleness of what it truly means to be enlightened by a
Wreath, Christmas Tree, Snow, Winter sports, Home cooking, the time
away from the dreary everydy life as Christmas slows the pulse to a
quainted motion of stillness and We All absorb it in Spirit, Emotion,
Smell & most of MEMORIES, just like I am doing now! May every-
one at The Old Farmers's Almanac & your Families and Friends
cherrish such a wonderful excise of LUVV!!! Hallelujah & Praise be
to the Most Hight! Amen.....
Sincerely & Fraternally,
N.F.B. Mason..............
