Christmas Wreaths: A History

By Author: Ethan luke
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Merriam-Webster defines a wreath as something intertwined or arranged in a circular shape and further defines it as a decorative arrangement of flowers or leaves. Historically worn on the head, wreaths have evolved into a decoration suitable for all seasons, perhaps none better than the holidays.

Wreaths have their roots in ancient cultures. In Greece, Olympians were honored for their victories with laurel or olive wreaths used as crowns. This is believed to be inspired by the sun god Apollo who is often pictured holding or wearing a wreath. The ancient Romans would wear wreath crowns made of leaves and flowers as status symbols (think Julius Caesar), or to celebrate special occasions like weddings.

Even today we use wreaths to celebrate occasions, like the birth of a baby. Conversely, in cultures in Northern Europe, Canada, and also here in United States, wreaths are used to honor the deceased.

For most of the twentieth century, the word wreath usually brings to mind a hanging decoration. Wreaths today can be made of anything from fake flowers to heads of garlic, and can be used for any occasion. Arguably ...
... the most common use of the wreath is for decoration and celebration of the holiday season.

The use of Christmas wreaths at the holidays can be traced through Christianity. In 1839, a German theologian built a wooden wheel on which he lighted a candle every day of Advent. He did this to illustrate to children how many days were left until Christmas. In the 1860's, people began to add evergreen boughs to the wooden ring, leading eventually to the wreath made only of greens. Some also believe the wreath was inspired by the Swedish Crown of Lights worn on St.Lucia's Day. Regardless, the wreath has religious significance for some. The circle is a symbol of immortality and eternity. Different greenery has different meanings, for example, laurel stands for victory. Prickly holly brings to mind the thorns of Christ's crown, and the use of pine cones symbolize life and resurrection. At some point the amount of candles on an Advent wreath was reduced to four, which is the amount most commonly used today. The four candles each represent one week of Advent.

Wreaths can have significance regardless of your spirituality. For many, the smell of real Christmas trees entwined into a classic wreath can bring forth memories of Christmas' past and invoke the spirit of the holidays wherever displayed.

There are many options for those interested in artificial wreaths. However, nothing is more traditional than a wreath cut from fresh Christmas trees. Plenty of resources exist for the crafter interested in fashioning their own wreath, and many local nurseries can offer cut boughs of pine needles for just that purpose. For the rest of us, there are special Christmas farms where Christmas wreaths are cut fresh from real Christmas trees and made-to-order. This is a great way to have a traditional beautiful holiday wreath delivered directly to your doorstep.

Wreaths have come a long way since their use in ancient times, but are still used for celebration and now, decoration. From Caesar's head to Christmas greenery, wreaths have enjoyed a long history and have a special place in our hearts—no matter your beliefs, you can make this holiday season special with Christmas wreaths.

Helen Walker. At ChristmasFarms.com choose your own freshly-cut real Christmas trees,Christmas wreaths, or Christmas garland to bring the spirit of the holiday directly to your home or office.