The History of the Christmas Wreath

Hanging a wreath on the front door at Christmas time is almost essential decorating along with trimming the Christmas tree. But do you know the history behind why we hang Christmas wreaths?

The custom of bringing evergreens home during the winter began in the 16th century among northern and eastern Europeans — with Germans commonly credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition. During this period, pruning the tree was a part of the preparation process. “Limbs were often cut off in an attempt to make the tree more uniform in shape or to fit into a room,” Collins writes in his book. Instead of throwing the pieces of greenery away, the Europeans wove the excess into wreaths. (Source time.com)

Together, the circular shape and the evergreen branches make the wreath a representation of eternal life as the shape has no end. A wreath is also considered a representation of faith, as Christians in Europe often placed a candle on the wreath during Advent to symbolize the light that Jesus brought into the world.

Some people believe that the wreath originated in ancient Greece and Rome, where members of the Greco-Roman society would hand-craft ring-shaped decorations called “coronas” from fresh leaves, branches, twigs, fruits and flowers, before hanging them on their door as a symbol of victory. Source: Floom.com)

Why do we put red berries on our Christmas wreaths?

If you want to keep your Christmas wreath traditional, then it will almost certainly feature some red berries or holly. The red berries are often thought of as a religious symbol, representing the drops of blood from Jesus and the sharp leaves of the holly represent the crown of thorns.

Wreath Inspiration (All Images via Pinterest)

Whichever tradition you believe in or whatever style your prefer, an evergreen wreath is the perfect way to dress your front door for the festive season. It will certainly provide a warm welcome to all who visit. And if your after a wreath that makes a statement you can pair it back with a matching garland or adorn it with with stand-out metallic baubles, gingerbread characters, or shimmering gold leaves.

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