Winter Wreaths

That time of the year is upon us when we can adorn our doors with beauty

One of these decorations, the wreath, has a long history. Coming from the Old English word “writhian,” which means “twist,” wreaths are usually made by twisting greenery together and adorning with flowers, berries, and other decorative materials. Often created from the trimmings of Christmas trees as they’re given their signature triangular shape, wreaths are a great way to prevent waste and celebrate winter festivities. Today, wreaths are recognized as a holiday decoration, but throughout history, many cultures have used wreaths for a variety of purposes. 

The first instance of wreaths in use can be traced back to the Persian Empire, ancient Egypt, and ancient Greece. However, these cultures didn’t use them to decorate doors and walls; they used them as headdresses. Wearing a laurel wreath was a symbol of power, authority, honour, or victory. Often, they were adorned by Olympic athletes, priests, brides, victorious warriors, and guests of honour.

Wreaths first made their debut as holiday decorations in connection with Yule, which marked the winter solstice and was celebrated by the ancient Germanic and Scandinavian peoples. The wreaths were a symbol of spring and a promise of its return, as evergreens stayed green all year round. The Romans also had a similar celebration, where they would worship Saturn, the god of agriculture. Holly wreaths were used in this instance as both decorations and gifts