Would you love to join us for our festive wreath making in Cheltenham?
A popular decoration during the festive period is the Christmas Door Wreath. Many people love to hang them on their front doors either on their own or as part of exterior decoration. They can be very attractive and with so many options to choose from you are often spoiled for choice. Whether you have an artificial one, a real one, or even attend a class to create your own, they are hugely popular. However, have you ever thought about where the Christmas door wreath came from? Or why do we hang them on our doors? Here is a quick history of Christmas door wreaths.
The meaning of the word wreath
The word wreath stems back from old English meaning “to writhe” or “to twist” The original word in old English was” writhen”. It has long been a tradition of creating something that perhaps held a different meaning, stemming back as far as the Roman period.
Why do we hang wreaths on our doors?
Originally, door wreaths were created and used by the Romans and hung on entrances and doorways as a sign of victory. It was also used as a sign of status within communities and societies. However, wreaths weren’t just used as door hangings. Back in this time period women also wore wreaths around their necks as a sense of pride, and even for special occasions such as weddings. You would also find them throughout the ages at sports events, such as the Greeks who used wreaths as a way of symbolising a sporting victory, dating back as far as the first Olympic games. They have a deep history that stems back many decades with very different meanings that may traditionally have today in the modern world.
What is the history behind the Christmas wreath?
As the years have gone by, a wreath has become a very popular Christmas decoration and door hanging. Christmas wreaths are made by twisting evergreen branches and foliage into a large circle. They are then traditionally decorated with pine cones and a red bow. There is a religious meaning behind it, as a circle symbolises Christ’s everlasting and eternal love, and the creation of new life. In the Catholic church, a wreath wasn’t just a door hanging but engulfed four candles. Three were purple symbolising penance and expectation. The other was pink that symbolised joy. The four Sundays in the lead-up to Christmas were embodied by the four candles, and one was lit each Friday of Advent. Pagan faiths may also use wreaths in rituals with candles but still would represent similar meanings. Traditional wreaths are almost always evergreen. This is due to the strength and heartiness of the branches and foliage, meaning they can survive harsh weather conditions being outside. While some faiths still proceed to use wreaths in this way, hanging them on your door signifies love and strength.
To conclude a Christmas wreath is far more than a decorative item, but more of a symbol of love, strength, and joy. While they look fantastic, they can also be great symbols of faith and looking to the future.
Book to Make Your Wreath
We are delighted to invite you to book onto our popular wreath-making workshop which will be held in November.
