A wreath is a ring made of leaves, flowers and
sometimes fruits, which is used as an ornament, door or wall hanging
or a centerpiece on the dining table. A Christmas wreath, as the
name suggests, is used during Christmas. The history of Christmas
wreath dates back to the ancient cultures of the Persian Empire.
During that era, Christmas wreaths were considered to be the symbol
of importance and success. These wreaths were much smaller in size
than what is seen today. The small sized Christmas wreaths were
known as "diadems" which people used as headbands.
Wreaths were usually handmade and symbolized pride and victory.
Flowers, branches, laurels, threads and evergreen twigs were used to
make beautiful handmade wreaths. They were often used in auspicious
occasions such as weddings. It was around 776 BC when Greeks started
using laurel wreaths as crowns awarded to athletes who came first in
Olympics. In ancient Rome, wreaths were worn by military heroes and
kings. Girls used wreaths as ornaments which were sometimes paired
with jewels.
Wreaths have been closely linked to Christianity. The Holy Bible
links Christmas wreaths with joy, honor and victory. In
Christianity, Christmas wreath stands for a circle that has no
beginning and end. Hence, it is treated as a symbol of God's
eternity. Christmas wreaths made of evergreen leaves and branches
symbolize God's love and mercy upon us. Green color symbolizes hope
and new life. Advent wreaths made with four or five candles are
often used by Christians for devotional purposes during the
celebrations of Christmas.
The traditional Christmas wreath is made up of four candles
arranged in a circle made of evergreen with the fifth candle in the
middle. The evergreen Christmas wreath gives a special feeling to
our homes, once they are decorated during Christmas holidays. The
leaves of the Christmas wreath symbolize life during and throughout
the tough winter. Over the years, Christmas wreaths are used as
significant decorative pieces for Christmas.
