A Brief History of Wreaths
When you think about the wreath that you hang on your front door, do you really give it much thought? Most people do not, so don’t feel as though you are alone in not really thinking about what your wreath really symbolizes. After all, to most people this is just the decor to use at Christmas and is traditional to have on your front door. However, there is a ton of deeper meaning that goes into the wreath.
Each section of the Christmas wreath has a means in retaining with the season. And most people find that it blows their mind when they realize just how much of a deeper meaning all of the wreath is comprised of!
The Symbolic Nature of Wreaths
The Circle
Traditional wreaths are in the structure of a circle. This circle has several meanings, each to Christians and non-Christians alike:
- The everlasting presence of God, with no commencing and no end
- The cycle of the seasons, from spring to wintry weather and subsequently to spring again
- The hope of lifestyles renewing itself
- The hope of everlasting lifestyles via Christ, the Savior
- The never-ending love of God
When it comes to the materials in which a wreath is made, before when there were more real wreaths being used rather than artificial there were some deeper meanings. The early wreaths have been made out of various evergreen materials. The evergreens frequent symbolize continuity and survival via challenging times. Each evergreen used, however, additionally has a meaning:
- Holly represents the crown of thorns that Christ wore at the Crucifixion
- Pine, holly and yew signify everlasting life
- Cedar stands for healing
- Laurel represents the conquest over ache and suffering
- Pine cones, seeds, and nuts signify start and rebirth
While most people may use an artificial Christmas wreaths now, that doesn’t mean that you have to get away from the deeper meaning. This is why many people have holly or even pine cones in their wreaths that they use on their doors. And if yours does not, you can always add these now that you understand the deeper meaning behind the wreath.
The typical Christmas coloring of red and green have deep meanings when it comes to the wreath that you use on your door. Green represents the lifestyles and growth. For Christians, it stands for the everlasting lifestyles of the soul. Red signifies the blood Christ shed on the cross. However, as the themes for Christmas have changed and multiplied, many people are no longer using just red and green traditional colors on their wreaths. Which is completely fine! As always, whatever wreath you decide to use is your own choice and is meant to fit in with your decor that you use throughout your home.
With a better understanding of the wreath, it is clear that this piece of decor is a staple for all Christmas decorations. You will find that if you have yet to find a wreath for your door, it may be time to invest in one!