Nothing symbolizes the tradition of Christmas on the exterior of a home more than the Christmas or holiday wreath. Wreaths are true signs of the season, and a beautiful wreath always brightens a home and welcomes friends and family into your home for the holidays. Whether it adorns your front door, or is mounted on a window, fence, lamp post, etc. a wreath always serves as a beacon of holiday cheer.
Hanging a circular wreath of evergreens during mid-winter goes back to ancient times when the Romans hung wreaths on doors as a sign of victory and status. And among the ancient Greeks, the wreath was closely associated with Apollo, the god of life and health. The word wreath comes from the old English word writhen which means “to writhe or to twist” and if you have ever made a fresh green wreath “from scratch” you will certainly understand this reference. Christmas, or holiday, wreaths as we now know them most likely came from the Eastern Europeans’ custom of displaying Advent wreaths as symbols of hope and the coming spring and renewed light and later from the German Catholics and Protestants who used them to celebrate the Advent season. Wreaths are traditionally constructed of evergreen branches – as a symbol for the strength of life of these plants that are able to endure even the harshest of winters. Cedar branches are also related to the theme of life, symbolizing vitality and healing and evergreen wreaths are customarily adorned with holly which symbolizes immortality.
Although today most holiday wreaths are made from balsam branches, you can also use pine, spruce, hemlock, yew – whatever you have growing around your property. Why not take a walk around your yard or neighboring wooded areas and take note of all the different shapes and colors of some of the trees and bushes that are there just for the taking to construct your own wreath? Making your own wreath is time-consuming and a bit messy, but certainly do-able or you can simply purchase a plain wreath and add assorted greens, berries and other embellishments you may gather or purchase, truly making it your own. Garden centers also sell small bundles of assorted greens and a wide variety of twigs and berries to add extra interest to your wreath
Wreaths can be traditional, modern, rustic – you name it! Holiday wreaths can reflect your personality, family lifestyle or a hobby or sport you enjoy. For instance, add several interesting seashells you collected on your family beach vacation to your green wreath or attach Christmas tree ornaments denoting your family’s sport interests, i.e., soccer balls, basketballs – they are all available at your local craft store quite inexpensively. You could also place a large family initial or monogram in the middle of the wreath or hang a favorite holiday character such as a Santa Claus or snowman. And there is a myriad of “Christmas picks” available at your local craft store to choose from that you merely need to insert between a few branches of your green wreath any way you wish. Picks come with angels, stars, mini Christmas packages or musical instruments.
And what would a holiday wreath be without a bow of some kind? Get creative. There are scads of ribbons out there to choose from and you can usually find someone to make a bow for you to your specifications where you buy the ribbon or ask a friend or co-worker. (The average multi-looped decorative bow requires about 3 yards of ribbon). And there are actual “bow makers” you purchase at craft stores very inexpensively – and they come with easy-to-follow instructions. You can also make a simple bow out of raffia or burlap to adorn a more rustic type of wreath or why not hang your door wreath or window wreaths from a long ribbon this year? Wrap a 3 to 4 foot length of ribbon around the top of the wreath and form a simple bow at the top. Hook the bow over a wreath hanger on your door or fasten it to a nail or screw on the door or window and let it hang down.
Add a string of mini lights to your wreath. They are now available with small battery packs and are quite long lasting – some even have timers that you can set so your wreath will be lit for a pre-set time period every day.
(Just a few of many available)
Red sumac blossoms
Twigs (can be spray-painted white, red, silver, gold, etc.)
Pine cones (also can be painted)
Red winter berries (available on roadsides near swampy areas or at a garden center)
Green florist wire
Small wire cutters
Needle-nose pliers
Green wooden picks with wires (see florist section of craft stores)
Hot-glue gun (optional)
Glue sticks for gun
Green Christmas tree ornament hooks
Gloves (branches can be both prickly and sticky with pitch)
If you make your own, you’ll need pruning clippers (to cut branches into small bundles) and a metal wreath form.
First, check your wreath for symmetry. It should be nicely rounded, and if there is an errant branch or two that looks out of place, just snip it off, but be careful not to “over snip.” You want your wreath to look very natural and “free flowing” – not like it just got a bad haircut.
Cut a 2-foot length of green florist wire to form into a hanger for your wreath. You will want to double it up and make a slip knot of sorts as you wrap the doubled wire around the top of the wreath. Twist the remaining double wire into a secure loop and you will be ready to hang your wreath once it is decorated.
Lay the wreath down on a flat surface and decide where you would like to place your embellishments. Sprigs of greens should be clipped relatively small, grouped together and wired in preparation for adding to the wreath. Attach green picks with wires to pine cones or your bundles of greens and place them strategically around the wreath until you are satisfied with your design. (Remember to allow room for the bow or ribbon). Push the picks securely into the depth of the wreath for stability. (They can be easily removed and reinserted if you change your mind about their placement).
Once your embellishments are in place, attach the bow. (You can use a wired pick or length of wire wrapped around the bow and the wreath). Any Christmas tree ornaments or other embellishments should be added last as they are more fragile.
Attach a Christmas tree ornament hanger to the item and “hang it” in place, but you will then need to secure it onto the wreath by wrapping florist wire securely around it. Sea shells, small ornaments, etc. can be directly hot-glued to branches of the wreath.
Lastly, add any delicate berry branches with the wired green picks. All the components of your wreath will soon “freeze together” nicely when they are hung on an outside door or window and your wreath is sure to give you many weeks of beauty and enjoyment.
Now hang up your gorgeous, personalized holiday wreath and stand back and admire your creativity.
Happy Holidays!
(History referenced in part from “The Symbolism Behind the Wreath” by justchristiannews.com. Joyce Kimball is a member of the Bow Garden Club and a UNH Cooperative Extension Master Gardener.)