13/12/2025
Wreaths can be laid flat, often with candles or hung from a door or on a wall and can be made from almost anything.
Wreath making dates back as far as the 6th century BC.
Seen in Ancient Greek, Roman and Persian empires, they were worn as headdresses and were a symbol of power and authority.
They were often awarded to warriors and athletes as a sign of success and victory. Regularly made of laurel, olive leaves, flowers and adorned with jewels and delicate fabrics.
Crafted in Germanic and Scandinavian culture to celebrate the return of the sun and the promise of Spring. They would be dressed with candles to represent the warmth and light of the sun in the hope to welcome it back.
They also appear for the celebration of Eid, being hung from the door to mark the end of Ramadan.
Christianity adopted them and they became advent wreaths, to represent Christs return.
Wreaths were and still are used as wedding headdresses to bless the bride with fertility, abundance and luck in their marriage. Wreaths are placed on graves to honour the dead, in remembrance and a symbol of their eventual rebirth.
Crafted with meaning and purpose, choosing herbs and trees to represent the needs and requirement. They were displayed to celebrate victory, birth, or to bring protection and with magical intent to draw in what the house was lacking. This could be luck, abundance or fertility.
The circular shape of the traditional wreath represents a circle of protection, wheel of the year and cyclical nature of life with no beginning and no end, life, death and rebirth. Now they adorn most doorways during this time of year, with few being hung with their true purpose in mind.
Some common materials are:
•Evergreens represent rebirth
•Holly for Hope and renewal
•Mistletoe for fertility
•Orange for prosperity and strength
•Cloves for luck and prosperity
•Cinnamon for protection and abundance
•Pine cones for purification
•Oak for wisdom
•Feverfew for health and protection
•Lavender dispels bad luck and brings protection
•Roses for love and healing
•Thistle for protection
•Sunflower for loyalty and admiration
•Wheat for fertility and prosperity
•Yarrow wards against unwanted spirits
•Rosemary for protection
