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Antique and Vintage Christmas Wreaths
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The word “wreath” is a descendant of the Old English "writhan," meaning "to twist." Circular wreaths made from plants have been used for many millennia to denote joy, victory, and good luck.
The tradition of hanging such wreaths to celebrate
The word “wreath” is a descendant of the Old English "writhan," meaning "to twist." Circular wreaths made from plants have been used for many millennia to denote joy, victory, and good luck.
The tradition of hanging such wreaths to celebrate Christmas has roots in several different cultures. Romans gave each other green branches around New Year's Day to bestow good health, and viewed the circular form of the wreath as a symbol of victory or power. Wreaths symbolizing the cyclical nature of seasonal change and the return of spring were also associated with the ancient pagan holiday Yule, a celebration of the winter solstice.
In Northern Europe around the 16th century, families began bringing evergreen trees indoors to celebrate Christmas. When these trees were pruned, excess boughs were often repurposed as wreaths or other decorations. These wreaths were originally often hung on the branches of the Christmas tree as a symbol of eternity and resilience.
Eventually, evergreen wreaths became associated directly with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians adopted the form for advent wreaths, which held four candles—three purple and one red or pink—to be lit on each Sunday before Christmas, a ritual popularized by German Lutheran pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern in the 19th century. Additionally, holly wreaths have sometimes been used to symbolize Christ’s crown of thorns.
With the marriage of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Germany in 1840, such Christmas traditions began spreading further west to England and eventually to the United States. The rise of artificial-flower production in the late 19th century also meant that wreaths could be easily sold in department stores and used for more than one season. During the 20th century, Christmas wreaths were produced in every imaginable synthetic material, from metal foil to cellophane to plastic to pottery versions studded with colorful light bulbs.
Continue readingThe word “wreath” is a descendant of the Old English "writhan," meaning "to twist." Circular wreaths made from plants have been used for many millennia to denote joy, victory, and good luck.
The tradition of hanging such wreaths to celebrate Christmas has roots in several different cultures. Romans gave each other green branches around New Year's Day to bestow good health, and viewed the circular form of the wreath as a symbol of victory or power. Wreaths symbolizing the cyclical nature of seasonal change and the return of spring were also associated with the ancient pagan holiday Yule, a celebration of the winter solstice.
In Northern Europe around the 16th century, families began bringing evergreen trees indoors to celebrate Christmas. When these trees were pruned, excess boughs were often repurposed as wreaths or other decorations. These wreaths were originally often hung on the branches of the Christmas tree as a symbol of eternity and resilience.
Eventually, evergreen wreaths became associated directly with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians adopted the form for advent wreaths, which held four candles—three purple and one red or pink—to be lit on each Sunday before Christmas, a ritual popularized by German Lutheran pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern in the 19th century. Additionally, holly wreaths have sometimes been used to symbolize Christ’s crown of thorns.
With the marriage of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Germany in 1840, such Christmas traditions began spreading further west to England and eventually to the United States. The rise of artificial-flower production in the late 19th century also meant that wreaths could be easily sold in department stores and used for more than one season. During the 20th century, Christmas wreaths were produced in every imaginable synthetic material, from metal foil to cellophane to plastic to pottery versions studded with colorful light bulbs.
The word “wreath” is a descendant of the Old English "writhan," meaning "to twist." Circular wreaths made from plants have been used for many millennia to denote joy, victory, and good luck.
The tradition of hanging such wreaths to celebrate Christmas has roots in several different cultures. Romans gave each other green branches around New Year's Day to bestow good health, and viewed the circular form of the wreath as a symbol of victory or power. Wreaths symbolizing the cyclical nature of seasonal change and the return of spring were also associated with the ancient pagan holiday Yule, a celebration of the winter solstice.
In Northern Europe around the 16th century, families began bringing evergreen trees indoors to celebrate Christmas. When these trees were pruned, excess boughs were often repurposed as wreaths or other decorations. These wreaths were originally often hung on the branches of the Christmas tree as a symbol of eternity and resilience.
Eventually, evergreen wreaths became associated directly with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians adopted the form for advent wreaths, which held four candles—three purple and one red or pink—to be lit on each Sunday before Christmas, a ritual popularized by German Lutheran pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern in the 19th century. Additionally, holly wreaths have sometimes been used to symbolize Christ’s crown of thorns.
With the marriage of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Germany in 1840, such Christmas traditions began spreading further west to England and eventually to the United States. The rise of artificial-flower production in the late 19th century also meant that wreaths could be easily sold in department stores and used for more than one season. During the 20th century, Christmas wreaths were produced in every imaginable synthetic material, from metal foil to cellophane to plastic to pottery versions studded with colorful light bulbs.
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