Why Do We Decorate With Garlands and Wreaths

A wreath is a hoop or a ring made out of various flowers, leaves, branches and, at times, fruits as well as ribbons and bows that is used as an adornment on festive occasions. A wreath can be hung on a door or above it, on a window or on a wall. It may be laid on a table or another horizontal surface or, in a much smaller version; it may be worn as a crown on top of the head of a man, a woman or a child.

A garland is essentially a wreath that is opened to an arc or a half circle and it is usually made up of similar components to be used similarly as an ornament during festive occasions.

Wreaths come in a variety of styles and are used for many different occasions. To symbolize long lasting life, most wreaths are made from evergreens and those using bay laurel as their evergreens are called laurel wreaths. In addition to evergreens, wreaths also include pine, holly or yew to symbolize immortality and cedar to symbolize endurance and healing. Apollo is the god of long life and good health in Greek mythology. He is often associated with wreaths and is depicted as either wearing one on his head or holding one in his hand. The Greeks also used wreaths made of laurel or olive branches with added white flowers to crown winners of the Pythian Games which were the ancient predecessors of the Olympic Games as we know them today. The roundness or circularity of the wreath symbolizes eternity or immortality. Wreaths made of conifer trees, above all the firs, were originally used in Northern Europe to symbolize the remembrance of the dead. They are, therefore, used to place on coffins or at gravesites as well as for burials-at-sea. Furthermore, such wreaths are often used at memorial services and anniversaries of battles, skirmishes or wars.

During the Roma Empire wreaths symbolized pride and they were usually made of multicolored flowers, tree branches, twigs, colorful thread and laurels. They were mostly worn by women for holiday festivities and ceremonies such as wedding while the men wore crowns. Roman officials, consuls and senators wore wreaths of olive branches and leaves when appearing in public. Wreaths are also used by Canadians on Remembrance Day to pay respects to those who fought and died in the Great War.

An advent wreath includes four candles to symbolize the four Sundays which come before Christmas Day, while a Christmas wreath tends to be more decorative and is usually made of holly leaves, berries, bows and ribbons. Both, the advent wreath and the Christmas wreath are used to symbolize the never ending love for Jesus Christ.

In light of the fact that wreaths and garlands are so commonly used during the Christmas season and in light of their symbolism, one might expect that they were always used as they are today but that is not the case. There was a time when wreaths and garlands were greatly opposed and condemned as idolatrous by many church officials. However, no one was as avidly as Tertullian, a theological writer in the early years of the third century. Needless to say, Tertullian’s protests fell on deaf ears because wreaths remained in use. As a matter of fact, their popularity increased most particularly during the Christmas season.