There are many icons of the holiday season which have stood the test of time. One of my favorites, in its original, fresh, and aromatic form, is the holiday evergreen wreath. I love it to purchase for myself, and to give as a gift. But a wreath not only cheers up a room or a door with color and fragrance; but also, wreaths have held strong symbolic value for people of many faiths for thousands of years.
The history of the wreath may start in Roman times, when wreaths of laurel or other prized leaves or coral were presented to victors in competition, and statesman as a sign of high status.
The evergreen wreath may have originated in pre-Christian times in Northern Europe as a symbol of the circle of life, or the recurring seasons. In some winter pagan rituals, wreaths were lit with candles, anticipating the longer, warmer days of spring and summer. These wreaths probably evolved into the Advent Wreath of the Catholic tradition, along with the welcoming wreath we see on doors today.
In any case, the concept of eternity symbolized by the circle with no beginning and no end, and the evergreens which live throughout the seasons, is a powerful, beautiful, and fragrant one perpetuated by our gift of the wreath over the holidays.
Leave a comment