Christmas is just around the corner, and the brightest pinnacle of the winter holidays is, of course, a lush fir tree. In our previous article, we also talked about the origin of the flower of the Holy Night — another Christmas staple, the poinsettia. But among all the gorgeous winter decorations, the adorable Christmas wreath, also called the Advent wreath, deserves a truly special place! Is it really a meaningful attribute of any Christmas, or just a flashy piece of décor? Why do we adorn our homes with wreaths for the Christmas holidays? Today, let us explore how the custom to decorate the house with a holiday wreath appeared, and talk about the related traditions.
The Christmas wreath and its origin
Bless us, Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind;
Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.
Helen Steiner Rice
It is a known fact that a lot of Christian customs have deep pagan roots. Pagans made winter wreaths using branches of evergreen conifers, nuts, cones, and various berries. That was how they used to decorate for the holidays, namely the Revival of the Sun, and its victory over darkness, which they started to celebrate as early as 2,000 years BC. The holiday usually took place at the end of December when the daylight hours began to increase.
There are multiple versions of the origin of Christmas wreaths in the Christian tradition. One associates it with the holly wreath placed on Jesus Christ’s head before the crucifixion. However, another popular story also exists. The origin of the wreath can be traced back to 19th-century Germany.
According to the story, Johann Hinrich Wichern, a German theologian, came up with it for some small children from poor people’s families that were living in his house at the time. The kids often asked Johann when Christmas would come, and one day, to avoid the incessant questions, he took a wooden wheel and decorated it with candles: nineteen small ones and four white ones. Every day the children lit one red candle; on Sundays, they lit a white one together. And when there was only one big candle left, the children knew that it was Christmas the next day — so that is how Johann used to wreath to spark the children’s expectations of the brightest holiday.
The candles meaning in Christmas wreaths
The Christmas wreath holds several meanings. Its circular shape stands for the infinity of creation; the green of the needles is life, and the red of the candles and ribbons is the blood of Christ. The candle-decorated wreath usually works similarly to an Advent calendar: every Sunday, one candle is lit, and the lighting starts four weeks before the holiday.
- On the first Sunday, the Prediction Candle is lit: a symbol of the Savior’s coming onto the land and into the peoples’ hearts through faith. At the end of the day, the candle is extinguished.
- Next Sunday, the first and second Bethlehem Candles are lit, signifying the advent of the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary.
- On the third Sunday, the Candle of the Shepherds is added, telling the story of how the shepherds saw the Savior with their own eyes and believed. In France, it also means that anyone should share their faith in Christ.
- The fourth Angelic Candle is lit on the last day: it is believed that on this day, the Savior would descend with all the angels to take all believers to heaven.
So many cultures, so many Christmas wreaths
Curiously, while the shape of the Christmas wreaths remains for a very long time, the style of decoration varies starkly between different countries. The classic version of the Christmas wreath is the most popular in Germany. In France, it is customary to decorate it with arrangements of dried flowers. The Scots sometimes use the famous plaid fabric instead of the classic red ribbons. Pine cones, red lace, and golden bells are especially popular in Scandinavian countries. In the United States, the colors of Advent are red and green. So Americans often decorate their wreaths with little red bows and gold-colored décor.
Not only candles but also bells are used to decorate Christmas wreaths. In England, their ringing is considered to scare away evil spirits and welcome the birth of the Savior. The ringing also signifies the end of the working day in Scandinavia. In Europe, the wreath itself is a symbol of joy and faith.
Candles, ribbons with animal figures, fir branches, and a Christmas wreath
For a long time, people have tried to make Christmas wreaths uniform in size and diameter. But every attempt at standardization has proved futile. These days, wreaths are produced in a multitude of various shapes and decorated with animal figures such as deer, rabbits, and many others.
The classic wreath is made from fir branches with red ribbons and four candles. Catholics usually attach three purple and one pink candle, the colors symbolizing the Catholic mess. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday, and it is called “Gaudete”, which is Latin for “Rejoice!”
An Advent wreath and the most popular decorations
An Advent wreath with candles is usually placed on a table. But there are also variations with no candles, to adorn the mantelpiece or the front door. When hung above the entrance, the wreath is a sign of hospitality and readiness for a holiday; hanging on the wall, it is just a decoration to remind you that Christmas is coming.
Modern florist companies and artisans make Advent wreaths from a wide variety of materials. The most popular decorations: pine cones, nuts, artificial and natural berries, cinnamon sticks, etc.
And yet, whatever the origin story of the Christmas wreath was, and whatever decorations are used, one thing remains unchanged. A holiday wreath on the wall, above the fireplace, or on the front door means that the hosts are ready for the brightest holiday of the year.
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Born in Nalchik in 1966, graduated with a major in English Lit, and working as a school teacher since 1990. My interests are diverse: music, good literature, and computer technology at the user level. I like to try new things, and I bring what I started to its logical conclusion. Oh! And I do love my pets! I’m already 54 and I still believe in miracles and hobbits with elves and Gandalf. I myself am a bit of an adventuress like a hobbit, and I love mushrooms, too, like they do.