Holiday Wreaths and Exterior Doors, A Lasting Tradition

What are the purposes of a front entry door? well, of course, an exterior door is there for security, to help keep the elements out, and to serve as the main focal point of every home. But, there's something else a door is great for, something that can only be exemplified once or twice a year.

And, that thing is to showcase festive, hanging wreaths.

So why exactly, when the holidays are on the horizon, do we choose to hoist these decorative evergreen orbs onto our windows and exterior doors.

History:

This Laurel golden wreath symbolizes what would have been worn by Ancient Greeks.

Well, there's actually a lot of mystery behind where and when this tradition gained popularity. One theory is that the modern-day wreath first came into the scene in ancient Greco-Roman society. During this time, civilians would craft cranium-sized wreaths out of leaves, twigs, fruits and flowers and then wear them on their heads as a symbol of status or wealth.

Now, given that Christmas is a religious holiday, it also, makes sense that the wreath's origins would arise as a form of ritual. Approximately 1,000 years before the birth of Christ, pagans, celebrating the solstice, would make wreaths as a symbol of surviving a long winter and seeing the promise of a bountiful spring. People of that time, commonly made these wreaths out of evergreen, with four candles, representing earth, wind, fire and water.

By the 16th century, Catholics and Protestants alike, used these very symbols to celebrate Advent, the season of waiting for the birth of Christ. As part of this tradition, a candle was lit during dinnertime along with once every week. The fifth candle, located in the middle of the wreath, was lit on Christmas Eve to represent the birth of Jesus.

Source: Daily Progress, "The Tradition of the Christmas Wreath"