Tis the season for a holiday wreath on your door

Germany is credited with being the country of origin for the Christmas tree, according to Andrew Jefferson “Ace” Collins of Arkadelphia, Ark., author of “Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas.”

 

For the purpose of this column, however, let it be known: “The Christmas tree gave birth to the Christmas wreath,” Collins commented. 

He told Kat Moon of TIME Magazine that limbs were often cut off an evergreen “in an attempt to make the tree more uniform in shape or to fit into a room.” Instead of throwing the pieces of greenery away, the Germans wove the excess into wreaths. “Waste not” was their motto.

“The wreaths were formed into a wheel-like shape partially for convenience’s sake – it was simple to hang a circle onto the branches of a tree – but the shape was also significant as a representation of divine perfection. It symbolized eternity, as the shape has no end,” Collins said.

 

German Christmas legends and lore began to infiltrate the United Kingdom in 1840, due in large part to the royal wedding between a pair of 20-year-olds who were first cousins – England’s Queen Victoria and Germany’s Prince Albert.

 

Collins said their marriage effectively “opened the door for Christmas traditions of other regions in Europe to become popular in Great Britain.” 

“In turn, British culture influenced American culture. Literature such as Clement Clarke Moore’s ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ also fueled the growth of Christmas traditions such as decorating with wreaths,” Collins said. Here are two lines from the historic poem: 

“The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth / And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath….”

 

Shopkeepers at Santa’s Quarters in New Orleans, La., say: “Today, a wreath that’s hanging on one’s door at Christmas indicates that the spirit of Christmas lives inside the home.”

 

Making wreaths can be a fun family activity, and it’s not that hard, said Robin Sweetser of Hillsborough, N.H., who is a regular contributor to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. The local library in Hillsborough offers a workshop titled “Yule Love This Wreath.” 

“All the wreaths that are made that day are beautiful and all are different,” Sweetser said. “There are no hard and fast rules for wreath making. Whatever pleases you is a success!” 

“Every wreath starts with a base of some sort; it can be wire, straw, vine or wood,” she said. “Gather small bunches of evergreens together and wire them to the base. Overlap the bunches to hide the stems. Using greens of different colors and textures will give your wreath its richness. Select some cedar for strength. Add pinecones for long life and prosperity and include some holly and its berries for immortality.”

 

“Herbs can add fragrances as well as symbolic meaning to your wreath,” Sweetser said. Wreath makers can pick and choose; mix and match. Here’s the menu: 

“Rosemary for remembrance; sage for good health; thyme for bravery; lavender for purity; rue for virtue; juniper for life and hope; and hawthorn berries for protection and joy.” 

“You’re not done yet,” Sweetser said. “Flowers and fruits can add colorful accents. Don’t forget the bow!” 

We don’t know if acclaimed children’s book author Maud McKnight Lindsay (1874-1941) of Tuscumbia, Ala., made wreaths during her lifetime, but she wrote the best “wreath quotation” of all time. Paraphrasing it a bit: 

Oh! Like a wreath, let Christmas mirth (gladness or gaiety accompanied with laughter) / Today encircle all the Earth / And bind the nations with the love / That Jesus brought from heaven above.