Celebrating the advent of Christmas
A cart of evergreen foliage was waiting for us when we arrived at our wreath-making session in mid-December.
Our table was covered with clumps of moss, copper wreath rings, florist wire and wire cutters.
First we moistened the moss, wrapped it around the wreath ring and squashed it together to form a sort of squishy doughnut. We twined florist wire around it to create a secure base.
We each selected our foliage from the cart – I chose a glaucous blue juniper (Juniperus) for the outer layer, hedgehog holly (Ilex aquifolium ferox argentea) for the middle layer and yew (Taxus baccata) for the middle.
We wrapped florist wire around each frond leaving the two ends as a prong to jab into the moss so that they stuck out at an angle rather like the tails of a Catherine Wheel.
Once the foliage was in place it was time to make the wreath our own with ribbons and decorations. Some used bright ribbon and sparkly accessories and others more subtle adornments.
My own wreath was simply the foliage with a black satin ribbon to complement my black painted front door.
The wreath has been used throughout history as a symbol of victory, and during the Roman period was worn by magistrates as a crown as a symbolic testament to the wearer’s early Etruscan lineage.
Laurel wreaths were worn to show a person’s occupation or status during the Greco-Roman period and olive wreaths were presented to the winners of the ancient Olympic Games.
In Christianity the advent wreath, which is constructed from evergreen foliage, prepares for the ‘coming of Christ’ and represents everlasting life.
In the 21st Century wreaths are made using a variety of different foliage types and can include fruit and Christmas decorations, flowers and fabrics – even chocolate – although that wouldn’t last long in my house!
What does your wreath look like? What does your wreath say about you? How does it reflect your style? We would love to read your comments and see your pictures.
