Website design By BotEap.comEvergreen wreaths around Christmas time are a familiar sight on doorsteps, above fireplaces, and in homes. Crowns have been used for many hundreds of years, even before the birth of Christ. Many historians believe that the first crowns date back to the Persian Empire, when royalty and members of the upper class wore jeweled cloth diadems or headbands. Other cultures would later become fascinated with this tradition, picking up and adapting it for themselves.

Website design By BotEap.comAbout 800 years before the birth of Christ, the Greeks began to recognize the winners of their Olympic Games by crowning them with wreaths made from laurel branches. Years later, when the games moved from city to city, local tree branches were used to make these victory wreaths for the winners. During the Roman Empire, military and political leaders wore crowns of leaves and greenery. For example, Julius Caesar was crowned with a crown made of fresh bay leaves and branches. It is believed that the transition of the crown from a headdress to a wall decoration occurred when athletes (or perhaps victorious military leaders) returned home and hung their headbands on their walls or doors, as a trophy of victory.

Website design By BotEap.comThe Egyptian, Chinese and Hebrew cultures were known to use evergreen branches as a symbol of eternal life, because conifers remained green during the winter months. After the birth of Christ, the Christmas wreath made of evergreen branches came to symbolize the triumph of life during the long winter months.

Website design By BotEap.comThe Advent wreath also became a popular holiday tradition after the birth of Christ. This decoration was usually laid flat on a table and used to count the four weeks immediately preceding Christmas. Traditionally, the wreath was built with four candles in a circle and a candle in the middle. The four outer candles were purple or violet in color, and the central candle was white. Four weeks before Christmas, the first purple candle was lit. The following week, an additional candle would be lit, and so on, until the central white candle is lit on Christmas Eve or the day, signifying the arrival of Christ. A short prayer was said to accompany the lighting of each candle. The reason the final candle is located in the center is to symbolize that we must keep Christ at the center of our lives and at the center of the Christmas celebration.

Website design By BotEap.comBased on drawings and paintings, most historians believe that the use of evergreen wreaths at Christmas time spread across northern Europe, Spain, and Italy in the early 19th century. The greenery was used as a symbol of the perseverance of life during the cold winter months, and the holly berries that were often used as ornaments were a symbol of the blood of Christ.

Website design By BotEap.comIt is also believed that Europeans also wore crowns on their doors to represent their family identity, much like a family crest. These wreaths were made from products grown in their own gardens, such as vines, fresh flowers, or other produce. The making of these crowns was a family ritual that followed the same general pattern year after year.

Website design By BotEap.comToday, crowns are still widely used throughout the world. In the US, wreaths are a traditional decoration for Christmas, as well as for many other holidays throughout the year. Wreaths now adorn doors for Halloween, Valentine’s Day, July 4, and Easter. Also, crowns are no longer limited to just evergreen branches. Many craft, book, and TV show stores carry unique wreaths made from a variety of unusual materials and decorations for almost any occasion.