We here at Flora Decor specialize in decorative wreaths for all occasions. From seasonal to holiday wreaths, we have what you are looking for! In order to further appreciate a product, we like to look back through the history of that item. This blog will take a quick stroll through the harvest wreaths of antiquity. Unlike their Etruscan cousins (think of Romans wearing fancy wreaths on their heads), harvest wreaths are classified as a household decoration. Let’s look back to the early days to see how our product came to be.
Like most items, harvest wreaths can be traced back to Ancient Greece. Early greeks utilized door wreaths for religious purposes. This natural coronet was made of plants, such as wheat, and woven together with thread. The purpose of these early wreaths was to bring positive favor from the gods. Wreaths were utilized for many gods for a variety of reasons. The Greeks left their door ornamentation up year-round for protection and good favor. The Romans also used their decorative wreaths at the doorway for celebrations. From holidays to victories in battle, Romans would express their joy and optimism through door wreaths.
Christianity took the reigns on using wreaths for religious celebrations and ceremonies. The symbolism of these early holiday wreaths was plentiful. The round shape of the of this religious garland represented the infiniteness of God. Colors also play a role: Green represents the enduring of life through the tough winter months while red symbolizes the blood shed by Jesus Christ during his crucifixion. Originally pagan, wreaths were taken by Christians to represent morality and honor by adorning saints and other religious authorities.
Europe saw a huge usage of wreaths during the Renaissance era. Despite the original holiday, seasonal, and religious intentions, wreaths were increasingly used to as a banner to declare for a certain faction. Political and religious strife was prevalent and wreaths were on the front line. Many common Europeans created unique and wonderful wreaths to identify their homes. A lot of places were very similar in size and structure, so having a beautiful adornment upon your door was appropriate. However, Puritans during the seventeenth century increasingly saw wreaths as symbols of counter-productive beliefs for Christianity. Pagans were seen as sinners and were therefore not allowed to express their beliefs through wreaths.
Today, we use wreaths for a variety of reasons and seasons. Whether you’re decorating with spring or autumn wreaths, your intentions come from a rich history. From Etruscans using gold to craft adornments for royalty to peasants readying for the Christmas season, wreaths were vital. Flora Decor has holiday wreaths for your house entrance but also makes preserved boxwood wreaths for any occasion. Contact us today to order what you need and continue the rich tradition of wreathing.