During Special Occasions, and Holidays, We all Think about Wreaths for our Doors.

There are wreaths for front doors, wreaths for back doors, large wreaths, small wreaths, and wreaths of different shapes.  Not only are they beautiful on your front and back doors, but they add so much to the inside of your home as well.

I once designed a “Baking Wreath” for a customer.  It was SO cute!  There was a rolling pin, an empty flour bag which had been stuffed with cotton, a whisk, an empty baking powder can, a pot holder, and a white baker’s hat along with other kitchen utensils.  Our theme was mostly red and white with mixed greens, of course.  It was an amazing addition to her large, spacious, country kitchen.

Do you know the history of the wreath when you are proudly displaying yours?  This history actually goes back to the ancient culture of the Persian Empire.  Wreaths were called diadems, meaning “a thing bound around”.  A diadem was a band of fabric worn around the brow of a royal bonnet, symbolizing royalty.

Wreaths made of various leaves were also used as prizes during the Greek Olympics.  These were made from olive or laurel leaves.  This is where the wreath became the symbol of peace.

Diadems and head wreaths didn’t go unnoticed by the rest of the world’s elite.  Soon the upper classes of their countries were designing headdresses of their own – adding precious jewels and metals, they became very ornate.

In time, all social classes wore wreaths to celebrate special occasions and to honor religious holidays.  The time came when there was a transition from “wreaths as a head ornament” to “wreath as a wall decoration”.  Someone probably loved their festival headdress so much that it was displayed on their wall or door.

You don’t have to be among the upper classes or the elite to display a beautiful wreath.  Now, the wreath is a symbol of “Welcome” to neighbors and friends as it continues to be an important symbol of holiday decorating.

But, there are other places in your home where a wreath can add that very special touch with the perfect door wreath!

In our home, everyone enters through our back door (the breezeway door), so I always make sure to put a wreath here. A small wreath in a bathroom or a bedroom with some dainty flowers and maybe a sweet bird perched on her nest is a beautiful way to enhance each room by adding more color and texture on a wall.

For Christmas, I also have double glass doors which open to our back porch. I hang green wreaths on the outside of these doors and have found that it makes the inside much more inviting also to have wreaths of the same size hanging back-to-back on the inside of my doors.

There are many places where wreaths are pretty, appropriate, and draw the eye of friends and guests…just be creative!