History of the Wreath

Those lovely, welcoming wreaths that today decorate doors, fireplaces and walls have a noble history that reaches into Greek mythology and ancient Rome. In fact, wreaths were first created in ancient cultures to adorn the bonnets and noggins of the rich and royal. In the ancient cultures of Persia, Partha and Greece, the wreath was known as a diadem, from the Greek work diadema, or "thing bound around," A diadem worn on the head or bonnet in these cultures was a symbol bearing royal and even spiritual significance. According to Rob Pullen, author of The Wreath Book (Sterling Publishing, 1988), the diadem was regarded as so lovely that other cultures, and other classes, soon adopted it as a headdress to celebrate not only status, but also festive mood and occasions. The Romans initially scorned the diadem as a symbol insulting to their belief in democracy, but soon were crowning their own military and athletic champions with a diadem of laurels. Later this laurel crown went upscale when gold and jewels were added and became the prototype corona, or crown. Somewhere along the line the wreath became a door and wall ornament and the maker's choice of materials said a lot about what the wreath meant. A wreath made with holly and mistletoe might be intended to shelter a home from the spirits of cold and winter. A wreath of birch given by a woman to a man meant she accepted his advances as a lover. Today, wreaths may reflect the personality and spirit of the maker, who can use natural ingredients of dried herbs, weeds and flowers combined with ribbon or even some of the fabulous fake flowers and leaves widely available at craft and art stores. Whatever the material, wreaths today continue to symbolize welcome, eternity and a joyful spirit.