Wreaths

The festive decorations for Christmas vary, but the wreath on the door is a classic. Almost as obvious today as the Christmas tree itself. It turns out that the form of a Christmas garland as we know it has a hidden symbolism. The best thing is that we can also make such a wreath ourselves and it is easy to attach.

Symbolism and the origin of tradition

Door wreaths on Christmas are an iconic ornament in American culture. Americans hang them on their doors much earlier than on Christmas Eve – from Thanksgiving. This does not mean, however, that they come from there. They have been used in Europe for a long time, and for good reason. The wreath, which most often has a round form, refers to God who is infinity. Like the sufferings of Jesus, whose birth is celebrated on this holiday. The red fruits of the holly symbolize the shed blood. Researchers say the custom of hanging Christmas wreaths dates back to ancient Rome and Greece. They were to celebrate victorious battles, and the green branches of holly – fertility, strength and endurance.

How are Christmas wreaths built?

Christmas wreaths take various stylistic and construction forms. Their classic structure is, of course, round and consists mainly of coniferous twigs, cones and other ornaments. Two methods are usually used in the production of wreaths. One is to use a plastic base – e.g. in the shape of a triangle, circle, in the form of a frill or an iron. Then, foil or PVC twigs are placed on it. The second method is to use thick wire. This one can be more or less round or oval. In this method, you can use PVC twigs, as well as those that are more durable and look more natural – of the PE type. In this method, you can use PVC twigs, as well as those that are more durable and look more natural – of the PE type.

What types of wreaths are there?

In fact, there are as many types of wreaths as there are themselves – each of them is a small work of art. Most often, those that we can find in the store are round and longitudinal twigs of twigs, additionally decorated with real cones, figurines, baubles or stars. The previously described methods of creating wreaths offer a lot of possibilities when it comes to the design and nature of wreaths. And here we are only limited by taste and applications. We can choose between sizes (diameters) and lengths. We can choose a simple, minimalist or very rich wreath with additional decorations, e.g. artificial snow or ice. What are the popular types of Christmas wreaths? The classic is of course the red and green colors of holly, with an additional pine cone, a bow or a small gift package. Others prefer the rustic style, i.e. wreaths made of real pine or spruce branches, with the addition of chestnuts, acorns or hornbeam baskets. The whole is topped with a brown jute ribbon bow. Such a wreath will also smell beautiful. Still others prefer more exotic additives – cinnamon sticks or dried fruit. In Poland, the colors specific to the region are additionally used. Christmas wreaths can be completely devoid of green elements, made only of baubles, bows and other decorations.

Christmas wreaths – is it better to buy or make it yourself?

Self-made Christmas wreaths are not a particularly difficult task. As long as we have a bit of self-denial, the necessary materials and a bit of manual and artistic skills. Then we get a Christmas ornament in which we put our heart and devoted time to make Christmas more pleasant for ourselves and others. On the other hand, the selection of wreaths (as well as other Christmas decorations) in the store is so wide that it is possible that we will find a design in it that we would not have thought of ourselves. Wreaths are manufactured using technologies that we normally do not have access to. In addition, such Christmas wreaths from the store are light, safe for the skin and the environment, as well as durable and practical – they will prove themselves on many holidays. They have pre-attached handles or hooks, which makes it easier to decorate doors or windows. Not everyone has the time and skills to make a wreath, especially if more of them are needed. Therefore, there is no clear answer – both a self-made wreath and the one bought will work great as an ornament. The choice is ours and it is good that we have it.

Wreaths in our store

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Christmas wreaths – tips on how to make and hang

It’s not very difficult to make a simple Christmas garland, although it requires patience, accuracy and time. It is good to do it together with your loved ones – then we will give it a unique, sentimental character.

What materials and tools to gather?

We need to prepare a few things:

  • coniferous twigs and forest drought – cut off branches of pine, spruce or fir and garden shrubs such as ivy or boxwood will work best,
  • cones, bark or nutshells,
  • dried fruit – rowan, hawthorn, holly, apple or orange – at your discretion,
  • something for the base of a wreath – it can be a metal rim for wreaths, a wicker or straw wheel or a styrofoam tire,
  • accessories and decorations – bows, baubles, stars, Christmas tree chains. It is important that they are not heavy, as they overload the entire structure.

The necessary tools for this – thread, metal wire, pruner or strong scissors, and – if we have – a hot glue gun.

A handmade Christmas wreath

Now we can start creating.

  1. Fastening the branches to the base. First, make an oblong bouquet of branches. It is good to mix shades of green. We put the stalks to the base of the wreath and fasten to the hoop – minimum two knots. Then we put the next bouquets in such a way that each one covers the previous one, the one already attached. The branches must be very firmly attached so that the whole thing sticks. Using this method, the wreath will have the right shape and will be spread.
  2. Attaching dry litter elements. The cones, shells or other elements of the bedding are attached with a hot glue gun.
  3. Final decorations. Since we have a green base, it’s time to add other decorations. These can be fastened with, for example, paper clips (such as bows or baubles), strings, threads or needles.
  4. The whole can be additionally enriched with glitter, silver or gold spray paint.

Of course, this is only a suggestion – our wreath can have a different form and type of decoration. It all depends on our imagination and available materials.

Attaching the garland to the door

It is definitely not worth nailing the garland with nails! It is an overly invasive solution that destroys the door and simply disfigures it. However, there are several simple and safe methods for attaching a Christmas garland to the door coating.

  1. With double-sided adhesive tape or a self-adhesive hook – this is how we can attach small wreaths. A solution often used in doors on staircases in a block of flats or tenement houses.
  2. Fastening with a string – the adhesive hook sticks to the inside of the door, but upside down. The wreath is tied with a ribbon or string and attached to the front of the door. The other end of the string or ribbon is tied to a hook inside the house.
  3. Mounting on a hanger – we can buy door hangers in many DIY stores. We attach it to the upper edge of the leaf, which creates a stable holder for the wreath. Importantly, the hanger should not be too thick, as it may adversely affect the operation of the door seals.

We can also install wreaths on windows, corridor or room walls. Some of them can also be used as part of a centerpiece and put candles and other decorations inside the circle.

Zuwi Dekoracje producer of Christmas wreaths.