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rug

(82,333 posts)
Mon Dec 5, 2016, 10:12 PM Dec 2016

Why Do We Hang Wreaths At Christmas?



By MARISSA HIGGINS
6 hours ago

We've all got our favorite holiday traditions, but some of them have become so deeply ingrained in our culture over time that they feel less like they're pegged to a specific holiday and more like the trappings of general winter merriment. For example: Why do we hang wreaths at Christmas? Is there a link between wreaths and the Christmas holiday in particular, or does it have more to do with the season or time of year? Is our tradition of hanging wreaths on our doors tied to history, or is it all about mass commercialization? It feels like a deep dive might be warranted here, so let's dig in and see what we find.

Interestingly, the wreath discussion is pretty layered. As with most cultural relics, the holiday wreath has its roots in several different religions and cultures. Depending on who you ask, some people see the holiday wreath as being entirely secular and simply decorative. Others, however, link the evergreen branches back to Christianity. There is even symbolism to be found in the structure of the traditional wreath itself; the choice of the evergreen branches and the circular shape aren't accidental.

As Roberta Hershenson explains at The New York Times, for many Christians, the wreath represents Jesus Christ's suffering. The logic here is that the wreath represented the thorns worn by Christ on the cross, and the tiny red berries represent Christ's blood. In this case, the evergreen represents eternal life. When Christians hang a wreath on their door or in their window, it's an invitation for Christ to come into their home.

According to wreath specialist Christmas Forest, however, some people trace the origins of the holiday wreath back to Ancient Rome. For example, some argue that the wreath symbolizes victory, and that Romans hung them on their doors after a win in battle. Meanwhile, Holiday Insights reports that some people believe that the circular shape of the wreath represents eternity and the never-ending circle of life. The evergreen, which lives through all seasons including harsh winter conditions, represents continuous growth and life.

https://www.bustle.com/articles/198377-why-do-we-hang-wreaths-at-christmas-this-holiday-tradition-has-religious-origins
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Why Do We Hang Wreaths At Christmas? (Original Post) rug Dec 2016 OP
too many 'some people' s for me. pangaia Dec 2016 #1
The past is the past. We hang them now simply as some communal ceremony. TreasonousBastard Dec 2016 #2
probably another stolen pagan tradition of some sort nt msongs Dec 2016 #3
Ding ding ding! Dr Hobbitstein Dec 2016 #4
Because it's the done thing. Uniquitous Dec 2016 #5
I figured nil desperandum Dec 2016 #6
 

Uniquitous

(5 posts)
5. Because it's the done thing.
Mon Dec 5, 2016, 11:27 PM
Dec 2016

Simple as that. People do it because that's what people do. Their parents did it and their grandparents before them. It's tradition, and it's part of the culture. I'd lay money that there's no more to it than that for most people.

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