Discover the Secrets: Top 7 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Wreaths You Never Knew

1. Breakfast of Champions

Move over Wheaties, ancient Greeks had a better breakfast of champions: wreaths made of laurel and celery were awarded to winners of the Pythian and Nemean Games respectively, symbolizing their achievements and status, and sometimes even dedicated to the gods for some extra divine brownie points.
Source => hellenic.org.au

2. Pagan Fragrance Rings

Long before Christmas tree scented car fresheners, the Pagans were putting up a fight against those frosty days with their very own fragrant circles of hope: Wreaths made out of evergreens were originally crafted by Pagans as a symbol of hope and resilience during the winter solstice and later became an inspiration for Christians to create the Advent wreath, symbolizing the four weeks leading up to Christmas, as well as hope, love, joy, and peace, with a bonus white candle in the center to signify the birth of Jesus.
Source => ucanr.edu

Did you know that before Christmas trees became popular, Germans in the 17th and 18th centuries used to build festive wooden pyramid decorations inspired by Naples' ornate plague-ending marble spires? Discover the history behind these unique holiday ornaments!

=> Fun Facts about Christmas-Ornaments

3. DIY Royal Wreaths

Who needs an interior designer when you can channel your inner Queen Charlotte and bring your home to life with festive flora from Windsor Castle's DIY repertoire? Deck the halls in royal fashion: Using a copper wreath ring, reel wire, secure florist wires, and nature's best like pine, holly, ivy, dried fruit, cinnamon sticks, pine cones, lotus heads and Christmas ribbon, you too can create an intricate yet classy wreath just like the ones crafted by Windsor Castle's royal household florists since the late 18th century.
Source => thezoereport.com

4. Doorknob Deity Security

Doorknob deity, assemble! Knock, knock, who's there? Cardea, goddess of hinges and door handles: Back in ancient Rome, folks hung hawthorn wreaths on their doors on June 1st to celebrate Cardea's feast day, believing the leaves to be sacred and a solid home security system against evil spirits and sticky-fingered thieves, all in time for the winter solstice.
Source => imperiumromanum.pl

5. Kangaroo Christmas Flowers

Jumping into the holiday spirit like a kangaroo on Christmas morning: Australians often incorporate the Kangaroo Paw flower in their festive decorations, using the vibrantly colored and velvety blooms in wreaths and centrepieces, with the rich red variety being especially popular during this season.
Source => homestolove.com.au

6. Bird-friendly Wreaths

Birds of a feather snack together on a uniquely sweet and savory seasonal delight: Wreaths made with peanut butter, berries, and fruit can serve as winter feasts for feathered friends like wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers, ensuring they stay well-nourished and singing 'tweet' melodies all winter long!
Source => audubon.org

7. Magical Markets of Etsy

In a world where wreaths are the new "statement piece" for your front door, Etsy has become Hogwarts for enchanted shoppers seeking to wave their wands, add personal flair, and even dodge the curse of shipping fees: Customers can concoct made-to-order wreaths with sellers’ magical talents, and for orders over $35 USD, standard shipping is as free as a bird flying on a broomstick. Etsy's spellbinding marketplace generated a whopping $4 billion in income for its creative community in 2020 and conjured up 2.6 million jobs in the U.S., ranging from crafting potions and amulets to vintage baubles and bewitching materials.
Source => etsy.com