Wreath/Greens Care

A wonderful childhood memory for many is the aromatic smell of a Christmas tree or wreath. Natural greens often make one of the best decorations--either inside or outside the house.

Because Christmas greens are a perishable product, your geographical location will determine your order's longevity. The cooler the climate, the longer your product will survive. Also, your order will last longer if displayed outdoors, as opposed to indoors. Misting your wreath or centerpiece with water will also lengthen its life, as will keeping it out of direct sunlight. If handled properly with care, your greens should last through the holiday season.

Traditions Behind the Christmas Tree and Wreath

Humankind has used trees and greens for centuries to recognize accomplishment, and to represent belief in the eternal. Back in ancient Rome, people used wreaths to celebrate victory, and tree boughs and greens to celebrate the Roman winter festival. The ancient Jewish also used tree boughs in their decoration.

Many of our modern-day conceptions of decorated Christmas trees, however, probably came from 16th century Germany. Evergreen trees were already used in pagan rituals, but Christians adopted them as symbols of their own, investing them with their own meaning.

Legend has it that Martin Luther was walking through the forest one snowy night, pondering the birth of Christ. He was so struck by the beauty of the stars he saw through the boughs of the evergreen trees that he ran home, brought a tree inside, and placed candles on the boughs to recreate for his family the sight and the awe he felt over Christ's birth.

By early that next century, many German towns were creating elaborate Christmas trees at home, decorating them with paper flowers, small gifts, and edible treats. It was German mercenary soldiers used by the British during the Revolutionary War who then brought the tradition to the United States.

In the mid-1800s, the popularity of the Christmas tree exploded in the United States, and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Adopt Your Own Traditions

Traditions are ways of celebrating what is meaningful to you in memorable ways throughout the year. Many Christians today, for example, celebrate the four weeks leading up to Christmas (Advent) by creating an advent wreath, in which four candles are placed in a wreath, and one candle is placed in the center. One of the candles in the wreath is lit each of the four Sundays prior to Christmas in anticipation (adding one candle each Sunday), and remembrance of Christ's coming. On Christmas, the center candle, or Christ candle, is lit along with the other four. [Northwest Wreaths discourages using an open flame in conjunction with greenery due to its flammable nature]

Ask around and find out what traditions others have. You may be surprised at the ingenuity and originality of some of the Christmas traditions you find. Cutting your own tree up in the mountains as a family, or taking a trip to the local tree lot can become a recurring event that you all can share, and create cherished memories together.