Today I was asked to make an Advent Wreath. I have done some research on wreaths, and am inspired by the tradition and symbolism. The circular form denotes the circle of life, or, in Scandinavia, the 'wheel of the earth'. A German Master florist taught me that when you are working with a circle, you should always work in a clockwise direction, the natural flowing movement of life, and it's bad luck to do otherwise !
The Advent wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life, and even the evergreens each have a special and traditional significance, this generally being strength, immortality and victory. The 4 candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and they are progressively lit during this pre-Christmas season.
I love the simplicity of the form, the traditional meaning, the fragrance of the leaves ( cypress, rosemary, bay, larch, yew, pine), and they're fun to make !
I also read that, according to legend, wreaths were also used to identify homes. Not all houses had house numbers, so the specific items used on the wreath helped identify the homes and the families living within. What would you have on your door ?
