Christmas wreath with six bows

Wreath of Rowan berries

A girl wearing a Ukrainian costume with a wreath

A wreath is a ring made of flowers, leaves and sometimes fruits that can be used as an ornament, hanging on a wall or door, or resting on a table. The rowans or mountain-ashes are Plants in the family Rosaceae, in the Genus Sorbus, subgenus Sorbus Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Circles are simple Shapes of Euclidean geometry consisting of those points in a plane which are at a constant Distance, called the A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. A small wreath can be also worn on the head as a form of headdress.

Symbolism

Wreaths are commonly made by evergreens as a symbol for the strength of life, with these plants overcoming even the harshest winters. In Botany, an Evergreen plant is a plant having leaves all year round Such wreaths often use Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) and can be categorized as laurel wreaths. The Bay Laurel ( Laurus nobilis, Lauraceae) also known as True Laurel, Sweet Bay, Grecian Laurel, Laurel, or A laurel wreath is a circular Wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves of the Bay Laurel ( Laurus nobilis Lauraceae) an aromatic Other components of a wreath can be pine, holly or yew, symbolizing immortality, and cedar, symbolizing strength and healing. This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Holly ( Ilex) is a Genus of about 600 Species of Flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only Cedar ( Cedrus) is a genus of Coniferous Trees in the Plant family Pinaceae. The Greek god Apollo is often associated with wreaths, and was a god of life and health. Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance God, as a male Deity, contrasts with female deities or " goddesses " This inspired the Greek to use the symbol as crowns of victory at the Pythian Games, a forerunner to today's Olympic Games. The Pythian Games (Delphic Games were one of the four Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, a forerunner of the modern Olympic Games, held every four The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games The circularity of wreaths can be used to symbolize eternity or immortality (see Crown of Immortality). The Crown of Immortality is a literary and religious metaphor that developed visual representations initially as a Laurel wreath, and later as a symbolic Circle

In Northern Europe, wreaths made of branches of conifer trees (especially firs) are commonly used as a symbol of remembrance of the dead. Firs ( Abies) are a genus of between 45-55 species of Evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. For that purpose, such wreaths are often left at graves at burial (and sometimes, significant anniversaries thereof), or in cases of burial-at-sea, left to float at the sea. Burial at sea describes the procedure of disposing of human remains in the ocean normally from a ship or boat

Use by culture

These wreaths are festive crowns worn by many Romans. Wreaths were usually for women, and men usually wore crowns. They were a symbol of pride, and they were usually handmade. Most were made of flowers and branches, twigs, thread, and laurels. Wreaths were often used on special occasions such as weddings. They are also used on Remembrance Day (Canada), as a respect to those who fought and died in the Great war.

A laurel wreath decorating a memorial at the Folketing, the national parliament of Denmark

Christianity

A wreath made of mostly evergreen tree twigs, sometimes with pine cones and/or a bow made of red ribbon is a common Christmas decoration. The Folketing, or Folketinget, is the national Parliament of Denmark. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Christian households and churches often use an advent wreath made with four (or five) candles in preparation for Christmas. Advent wreaths are a tradition used by Christians to mark the passage of the 4 weeks of Advent. It is used to hang on a door as a symbol for the never-ending love of Christ.

While they are common today, their use was actually condemned as idolatry by the theological writer Tertullian in the early third century:

But "let your works shine," saith He; but now all our shops and gates shine! You will now-a-days find more doors of heathens without lamps and laurel-wreaths than of Christians. Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Anglicised as Tertullian, (ca . . Idolatry is condemned, not on account of the persons which are set up for worship, but on account of those its observances, which pertain to demons (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter XV. Translated by S. Thelwall. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

Irrespective of Tertullian's complaints, wreaths have remained popular, especially during the Christmas season.

Greece

A wreath of laurel was used to crown winners of olympic competitions, inherited from one of the symbols of the god Apollo, who is often depicted wearing or holding a wreath of laurel leaves. Olive wreaths were also given to olympic victors. The flowers are always white. ^[1]

Rome

Laurel wreaths were worn on the heads of military and government officials in parades. Roman consuls and senators wore wreaths of olive leaves in public. Funeral wreaths were a Roman custom. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC They often appear carved on sarcophagi. A sarcophagus is a Funeral receptacle for a Corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone

As an attire

See also: Wreath (attire)

A wreath is a headdress made from leaves, flowers and branches. A wreath is a Headdress made from leaves grasses flowers or branches Headgear, headwear or headdress is the name given to any element of Clothing which is worn on one's head. It is typically worn in festive occasions and on holy days. Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of

References

1. ^ The Real Story of the Ancient Olympic Games

External links

• The History of Laurel Wreath
• The History of the Advent Wreath
• How to make a wreath
• Handmade Floral Wreathsru-old:Вѣнокъ