Why do they decorate their houses with wreaths on Christmas holidays? It becomes interesting - is it an attribute of Christmas that carries a meaning, or just a decoration for the house? We will understand where this custom came from and what this interesting tradition is connected with.

History of the Christmas wreath

There are several popular stories about how the wreath originated. The first version mentions how even the pagans wove wreaths from the evergreen branches of coniferous trees. Also, a wreath made of holly was placed on the head of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion.

The Christmas wreath is also called the Advent wreath, it came to us from the Catholic world. Most will have a question, what does this decoration have to do with the Orthodox holiday?

No matter how strange it may sound, but all church holidays have pagan roots, and they are all intertwined.

The word "wreath" comes from the Old English "writhe" to twist. So over time they began to call the Christmas wreath, which in English is “Christmas wreath”.

The second, more truthful version speaks of the German theologian Johann Wiehern. His pupils, whom he took from poor families, lived with him in the house.

The children were constantly asking Johann when Christmas would come. Over time, such questions began to bother him.

So that the pupils would not pester him, he took a wooden wheel and decorated it with four large white candles and nineteen small red ones.

On a weekday, one small candle was lit, but as soon as Sunday came, it was set on fire. big candle. When one white candle remained on the wheel, the guys understood that the next day was Christmas.

So Johann was able to save himself from questions about the coming of the holiday and brightened up the expectation of the children. Residents in Germany liked the idea so much that they decided to hang a Christmas wreath in their homes as well. Over time, the tradition of decorating houses with Christmas wreaths spread throughout the United States and throughout Europe.

Symbolism of the wreath decoration

Not only candles, but also bells were used to decorate Christmas wreaths. In England, it was believed that the ringing frightened away evil spirits and welcomed Christ. In Scandinavia, the ringing of bells meant the end of the working day.

Each decoration carries its own meaning. A decorated wreath of candles becomes similar to the Advent calendar.

Each Sunday, one candle was lit, so they began to be lit four weeks before the holiday. Every family knows that the days before Christmas bring with them the joy of preparing for the holiday.

On the first Sunday, the Candle of Prophecy is lit. It symbolizes the coming of the Savior to earth in the hearts of people through faith. At the end of the day, the candle is extinguished and left.

On the second Sunday, the first and second Bethlehem Candles are lit. It means the coming of the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary.

On the third Sunday, the Shepherds' Candle is attached. She tells how the shepherds saw the Savior with their own eyes and believed. In France, it also means that everyone should share their faith in Christ.

On the last day, the fourth Angelic Candle is lit. On this day, the Savior descends with all the angels to take all the believing people with him to heaven.

A traditional Christmas wreath with candles could simply be made and placed on the table. In America and in many other countries they did not know about candles, so the Christmas wreath simply acted as a cake decoration or was attached to the door.

In Europe, the wreath carried a special meaning - it is a symbol of joy and faith.

A Christmas wreath, with or without candles, still carried a special meaning and could be hung on a door or just on a wall.

On the door, he spoke to everyone about the hospitality of the owners and readiness for the holiday, and on the wall he was just a decoration and reminded of the approach of Christmas.

The round shape of the wreath means endless life.

But as everyone knows Christian customs have deep pagan roots. As early as 2000 BC, there was a holiday in various nations - the Rebirth of the Sun. The victory over darkness was celebrated. This event usually took place at the end of December, when the day was beginning to lengthen. It is impossible to say for sure that the wreath is only a Christian tradition.

Sometimes a wreath with four candles is associated with the globe and cardinal points.

Making a wreath

There is simply no limit to the imagination of designers. Their ideas for making Christmas wreaths are amazing. Now you can use everything in the design of Christmas wreaths, from plain paper ending in gold. Those who do not want to get their hands dirty and waste time can simply go to the store and choose any one they like.

The classic wreath is made from spruce branches with red ribbons and four candles. Catholics usually attach three purple and one pink candle. These colors are the symbols of worship.

Many floristic companies do not think about what a Christmas wreath can be made of and how to decorate it beautifully, but simply attach everything that is possible. Therefore, you can find not only a green Christmas wreath, but also white, and even pink.

Since ancient times, people have tried to make a Christmas wreath of the same size, so that the diameter of all wreaths would be the same. They adhered to standards that simply do not exist. Over time, Christmas wreaths began to be made different forms, attach figurines of animals: deer, rabbits and many others.

Previously, a beautiful and exquisite Christmas wreath could only be seen in pictures. Not every family could afford to decorate it with expensive things and managed with improvised means. Over time, people realized that it is not necessary to spend big money for decoration.

Now it is an integral part of Christmas and hangs on almost every door.

Video: Christmas wreath on the door

Making a DIY Christmas wreath on the door is easy, given all the recommendations and from the video:

Surely Russian people have ever thought about why Catholics decorate their home with a rather unusual item on Christmas holidays - a wreath? And it becomes curious just this decoration or attribute of Christmas, which carries a special meaning? Let's find out!

A traditional Christmas wreath with four candles symbolizing the light that will illuminate the world with the birth of Christ.

The traditional Christmas wreath with four candles, symbolizing the light that will illuminate the world with the birth of Christ, is an attribute of Lutheranism that came from Germany.
Previously, it was created with their own hands from spruce or fir branches, decorated with apples, sweets and red ribbons.

The wreath was made from spruce branches, decorated with apples, sweets and red ribbons.

A Christmas wreath is decorated not only with candles, but also with bells. For example, in Scandinavia, their melodic ringing symbolizes the completion of all work and invites to have fun and celebrate. England has its own belief that the ringing of bells disperses evil spirits and welcomes Christ.

The ringing of bells disperses evil spirits and greets Christ.

Especially it is necessary to say about the red ribbons, which are so rich in the classic Christmas wreath. In Christianity, red is a royal color and denotes the future resurrection of Christ.

Later, such a wreath became quite easy to buy in a store, and its decorations have changed - now a variety of wreaths are sold: woven from twigs, completely created from apples, cones or Christmas balls etc.

Now for sale a variety of wreaths

The imagination of designers is inexhaustible! In Europe, the Christmas wreath can be seen both in the altar of the church and on the dining table. On the streets, wreaths with luminous lights decorate shops and salons, offices of firms. Now it is quite a fashionable Christmas attribute that can be found even in Russian homes!

On the streets, wreaths with luminous lights decorate shops

Candles that are lit on a wreath in the pre-holiday season have a special meaning. The candles on the wreath are lit four weeks before Christmas. One - every Sunday, as we approach the holiday. On the last Sunday, all four candles fill the house with warmth and light. These 4 Sundays are called the days of Advent (adventus, from Latin - arrival, attack). Every family knows that the days before Christmas bring with them the joy of preparing for the feast of the birth of the Infant Jesus.

The candles on the wreath are lit four weeks before Christmas.

Each Sunday of Advent is dedicated to a certain "remembrance", which corresponds to the gospel readings during the service.

First Sunday of Advent. On this day, the first candle in the Advent wreath, the Candle of Prophecy, is lit. It symbolizes the Old Testament prophecies of the coming of Christ. The French celebrate the fulfillment of these prophecies - the coming of the Savior to earth as a baby, His coming into the hearts of people through faith in the Word of God, and His final coming in glory to judge all mortals.

Second Sunday of Advent. On this day, the Candle of Prophecy and the second candle in the Advent wreath, the Bethlehem Candle, are lit. It represents the coming to earth of Jesus, the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary. This is a symbol of preparation for the meeting of the Christ Child.

Third Sunday of Advent. On this day, the first two candles are lit and the third is attached - the Candle of the Shepherds. The Candle of the Shepherds means the coming of the Savior into the hearts of ordinary people through faith in Him Holy Word. She seems to be talking about how the shepherds saw the Savior with their own eyes and believed. So all believers must see Him with the eyes of faith. For the French, this candle also symbolizes how ordinary people share their faith in Christ, like shepherds who told everyone they met about Him.

Fourth Sunday of Advent. On this day, the first three candles are lit and the last one is attached - the Angelic Candle. It means the last coming of the Savior with all the Angels to take all true believers with him to heaven.

However, in many countries, for example in America, they did not know about candles - there a spruce wreath is simply hung on the door of the house as a decoration.

In America, a spruce wreath is hung on the door of the house as a decoration.

In Europe, the wreath carries a special meaning and significance. This is a symbol of faith and joy about the birth of the Savior and his coming into the world. A traditional Christmas wreath with candles is placed horizontally - for example, placed on a table. However, a wreath without candles can be hung on a wall or on a door. On the wall, he decorates the house and reminds the whole family of upcoming joyful events, and on the door, he tells those who come about the cordiality and hospitality of the owners and their readiness to undress the holiday with the guest.

A traditional Christmas wreath with candles is placed on the table.

But, speaking objectively, I cannot but touch upon another version, another view of the symbolic form of the Christmas wreath. It is round, and since ancient times this shape has been associated with the shape of a wheel, and many millennia ago, long before the advent of Christianity, it symbolized the Sun. Another 2000 BC in various unrelated peoples there was a holiday of the rebirth of the Sun, the victory of good over evil. This event took place on the days of the winter solstice (end of December), when the day began to grow and light triumphed over darkness. Therefore, it cannot be absolutely certain that the Christmas wreath is only a Christian tradition. All earthly cultures are inextricably linked, and modern customs have the deepest roots that permeate history many millennia ago ...

The shape of the wreath symbolized the Sun.

And what is your opinion on this matter? Are there really pagan roots in Christian traditions or not? And is it worth it for a Russian person to bring into his house a Catholic Christmas attribute - a wreath?

Decorating your home for Christmas with fresh flowers is an age-old tradition. It is customary to buy flowers not only for decorative purposes, but also as a gift to relatives and friends. This is also due to the fact that the traditional color scheme of Christmas includes red and green colors, and with the very symbolism of flowering plants: love and well-being.
In our article, we will talk about 5 Christmas plants that have long become symbols of the bright holiday of Christmas.

Poinsettia - Christmas star

Poinsettia, or scientifically the most beautiful Euphorbia, has been one of the most popular plants for Christmas for more than two centuries. In the west and in Europe, the blooming poinsettia is sure sign the upcoming Christmas holidays and is widely used to decorate shopping malls, temples, apartments and houses. The most popular is considered to be a variety with a combination of red and green colors, which are traditional for Western Christmas.

Fact

The poinsettia got its name in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first minister of the United States in Mexico, who, being a botanist, was the first to import cuttings of this plant into the United States.

Poinsettia Care Tips:

• When transporting, it is important to protect the plant from the cold, since this is a tropical plant and it cannot stand even short-term hypothermia. For the same reason, the leaves of the Christmas star must not touch the cold glass.
• The optimum temperature for poinsettia is + 18 ° С - + 22 ° С, if the temperature is too low or high, the plant can completely shed its leaves
• The poinsettia needs moderate regular watering and responds well to water sprays. For irrigation, it is necessary to use warm soft water, wet the clod of earth completely, and drain the rest of the water from the pan
• In an apartment, the Christmas star is best kept in a sunny place, without drafts and away from radiators.

mistletoe

Mistletoe is an elegant plant with many Christmas traditions associated with it, one of which is kissing under a hanging mistletoe sprig. This original tradition originates in Norse mythology, where mistletoe was subordinate to Freya, the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. It is believed that mistletoe reveals its magical properties exactly under

Christmas brings health, love and prosperity to the house. On Christmas Eve, sprigs of mistletoe decorate the entrance to the house, decorate lighting fixtures and Christmas wreaths, and are also used in serving the festive table.

1

Hippeastrum is an indoor bulb flower with huge red, pink and pale yellow flowers. In many Western countries, it is customary to give this flower for the Christmas holidays, adding notes of warmth and hospitality to the interior of the house. Hippeastrum flowers are used in Christmas bouquets, in interior design, and also decorate the flower itself directly, making it a miniature Christmas "tree".

Hippeastrum Care Tips:

• Before boarding lower part the bulbs are soaked in water at room temperature for 5-6 hours, after which the bulb is planted in a pot with well-fertilized soil. The hippeastrum bulb should be halfway out of the ground.
• After the first arrows appear from the bulb, the plant should be transferred to a warm place with a temperature of + 18 ° C - + 20 ° C and begin to water the hippeastrum a little more actively, in addition, you can spray the peduncle with soft warm water
• 6-8 weeks after planting, bright large flowers bloom on the plant and leaves begin to develop.
• As soon as the hippeastrum fades, the flower stalks are cut off about half, and the plant begins the growing season. During this period, it is moderately watered and fertilized 2-3 times a month.
• When the bulb gains strength, it goes into a state of "rest" for 2-3 months, after which it begins to bloom again

Schlumbergera

Schlumbergera, also known as the Decembrist or Christmas cactus, got its names due to its flowering period: from early November to late January. Due to its unpretentiousness and long flowering, zygocactus is popular with many lovers. indoor plants especially on holidays winter period when it is so nice to add bright colors to the interior of the house.

Schlumbergera Care Tips

• Christmas cactus prefers partial shade and diffused light and does not tolerate bright sunlight.
• Watering should be uniform without excessive waterlogging or drying out. For irrigation, it is best to use soft settled or boiled water.
• Optimal temperatures for keeping a Christmas tree: +18°С-20°С degrees in summer and +13°С-15°С in winter

The holly is a genus of shrubs and trees that is closely associated with Christmas for its bright green leaves and eye-catching red berries. As with mistletoe, holly was used in ancient Rome during the winter festivities, which were later replaced by Christmas. Today, holly sprigs are widely used in the decoration of the festive Christmas table, the room, as a material for a Christmas wreath, decorative compositions, and sometimes even as a replacement for the traditional Christmas tree.

Holly is rarely found in a house or apartment, but it takes root well in the garden, since many of its species are frost-resistant, it lends itself well to curly haircuts, is not picky about the soil and feels good in the most unfavorable light conditions.

What are Christmas wreaths made of in Europe?

Alternative descriptions

A tree whose cones infusion is healing

Deciduous tree or shrub of the birch family

Deciduous tree whose fruits are cones

tree with earrings

Which tree do beavers hate?

Levada tree

birch family tree

Under it dozed off "esaul at rest"

This tree got its name from the same word as "tin", i.e. named for its whitish color

medicinal plant

birch relatives

tree with earrings

Berezina "sister"

tree with brunches

birch tree

Tree blooming in early spring

Tree, related to birch

Tree growing along rivers

Eloha, Elshina. What tree?

birch relative

deciduous tree

Wood for packaging and plywood

birch sister

It stands above the cherry (song.)

Black ... - the Celts have a miracle tree, symbolizing the resurrection and deification

What was the ark made of, on which Rhea Sylvia sent the twins Romulus and Remus down the river?

Its shavings are suitable for smoking

Deciduous tree or shrub of the birch family

tree of the birch family

Berezina "sister"

Eloha, Elshina. What kind of tree

J. Elha Vlad. vyat. tree lower olshina, elshina, olshina novg. psk. wolf thief. chickens. tree Alnus glutinosa, black alder, small species. incana, stone alder, alder dwarf birch, podolshan. You can bend an alder, and you can bend an elm with a twist. If the birch leaves before the alder, then the summer will be dry, and if the alder is ahead, then it will be wet. There are a lot of earrings on the alder, for the harvest of oats, and a lot of cones, for the harvest of barley. Olkhovnik, olshnyak, oleshnik, alder, elshnik m. elshanik, elshinnik, alder, olekh ryaz. forest, grove; alder logs, firewood. On the alder forest, buds (buds) are a crop for oats. Alder, alder, novg. podoleshnik, mushroom. Oleshye cf. collected novg. psk. alder forest or firewood. Olkhovian, olshanina, oleshin, elshina. one alder tree. Alder forest. Elkhovy, spruce leaf. Alder table. Talk about alder, and oak is stronger! Alder thickets. Alder, alder-colored, yellow-brown, esp. about birds; alder, bird Accentor modularis southern. different small fish, more oatmeal. Olkhovka st. native bad partridge, Lagopus alpinus. An alder hawk, all brown, without whiteness and without small ripples: when washing a hawk, they change their feathers according to age; young ones are alder, gradually taking on more ripples and blueness; old clean-skinned

From what was built the ark on which Rhea Sylvia sent the twins Romulus and Remus down the river

This tree got its name from the same word as "tin", i.e. named for its whitish color

Under it dozed off "esaul at rest"

A tree from the birch family

Deciduous shrub with fruit-cones

Listven. tree with fruits

Listven. tree with fruits