Vigo County Historical Society

Wreaths a holiday tradition for many

As holiday decorations are purchased or brought out of storage, one that is most likely to be placed in the home or workplace is the wreath.

For those in search of a beautiful wreath to grace a wall, window or door, the Vigo County Historical Museum has a Festival of Wreaths display featuring 30 wreaths waiting for bidders in a silent auction to help raise funds for the society.

Local florists and designers have made and donated the wreaths. Many are created for the holiday season, but some would be appropriate to use throughout the year.

Wreaths began, of course, as natural greenery. The early pagans cut branches from evergreen trees, carried them to their temples and worshipped them for maintaining life throughout the long winter.

In King Solomon’s time, greens were used in all the sacred rites of religious festivals.

In northern Europe, people thought fir boughs harbored friendly spirits. They would twist the boughs into circles and place them on the door or window to ward off witches.

In America, the traditional wreath on the door or window has become a gesture of friendship and welcome. In Williamsburg, VA., garlands of evergreen are intertwined with fruits and vegetables.

A special wreath at Christmas time is the Advent wreath. Made of evergreen branches, it holds four candles, one to be lit on each Sunday of Advent.

Wreaths may be made of so many materials, one is limited only by imagination. Traditional evergreen wreaths may be made of spruce, hemlock, fir, yew and pine. Other often-used materials are flowers, fruits, wheat, moss, herbs and even basic household items such as colored paper and cloth.

The public is invited to visit the museum from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, look over the wide variety of wreaths available for purchase, and register a bid for a favorite. The wreath pictured on one of the museum’s front doors was designed for the silent auction.

Bidding will end Dec. 3, and winners, may take their wreath home for the holidays.