Christmas Wreath Traditions

Christmas wreath traditions date back to at least the 17th century. Displaying a wreath on the outside of your door symbolized that your home was one that was celebrating the birth of Christ.

Wreaths were originally made of holly, which has several religious meanings. The sharp leaves symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Jesus during the Crucifixion. The red berries symbolize the blood of Christ. Another story tells how the berries were thought to have been originally white. They were offered to the newborn Jesus by a child. The holly pricked the finger of Christ and then the berries blushed red in shame. Wreaths decorated with red and white berries are popular for this reason.

Today, Christmas wreaths are used to decorate and celebrate the holiday season in a lot of ways. They are made of all kinds of things from fresh balsam fir to teddy bears and are used as corporate Christmas gifts, retail holiday decorations, home door decorations, and more. Wreaths can be seen all over the world during the holidays and to most people symbolize peace and giving during the season.

Many people are concerned with the commercialization of Christmas, but still wish to give meaningful gifts to friends and family. Fresh wreaths and table decorations make wonderful gifts for the holidays. They can be given as thank you gifts, hostess gifts, corporate gifts, and more. They can be decorated with pine cones and berries to maintain the natural look and aroma that makes a real Christmas wreath so desirable. Fresh centerpieces for the table are also very popular. Unlike flowers, an evergreen centerpiece can last for months if properly cared for.

Fresh Christmas table runners and wreaths can be enjoyed all through the holiday season. Customers, visitors and passer bys will all be asking where the beautiful wreath or table accent came from. You can be proud to give a real wreath knowing that it will help get people in the holiday spirit. Living gifts are a unique and beautiful way to show your appreciation, love or gratitude for someone.

Another holiday tradition related to the Christmas wreath is kissing underneath the mistletoe. One story says that mistletoe was considered sacred by the Druids and was not allowed to touch the ground. Therefore, the mistletoe was hung, and in recognition of its sacred status, people meeting underneath it must kiss. Others think that the tradition was started by the Scandinavians, who believed that mistletoe was a symbol of peace. Enemies meeting under the mistletoe had to declare a truce and seal it with a kiss.

This is a fun tradition to follow and many people do. Mistletoe is pretty small and sometimes unnoticeable. Another option is to hang a kissing ball. A kissing ball is bigger and is decorated with bows, berries and pinecones, like the wreath. It is made from fragrant evergreen foliage. Kissing balls go great with matching wreaths and make an excellent gift choice for the holidays.

Traditions can be spread through cultures, religions, regions or families. Traditions help us to remember the past and honor the ones who came before us. They are most often passed down from parents to children. The great thing about a tradition is that you can start one on your own. Pass down your beliefs, customs and practices to your children. Feel free to start your own traditions together. Whether it involves kissing underneath the kissing ball or giving a fresh Christmas wreath to the host of Thanksgiving dinner, your family will feel closer when practicing it.

Lynn Jebbia is the owner of Acadia Wreath Company. Acadia Wreath Company, based in Bar Harbor, Maine, which handcrafts a fresh Maine balsam fir Christmas wreath, Christmas Centerpiece and Kissing Ball which are shipped directly to customers and corporate clients throughout the United States.

Christmas Wreath Giveaway Contest Rules

Twitter Christmas Wreath Giveaway Contest
Accepting entries through November 30th.
Winners Chosen Dec. 1

Contest Rules

Here are the general contest rules

1. Must include @reply to ChristmasWreath  and hashtag #ChristmasWreath. Must also follow @ChristmasWreath.

2. You must comment on TwitPic at http://www.twitpic.com/pew4u, and failure of TwitPic is not our responsibility. There may be a puzzle to solve, in which case you must solve it in your TwitPic comment.

3. To be be eligible to win, you must tweet and include the following: “@ChristmasWreath" and use hashtag "#ChristmasWreath”.

4. Cash given away by Acadia Wreath Company to random winner selected solely by Acadia Wreath Company. There will be three winners. Winner based on random number generator. All winner decisions final and judged by the Law Office of David Gottfried in Austin, Texas.

5. Must include hashtag #ChristmasWreath and @ChristmasWreath in each eligible entry. You will not threaten us in any way nor any other player.

6. Must have Continental U.S. mailing address to mail Christmas Wreath to, and be willing to divulge winning address via DM to @ChristmasWreath.

7. Each entry counts one time, but feel free to enter as many times as you want as long as you follow the rules and RT and @reply to @ChristmasWreath and use hashtag #christmaswreath

8. You must be at least 18 years of age to win and have proof of age and valid state or federal issued ID and SSN which you will fax to Acadia Wreath Company immediately upon request for age verification purposes. No entries from minors accepted. Must be a real person with a real U.S. address. Must be able to verify by ID faxed to US number. If there is any question on the part of Acadia Wreath Company, we reserve right to disqualify.

9. We reserve the right to modify rules as necessary. Specifically, if entrants get unruly, "in your face", or start causing other problems with the other entries, or cause discord between entrants.

10. Automated tweets, any tweets not originating from a physical human being, or any tweets that are a violation of Twitter's terms of service are ineligible. Any violation of any law renders entry ineligible. Tweets not physically entered by a human being manually are ineligible. Tweets violating the spirit of these rules are ineligible and eligibility of any given tweet will be at our sole discretion.

Be Green this Christmas

Be all green this Christmas and give useful but natural gifts to your best friends and others. Perhaps give unusual Christmas gifts like items friends would not normally purchase but that represent the essence of the holidays. For example, a green Christmas wreath is an accessory that visibly tells everyone a person is in the spirit of the season at first glance to their doorway. They are nice hung inside the home also and many are very fragrant.

Think of items that are reusable, recyclable, and renewable. A gift card that can be reloaded with more cash is better than one that is just pitched in the trash when used up. If you have a favorite book consider passing it along as a gift, with a note to the receiver to do the same when they have finished reading it. Homemade gifts from the kitchen are always a holiday hit. Make creative and colorful quilts from clothing that is no longer needed. Making something new from old is like a plant blooming year after year.

There are many “green” gifts you can give or make. For example, colorful recycling bins are a really unusual but useful gift. It may seem odd at first, but you will be in your friend’s thoughts all year around as they use the bins. An assortment of green cleaning agents is another useful but earth friendly idea. None of these ideas are fattening, but surely there are some holiday treat ideas that are available, such as healthy fruit baskets or a reusable container filled with chocolates.

You can create a green holiday experience for yourself as you shop for everyone on your holiday list. Another way to give an ecologically friendly gift would be to take your intended recipient shopping with you so they can pick out their own choice as you guide them towards green gift selections.

Most people enjoy having the "normal" trimmings of the holiday season, such as holiday welcome mats, Christmas wreaths, garlands and lighting. But if person is somehow having a hard time, the bleakness of their situation can seem even lonelier at holiday times. Giving earth friendly green gifts like a freshly made Christmas wreath can not only lift spirits but also remind them of the loveliness of living things. Take a few moments this year as you comprise your gift list and think green for those unusual and welcome holiday gifts!

Lynn Jebbia is the owner of Acadia Wreath Company which handcrafts a fresh Maine balsam fir Christmas wreath, Christmas Centerpiece and Kissing Ball which are shipped directly to customers and corporate clients throughout the United States.

Your Favorite Family Christmas Traditions Bring the Holidays Alive

With the holidays quickly coming upon us, it can be easy to get caught up in the commercial aspect of this important day. Of course, the gifts will need to be purchased. However, by focusing on your favorite family Christmas traditions, you can be sure that your family will remember what is really important. After all, the holidays aren't really about what you get, but the people you love and the time you spend together. Keeping those traditions alive and passing them down is one of the best parts of the season.

No discussion on favorite family Christmas traditions is complete without decorating the Christmas tree and the traditional
Christmas wreath. Many people collect ornaments as the children in the family grow. Each year when the tree is pulled out, the memories come with it. Other families take a hands-on approach and spend time hand crafting ornaments as a family. In addition, decorating and placing the door wreath signals the beginning of the holiday season. Each time your family walks in the door, they get a visual reminder of the joy surrounding these merry months. These two things mark the beginning of Christmas cheer and open the door for many more fun family times.

Another common tradition is baking and cookie making. The Christmas season is steeped with smells and tastes that tantalize. It is common for grandmothers to teach their grandchildren their secret recipes. Cookie exchanges are also increasingly popular. Each guest makes several dozen of their favorite recipe. The selection is then mixed up, allowing each guest to come home with a variety of Christmas cookies. If you don't already do this, consider throwing a cookie exchange party this year for the first time and making it one of your favorite family Christmas traditions.

In addition to the tree and great food, Christmas just would not be complete without the music filling the already decked halls. There are dozens of traditions that incorporate the amazing seasonal music. Many communities put on concerts or plays during this time. In fact, you may be surprised to find that many of these are free. You could soak in Handel's Messiah, for example, for nothing but the cost of your gas. Participating in such things can also be a great tradition for your family. Finally, who can resist that classic caroling choir? This can be an extremely enjoyable evening activity for your family. Invite all your friends along as well. When it comes to caroling, more is definitely merrier.

As you can see, there's so much more to the holiday season than getting stuff. In fact, with the proper attitude, you can teach your kids to appreciate your favorite family Christmas traditions even more than gifts. After all, the traditions make the holiday come alive for the whole season and and not just for a day.

Lynn Jebbia is the owner of Acadia Wreath Company which handcrafts a fresh Maine balsam fir Christmas wreath, Christmas Centerpiece and Kissing Ball which are shipped directly to customers and corporate clients throughout the United States.