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Wreaths were originally made of holly, which has several religious meanings.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.

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.

Best Christmas Gifts for Unemployed

Given the state of today’s economy, as well as the current unemployment rate, there will be many who will find it necessary to cut back on Christmas expenses this year. Chances are, there is at least one person on your Christmas list that is currently unemployed. Deciding what to give this person may be a difficult decision for some. An expensive, frivolous gift that they may not get much use out of is probably not a good decision. For the person who is currently unemployed, a thoughtful, more practical gift will likely be much more appreciated. Here are a few suggestions:

•Everybody loves to greet their friends and family with a fresh Christmas wreath hung on the door! In addition, a
Christmas wreath can help bring joy and Christmas spirit to the person who may find it necessary to cut corners on Christmas this year. The person who is unemployed this season will likely not spend money on Christmas decorations.

•Buy them a gift certificate or tickets for some fun event or entertainment that their whole family can enjoy. If they love movies buy a gift certificate to the movies, skating,
sports events are all things they wouldn’t treat themselves to which would be a real treat for them. Also, gift certificates to restaurants are always a great gift.

•Buy a large, useful container, such as a laundry basket or trashcan, and fill it with everyday items. You may also include a few snacks or pampering items they may not think to buy for themselves, such as a package of fresh herbal tea, or some relaxing bath oils or candles.

•Take Christmas to them this year. Bring a little excitement and joy to what might be a bit of a depressing season for them this year. Load up your car with Christmas essentials, such as decorations, Christmas music, cookie or candy making supplies, and a bright, cheerful smile, and haul it all over to their home for some Christmas fun. You could even tie a tree to the top of your vehicle.!

•Think of a creative way to give them money, such as tied to the branches of a money tree. While some may consider a simple gift of money to not have much thought behind it, it may be the most thoughtful gift you could give to the person on your list that is currently unemployed.

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.


   

Shopping for a Christmas Wreath

I always know when the Christmas season has officially begun when my mom and dad tell my brother and I that it is time to shop for a new Christmas wreath. Every year on the first of December we go as a family to pick out a wreath for the front door. I really like helping pick out a Christmas wreath because it is the first thing people see when they walk up to our house, so we always pick out a Christmas wreath that is sure give visitors a warm welcome.

There are always a lot of different wreaths to choose from. We always see a lot of wreaths made out of plastic that are covered with decorations like lights or fake fruit, and sometimes we see wreaths that are made out of shiny tinsel. Plastic and tinsel wreaths can be really pretty, but I wouldn't want one hanging on our door because our guests may think our welcome is fake, just like the wreath. One time I saw a wreath that was made out of feathers! A lady told us that they were fake peacock feathers, and that they are supposed to bring good luck to the home. The feathers were really bright blue and green, and even though it was beautiful we decided that it just wasn't Christmas-y enough. We want a wreath that reminds people that it is the most joyous time of the year!

My favorite Christmas wreaths are definitely fresh wreaths, because they smell as good as they look. Last year we picked out a fresh Balsam Fir wreath that we decorated with pine cones and ribbons, and I always loved walking up to the front door after school. There's nothing like smelling Christmas as you walk up to the front door! Any problems I might have had during the day just melt away when I smell that fresh wreath. Every time I see a fresh Christmas wreath it reminds me of home. It reminds me of walking through the front door to find my mom baking gingerbread cookies and warming up by the fire after playing in the snow. Fresh Christmas wreaths remind me and my family of all the good the holidays have to offer.

That is why every year we always pick out a fresh Christmas wreath for our front door, even if we look at all the other types of wreaths first. I just don't think that any other type of wreath would be as welcoming as a fresh wreath and they don’t have that Christmas-y smell. My dad always tells us that a wreath symbolizes eternal joy, and I can see why he says that. Every time I get home from school and see a wreath on the door the joy of Christmas fills my heart.

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.

The Story Behind The Christmas Wreath

The Christmas wreath is as popular today as it was when it was first introduced to the world. People take great pains to make these beautiful Christmas decorations but most people have no idea just how far back the tradition of the wreath really goes. It goes back to Pagan times and the ancient culture of the Persian Empire. The wreath that was hung on the doors of the family homes during this time was actually a symbol of wealth and importance. Granted, the wreaths of the Persian Empire were smaller than the ones that hang on doors today. As a matter of fact, they were worn on the head and were encrusted with jewels. The Greeks made wreaths of laurel that were placed on the heads of winning athletes during the Olympic Games.

This tradition was continued by the Romans and they were worn on the heads of leaders, such as Julius Caesar. Eventually they moved from headgear to wall and door decorations, possibly as a souvenir of the athlete’s victory. It is believed that this is how the tradition of hanging them on the wall was born. From here the tradition of hanging a wreath made of evergreen was started and it moved into Eastern Europe. The wreath was decorated with candles and lit during the cold winter evening in order to help rush in spring and the good weather.

The Christmas wreath tradition moved from pagan traditions to a Christian tradition, typically used by the Catholics. The wreath was hung up during Advent and they usually had four candles in the middle of the evergreen circle. The wreath today is a circle, signifying that it had no beginning and no end and is considered in the Christian religion a symbol of God and eternity. The candles in the wreath were traditionally white or three violets and one rose. Each candle was lit everyday with the exception of the middle candle which was not lit until Christmas Eve. They were usually lit right before dinner.

The Christmas wreath is quite often made of evergreen boughs of holly and they can be real or artificial. While an artificial wreath will last considerably longer, they don’t have the same smell as a fresh wreath when made of real pine and other items. It can be decorated today with traditional items, such as pine cones, fruits, berries, lace and ribbon or it can be made with more modern materials for a different look.

Whether you hand make a Christmas wreath or buy one from the store it is important to remember how the wreath got its start and to reflect upon what it means to you and your family. These holiday decorations are a joy to behold on every door and make your home look warm and inviting no matter how you decorate 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 is a Warm Welcome and Great Gift in Bad Economy

Most Americans are hunkering down during the current economic crisis which is hitting hard right at our most joyous time of year. It seems politically incorrect even for those not suffering undue financial stress to spend a lot of money this year for the holidays. Even though the cost of gasoline is half what it was just two months ago most people continue to cut back on unnecessary driving. Let’s hope we all keep conserving as these lessons need to become habit.

The expenses related to the holiday season are huge if you add them all together. We not only have the expense of purchasing gifts but travel related expenses are high as we all want to be with our families. Christmas decorating expenses can really add up with all the gift wrap, Christmas tree and tree decorations, Christmas lights and other decorations inside and outside our homes. Many people put thousands of lights on their homes and we all love driving around the neighborhood to see all of them. But is it politically correct this year. And more important – can they afford to pay the resulting electric bill.

So if you are stressing about the holiday season due to the financial outlays think about how and where to cut your expenses so that you can still enjoy the season. Most people hang a Christmas wreath on their door for the holidays. This is the most affordable outside decoration for your home. And it is all you need. Save money by not putting up all those outdoor lights and have a fresh, green, natural Christmas wreathon your door to say welcome and Happy Holidays to all.

The yearly problem of what to buy for gifts for people who already have everything they need. Does Aunt Sally really need those extra pair of slippers or would she get more enjoyment out of a fresh, natural Christmas centerpiece with the wonderful balsam fragrance most associated with Christmas? Fresh Christmas Wreaths and Christmas Centerpieces shipped directly from the Maine woods are a much loved gift. And they are affordable and can be ordered easily online. This gift can be sent every year. It really solves the annual dilemma of what to buy everyone. This is a gift everyone does want every year and look forward to receiving.

This year send a warm welcoming fresh Christmas wreath to your friends and family. Support the green economy with a fresh, natural, gift that is harvested in a sustainable manner from the world renowned Maine woods.

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.