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Photo: Southern Living
The etymology of the word 'wreath' indicates that wreath comes from the Middle English wrethe, which in turn comes from Old English writha; akin to Old English wrīthan to twist, which makes sense, since wreaths are made from twisted branches and greens.
As with many parts of Christian customs, the tradition of hanging wreathes was borrowed from Greek and Roman culture. Laurel wreaths were commonly worn on the head by Olympic victors and public figures in ancient times. Accordng to Martha Stewart Living, "During midwinter festivals in ancient Rome, evergreen branches and garlands were brought indoors, to serve as symbols of enduring life and to ensure a fruitful year."
Today, wreaths are used primarily as decor and only rarely as a headdress, but you never know, fashions change so quickly...
Photos: Good Housekeeping
While wreaths are usually made of evergreens or other foliage, they can be made from just about anything, especially since Styrofoam wreath forms are readily available at craft shops. Among the more unusual wreaths we have seen is a radish wreath from Sunset magazine -- wow!
For instructions for how to make your own evergreen wreaths, check out this video 'Growing at Reiman Gardens 012 Constructing a Holiday Wreath' on YouTube; read wreath making tips from Patti Bosket, the principal of Au Naturel, a floral and interior design business, and take a look at this step-by-step guide from eHow.com.
Photos: MarthaStewart.com
Want to go above and beyond?
Martha Stewart has a whole photo gallery of creative wreath projects that take the art of twisting boughs to new levels and offers up a wreath-making 101 post. While Good Housekeeping has a slideshow with eight eco-friendly wreath ideas and Country Living has a spread of garden-inspired designs. If you prefer a magnolia wreath to an evergreen one (see image at top), then head over to Southern Living's website, where you will find in-depth directions for magnolia wreath making.
