Origin and meaning of Christmas wreath

The Christmas wreath , also known as  the laurel wreath  (English name is  laurel wreath ),  is made from ivy, mistletoe and green leaves , commonly used to decorate houses or churches at Christmas. However, few people understand its origin and meaning.

1 Origin of the Christmas wreath

The origin of the laurel wreath is said to  have been initiated by St. Boniface in the 13th century . During a pilgrimage, he encountered a group of pagans sacrificing a child under an oak tree, and the saint cut down the oak tree to save the child.

And from that very oak tree grew an evergreen ivy, which the saint declared to be the joyful symbol of eternal life for Christians.

Therefore, every year, Christians  often use ivy to decorate churches, houses and make laurel wreaths to decorate every Christmas.

2 Meaning of Christmas wreath

The Christmas wreath has many meanings, specifically:

The laurel wreath is used as a decoration to signal the arrival of Christmas, symbolizing a  bright future, a warm spring in the cold, freezing winter  and also a symbol of eternity.

The circle of the Christmas wreath has no beginning or end, symbolizing  a fulfilled life and complete happiness.

The materials used to make the Christmas wreath are ivy and other green plants, which symbolize  survival, strong vitality and victory through the winter . At the same time, the shape of the wreath also symbolizes  the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head, a symbol of eternal life and power.

3 Meanings of the laurel tree in practice

In addition to its spiritual significance, the laurel tree also has many practical uses in life, such as:

• Fresh bay leaves are very mild and do not develop their full flavor until several weeks after drying. Because dried bay leaves are used as a cooking spice because of their distinctive aroma, the leaves must be removed from cooked foods before eating.
• Bay leaves are used to make soups, stews, braises in Mediterranean cuisine and in Brazilian dishes.
• In medicine, laurel has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anticonvulsant effects.
• Laurel is also used to make essential oils to support beauty, treat some diseases, and repel insects very effectively.

Hopefully, the above sharing will help readers better understand the origin and meaning of the Christmas wreath. Wishing you a happy and warm Christmas!