Why We Hang Wreaths on Our Doors

Why do we hang wreaths on our front doors? Is it just to add curb appeal to your house? Is it because your mom always did and her mom always did and so now when the weather starts to turn you feel a familial duty to carry on the tradition? Maybe. But how did we get here? Hanging a wreath on your door is one of those cultural things you don’t always realize is steeped in hundreds of years of history and symbolism.

First is the circle. Much like a wedding ring, with no beginning and no end, the shape of a wreath represents eternity. It can symbolize the cycles of life, nature and of the seasons. Historically wreaths were made of evergreens or, often at our shop, beautifully preserved dried flowers. This has come to symbolize resilience, strength and, in winter, the promise that, despite the cold, spring is just on the horizon.

As far back as ancient Greece and Rome, wreaths were worn as crowns or hung to symbolize victory and honor. They historically also played a part in Yule and Winter Solstice celebrations with Germanic and Scandinavian peoples bringing circles of evergreens inside to light on fire to encourage the god of the sun to return and bring warmth back to the Earth.

By the Middle ages the tradition and the symbolism of the wreath morphed to one of hospitality. Hanging a wreath on your door sent the message to neighbors and travelers: “you are welcome here and this home is filled with warmth, goodwill, and safety.”

As I look at the dried flower wreath hanging on my front door that Emily gifted me years ago, and at this point is well beyond needing a replacement, I think this last statement is the one that holds true today. I see it as a welcome sign, a symbol of friendship and a wonderful celebration of the passage of time.

We’d love for you to come make a wreath with us this season! And tell us what hanging it on your door means for you.