Wreaths seem to have popped up on everyone's doors across Bangalore city and probably across the world, to celebrate Christmas. That's something new as we have only had brightly coloured stars so far put up on every Christian's front door in the country. Probably a custom come in from the west with people returning to the mother country, after living for decades out in the west and imbibing the culture there.

The definition of a wreath is a ring or circlet of flowers, boughs, or leaves worn on the head,placed on a memorial, or hung as a decoration. It is only today that an advent wreath is being hung up on the front door of Christian homes on the first day of Advent.


Michelle Correa who has put up a beautiful wreath on her front door says, "Christmas is a time for good-cheer, fun, frolic & family and the four weeks prior to Christmas day are a time for preparation both for the festivities as well as spiritual. I hang the Advent Wreath on my front door on the first Sunday of Advent and it stays there until the Feast of the Epiphany on the 6th of January. This is a tradition that I have been brought up with. It feels festive and delightful!"

" My wreath is green and red; the traditional colors of Christmas, interspersed with little pinecones and holly sprays. My dad had told me as a little girl that the green pine branches represented the continuance of life through the harsh winter months in Europe and the Christian belief in eternal life through Christ. Red symbolized the blood that Jesus shed at his crucifixion.

The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ. The pinecones and holly used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection. All together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality of our soul and the new, everlasting life that Jesus promised us."

In Christianity, wreaths are used to prepare for Advent or the "coming of Christ." The first known association with these now modern day wreaths dates back to the Lutherans in Germany in the 16th century. For every Sunday of Advent, starting with the fourth Sunday before Christmas, a white candle in the wreath was lit and for every day in between a red candle was used.

Made of evergreens, the Advent wreath represents everlasting life brought through Jesus and the circular shape of the wreath represents God, with no beginning and no end. The Advent wreath is now a popular symbol in preparation for the coming of Christ, to mark the beginning of the Christian Church’s year and as special décor during the Christmas festivities.

Christmas wreaths are a traditional decoration and I have seen beautiful ones put on as table decorations.
So evolving as Christmas door wreaths, the traditional beauty of these wreaths make any seasonal visitor feel welcome at your home.