This is a guest post by Megan White, Visitor Services Specialist at the Library.
Wreaths have a long history. They were worn as headpieces as far back as ancient Egypt. The Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress is filled with Roman-inspired wreaths, most commonly made of laurel, olive, and oak, representing victory, peace, and strength.
Wreaths tied to many winter holidays are made out of evergreen boughs. As plants that stay green all year, they once symbolized immortality and a reminder that, after the Winter Solstice, we are moving towards longer, warmer, more bountiful days. Today, winter wreaths generally represent welcome and a moment of joy in the darkness. Maybe this year both the ancient and modern meanings are relevant as people seek comfort, reassurance, and hope for a fresh start next spring.
You and your family can make your own wreaths with evergreen materials or any other natural materials that suits you. A few images from our prints and photographs collection to use for inspiration are included below:
- Preparing Christmas Greens–Making Wreaths, Harper’s Weekly, 1880
- Santa Claus’s Face in the Middle of a Christmas Wreath, 1896
- Skeleton Leaves, 1873
Once you have some ideas about what kind of wreath you’d like to make, it’s time to head outside and find your materials. Look for pine, spruce, or holly boughs to form the bulk of your wreath, and look for other materials like berries, pinecones, acorns, and dried grasses or seed pods to add as accents. You can challenge children