A wreath is a circular arrangement of flowers and other greens. It's intended to be hung on a door or another object. Similar to black ribbon symbolism, wreaths often indicate that a family is in mourning.
Elegant black feather wreath to signify a house of mourning. This tradition dates back to Victorian times when the front door and sometimes the porch or veranda was draped with black bunting, wreaths, and ribbons to notify neighbors that a death had occurred..
The symbolism of wreaths has been used at funerals since at least the time of Ancient Greece, to represent a circle of eternal life. Evergreen wreaths were laid at the burial place of early Christian virgin martyrs in Europe, the evergreen representing the victory of the eternal spirit over death.
White decorations, specifically, tend to represent purity, innocence, and youth. So white wreath meaning may vary, but a general one you can use is just a sense of newness. It represents things becoming new, and pure.
Refer to the deceased by name. Encourage the family to plan a wake, funeral and burial (even if cremated), if you are in an appropriate position to do so. Send flowers with a note (see suggestions for notes below) or offer a donation to a charity or an appropriate research organization. Acknowledge the deceased's life.
If death happens at home without hospice, try to talk with the doctor, local medical examiner (coroner), your local health department, or a funeral home representative in advance about how to proceed. You can also consider a home funeral, which is legal in most states.
Later adopted by the Christian faith, wreaths are used to observe the Advent season. Hung on the door or a window, the wreath has been viewed as an invitation to the spirit of Christmas to enter the home and bring luck, suggesting as well that the Christmas spirit dwells within.
If your wreath is thin enough to fit between your prime door and your storm door, hang the wreath on your prime door with a wreath hanger. This will keep the wreath protected from outdoor elements. If it's too tight of a fit we recommend hanging the wreath on your storm door.
Wreaths tend to be associated with doors and welcoming guests into the home, but they are actually one of the most versatile decor pieces around since they can be displayed just about anywhere. In fact, placing them horizontally around candles was just as common in 16th century Europe as hanging them on the wall.
They're typically simple in style and might have ribbons, religious symbols, and other signs of grief. These mourning wreaths are often commonly white, black, or another neutral color. The only exception is for those who are grieving a veteran. In that case, the wreath might appear more patriotic.
The choice of flowers shows our feelings, while the wreath shape shows that we are honoring the deceased. Some people also see the wreath as a symbol of eternal life, or the cycle of life and death, because of its circular shape.
Advent Wreath
The pink candle is called the Shepherd and represents joy. The fourth candle is called the Angel candle and represents peace. Each candle is lit during the four weeks of Advent.
Laurel WreathSymbol of victory, honor, and peace. The laurel wreath was a symbol of Apollo and the leaf itself was believed to have spiritual and physical cleansing abilities. Ancient Greeks awarded laurel wreaths to victors in the Olympics and poetic competitions.
Advent wreaths are also characterized by candles. Three candles are purple — symbolizing prayer and penance — and one candle is pink to represent joy.
The easiest and safest way to hang a wreath is with the help of a wreath hanger. There are a variety of wreath hanging accessories to choose from including metal hooks, magnetic strips and adjustable bars.
You simply tie the ribbon around your wreath, or through the hanging loop on the back if it has one, and create a bow if required. Take the other end of your ribbon over the top of your door and tie it to the door handle on the inside. Make sure to tie it tightly so it doesnt fall off every time you open the door!
For traditional wreath placement, you will want to place the center of the wreath at eye level, and at the center of the door. Eye level is typically regarded as 57 inches (140 cm). Add the radius of your wreath to the 57 inches (140 cm) height so that the center of your wreath falls at 57 inches (140 cm).
You'll want to hang it about 14 inches from the top of the door so that it hangs right at the center.
Leave the area untouched apart from any attempt at resuscitation. If the death was expected, perhaps due to a terminal illness, you should contact the deceased's GP or nearest doctor. If it happened during the night, you do not need to contact the doctor until the following morning unless you want to.