Traditions: The Christmas Wreath

Traditions are an inherent part of gardening: the same jobs need to be done at the same time each year, bulbs bloom and blossoms fade in a pleasingly predictable cycle, and days wax and wane with the passing of the seasons. Traditions provide a reassuring framework to our lives, and the darker days of autumn and winter are carefully filled with festivals to see us through to spring: Hallowe’en, Bonfire Night, Christmas and Epiphany, and the many forgotten festivals of centuries past take us safely up to Easter and its welcome message of new life.

Every year a generous neighbour with a garden both bigger and better than mine cuts stems of greenery and sets them to one side, ready to turn into a wreath. The first year we did this it was just a one-off bit of fun, but over the years it has become an essential part of December and the Christmas preparations. If you’d like to start your own wreath-making tradition here’s what we do…

1. Cut your greenery in advance – you don’t want the birds to eat all the beautiful berries before you’ve had a chance to get near them. Take good long cuttings and plunge them into a bucket of cold water. You can leave this somewhere cool and light (a greenhouse is perfect if you have one) for at least 2 weeks before making your wreath. 

Foliage

What you cut will depend on the look you want to create. You could try an autumnal wreath of golds, coppers, and caramels using dried autumn leaves, but I always worry about how long the leaves will stay on the stems. More reliable are the traditional evergreens: holly and ivy, bright conifers, euonymus and eucalyptus. Anything goes really, depending on what’s available in your garden. I like to incorporate some variegated foliage – it might seem a bit garish at close quarters, but splashes of yellow and cream really help to brighten up a dark day or a shady porch.  I’ve never tried scented foliage but always vaguely intend to: rosemary, thyme, bay and lavender would all work well.

2. Start with a basic wreath. I used to yearn for the pretty, wiry versions from florists, all neatly padded with moss, but actually the cheap sort that come with lots of fake foliage is fine. Once you’ve filled it with greenery you’ll never know what was beneath it all.

3. Start taking your long stems and simply prod them into the wreath base, pushing and pulling them through to anchor them securely. You can use floristry wire but I’ve never found it necessary. Tradition demands that this step is accompanied by a generous dose of swearing as cold fingers are pricked by sharp holly spines.

4. Keep going. Hold the wreath up and cast a critical eye over it at regular intervals to make sure it looks balanced and you’ve got an even spread of different leaves throughout. Leaves and branches that stick out more than desired can be brought into line by wrapping one of the wiry bits of fake foliage around the stem.

5. If you’re feeling very crafty and are the sort of person with pretty ribbons stored away for just this sort of occasion, you can add a bow at the top or bottom of your wreath. If not, loop a bit of string through the base and tie it securely so you can hang your finished wreath proudly form your door.  You can also go to town with dried orange, cinnamon sticks and so on, should you be so inspired.

6. Get inside and sit down with something warming. Current favourites: sloe gin; Irish coffee, or mulled wine depending on the time of day and your disposition.