WREATHS

Stella Wenstob | Fjord Contributor

With the falling leaves, shortening days and the chilly winds it is comforting to be in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by fragrant evergreens giving us hope for life in the dead of winter. Whether you buy local greens or gather your own it is easy to “bring home Christmas” as the medieval English phrase used to say.

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menzi), Noble Fir (Abies procera) and Salal (Gaultheria shallon) lend a cozy texture, while the jewel toned berries of Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana), Wild Rose (Rosa acicularis) hips and Mountain Ash (Sorbus sitchensis) add a colorful contrast. Seasonal colors abound and evoke a Christmas-y feel to the world.

Bringing in green for the midwinter is an ancient practice with pre-Christian roots amongst many cultures, including the Greeks, Egyptians, Celts as well as the early inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest.

The Greeks awarded wreaths made of laurels to the victors of the Olympic games and even today the laurel is engraved on the modern-day Olympic medals. Although the fragrant bay laurel has fallen out of favor as a seasonal decoration, the wreath is still a popular way to festoon winter festivals. Taken from the Old English word ‘writhen’ which means ‘to writhe’ or ‘to twist,’ the wreath is an elegant way to decorate your home for the holidays. Although prickly and tricky to work with, holly is a traditional green for wreaths and swags. Holly has a history of superstitions and reinterpretations. Since ancient Celtic times, a sprig of holly has been a useful protective plant that kept away witches and evil spirits, as well as protecting the house from lightning. Contrastingly, a wreath hung at the door would welcome the Christmas Spirit into the house. The Christian faith graphically reinterprets the symbolism in the song the Holly & the Ivy, depicting holly as the thorny crown that Jesus wore and the berries as red as the blood of Christ.

Wreath & swag workshop at 2019 Christmastown

It is argued that the ivy represents the Virgin Mary in this song as it is often associated with feminine symbolism. Ivy’s clinging nature has been used in a contradicting manner as both a symbol of humanity’s fallibility and also as a metaphor of the tenacity of Christ’s love. Interestingly, the tenacious nature of the holly and the ivy makes it difficult to eradicate from gardens and the wild and this is exactly why they are disparaged now as invasive plants. Both plants grow quickly and easily and are on Washington’s hit list of noxious weeds.

Western Red Cedar with its strong, pliable, rot resistant wood was essential to life among the first peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast from Oregon all the way into Alaska. Split cedar boards were used for house making and creating steamed water-tight boxes that were used for storage. The old growth giants are still felled for dugout canoe building. In the spring, the outer bark of the cedar is easily peeled in longitudinal strips which may be twisted into a strong, flexible rope. In olden times, clothing was also woven from this bark.

Since cedar lent itself to so many important uses, it was considered the Mother Tree for Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest and was important for many spiritual purposes such as cleansing ceremonies and potlatches. The aromatic Western Red Cedar was quickly adopted for garlands by early settlers and now its crisp, fresh smell forms an important part of seasonal greenery.

Decking the halls in the Pacific Northwest can be as simple as raiding your garden.

However, if you lack the greenery, you can still enjoy the foraging-feel by obtaining a free personal collection permit from your local forest service office for collecting greens in the Olympic National Park.

If you'd prefer a little "assistance" with your hand crafted wreaths and swags this season, consider joining in one one of the many crafting workshops offered during the holidays in Shelton at the town's Christmastown events. With an emphasis on handmade gifts and family holiday traditions, this event runs from December 5-12. Details and registration can be found at christmatownwa.org.

VERLE'S

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