By Demarco-Perpich Fine Flowers 

Wreaths are more than festive décor — they’re one of the oldest symbols in floral history. Their circular shape, with no beginning and no end, represents eternity, protection, and celebration. Today, wreaths are beloved holiday accents in Toronto homes and shops, but their story began thousands of years ago.

From Ancient Rituals to Holiday Traditions

Wreaths first appeared in the ancient world.

• Egyptians used funerary wreaths as symbols of safe passage and eternal life.
• Greeks crowned champions with laurel and olive wreaths to celebrate honor and achievement.
• Romans adopted wreaths as emblems of triumph and authority, especially the iconic laurel crown.

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, wreaths decorated festivals and religious ceremonies, symbolizing purity, devotion, and artistic beauty.

In the Victorian era, wreaths took on emotional meaning. Families used fresh or dried wreaths to honor loved ones, solidifying their role in remembrance and memorial rituals.

How the Christmas & Advent Wreath Was Born

The modern holiday wreath traces back to Northern Europe, where evergreen branches symbolized life through winter. The Advent wreath, as we know it today, originated in 19th-century Germany with a simple candle-lit circle created to mark the countdown to Christmas. This tradition spread and evolved into the welcoming evergreen wreaths we hang on doors today.

A Design That Keeps Evolving

Through the centuries, wreaths have been crafted from laurel, pine, herbs, dried flowers, evergreen branches, grapevine, and modern materials like ribbons, ornaments, or citrus slices.

Today, floral designers — including us at Demarco-Perpich Fine Flowers — use wreaths as creative canvases. Whether lush and classic or minimal and modern, they bring warmth, style, and meaning to any space.

Wreaths Today: A Symbol That Endures

You’ll find wreaths everywhere: holiday décor, memorial ceremonies, weddings, housewarmings, and year-round home styling.

They continue to endure because they still carry timeless meaning: welcome, celebration, protection, remembrance.

Discover Our Holiday Wreath Collection

Looking for the perfect wreath for your home or condo, or as a seasonal gift?

Explore our wreaths selection - from classic evergreens to modern, textured designs - all curated for elegant holiday décor.

👉 Shop our Holiday Wreaths