Greek mythology tells the tale of Apollo, son of Zeus and god of life and light who fell in love with Daphne, a nymph. When she ran away, Apollo asked the river god Peneus for assistance in capturing her, so Peneus transformed Daphine into laurel tree. Apollo fashioned a crown from the laurel tree and wore it on his head. Wreaths were forever after associated with victory, achievement and status.
The use of circular bouquets dates back into antiquity. Ancient Egyptians made wreath chaplets by sewing flowers onto linen headbands and tying them onto their heads. Roman magistrates and Etruscan rulers wore golden wreaths as crowns. Wreaths were worn as adornments to signify a person's social status, rank and occupation.
Crowns of olive, pine, laurel, celery, or palm, were awarded to ancient Olympic games athletes and bestowed on poets and speakers or orators as prizes. Rome also bestowed laurel wreaths to civil officials and returning warriors to acknowledge their service.
Harvest wreaths are what we most commonly see for household decorations today most often during holiday seasons like Christmas or Chanukah when people wish to declare their holiday spirit. Wreaths can be woven from flowers, leaves, and foliage. Some artificial wreaths, when properly cared for, can beautify your home or front door for many years.
There are several different types of wreath garlands:
Advent wreath, or Advent crown: symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent. This type of wreath usually lays horizontally on a table top and contains four to five candles.
Enhance the images by adding little bells or sprinkles of glitter and bows to create Christmas wreath ornaments for the holiday tree. String several different decorated wreaths together to make garlands and hanging holiday decorations.
Children can contribute to the holiday festivities. Print as stationery or letterhead to write messages and letters to Santa or friends and relatives. Children can make photo frames by decorating and carefully cutting out the centers to frame a photograph.
Enhance the images by adding baubles, bells and bows and sprinkles of glitter.
Applications for these patterns could include:
Paper Trivia: Did you know that you can only fold a sheet of printer paper in half seven times? Give it a try. It doesn't matter how thick or thin the paper is, once you get to the seventh fold, the paper will not bend or budge.
Sun catchers. To create a translucent, stained glass ornaments effect, apply a bit of lemon oil to the back sides of paper ornaments to create a.
Hang the ornaments on trees, in windows, anywhere bright colorful decorations are desired.
Construct a large paper-tree for the wall with shades of green construction paper. Draw a large tree on a sheet of easel pad paper to tack onto a wall or other flat surface, then decorate with paper ornaments.