Deck the doors!

Yorkshire Post Saturday Magazine - 3rd Dec 2011

Homes & Interiors

WREATH LECTURE: The origins of the wreath may be uncertain, but now is the time to hang them with pride. Interior Designer Jamie Hempsall looks at this intriguing seasonal door decoration.

It seems we are ticking off the key winter events winter with amazing speed. The temperature has s are up and our evenings have suddenly got a lot darker.

In the middle of possibly the gloomiest period of the year, it is often a joy to "deck the halls" with a plethora of brightly coloured decorations and add light all around the home with the addition of festive lights both inside and outside. It can seem a lot of work when it is a time that so many people are also hideously busy, but somehow it all feels worth it once completed.

The traditional Christmas family celebrations and entertainments as we know them were pretty much invented by the Victorians – although the tradition predates them by Centuries. Victorians simply fell in love with Christmas and made elaborate decorations from just about anything they could get their hands on, to add even more ornamentation to what was already extremely busy décor.

One of the decorations that really set the tone for your guests' expectations has to be a wreath on your front door. It is a hint into your personality and an indicator of what they can experience inside. It is also a calling card to the world that you are "fully on board" with the festive spirit.

The hanging of a door wreath can be traced back to medieval times, but there are no definitive explanations as to why they were adopted.

So where did it all begin? The origins of the wreath can be traced back to before the Roman Empire, but it is during this era that they begin to be seen regularly. The Romans used wreaths to award the victor of a challenge. It was designed to sit upon the winner's head and was made of gold, silver, flowers or even leaves.

It is thought that the Romans brought the wreath to the extremities of their Empire where the local populace, who began to incorporate symbols from their own culture, adopted them.

Mid-winter Pagan rituals often featured a wreath of evergreen with 4 candles, which were placed in each of the four directions to represent the elements of earth, wind, water and fire.

The symbolism of the circular shape is also important to many cultures that have adopted the wreath as it has no beginning and no ending. Essentially, it represents eternity be this the eternal cycle of the seasons, the persistence of life in mid-winter, the eternal nature of love or the circle of life. A comforting thought when all about you is dark and dank.

The adoption of the wreath for decorative purposes, rather than for any symbolic reason is also not that new an idea. It is thought that historically, homes used to hang wreaths featuring varying floral arrangements to identify the different families and houses – in the same way that we use house names and numbers today.

The Victorian wreath was very much a home-made affair, with the "good of the land" being gathered to create the perfect symbol. Evergreens were used to symbolise eternal life and eternal love. Romantic overtones were further hinted at as the combination of holly and ivy within the same medium were said to represent the union between man and woman.

In this day and age, the wreath is largely used as a welcome to your visitor and should hold a special place in your decoration arsenal.

The brash ostentation of the recent past is now being trounced throughout the interior world with simple, traditional values. The wreath is a perfect example of this. They are the ideal family project for a cold winter evening, after a day out and about gathering bits and pieces to create a bespoke door adornment.

The High Street also has plenty of options, both traditional and quirky, to allow you and your family to express themselves (and champion your personal values).

The traditional berry design is always attractive and is a beautiful reminder of all of the holly that leaps into life at this time of year. The Berry Wreath by Melody Maison is a riot of white and red berries of differing sizes interspersed amongst leaves and greenery and at 24cms it will certainly make an impact (£16.95; www.melodymaison.co.uk - 01302 711116).

As an atmospheric alternative, the Breya wreath is heavy on cones and red berries with a coating of snow reminiscent of the perfect crisp winter morning (£49; www.dobbies.co.uk - 0844 840 8404).

This year, there are quite a number of designs incorporating dried fruits and cinnamon sticks. They look both festive and might be a good source of ingredients for mulled wine if you find yourselves running short! Pollyfields have a terrific range also incorporating willow twigs and cones. Prices start at £50 for a 35cm medium wreath (www.pollyfields.co.uk - 01271 312417).

For a design that is less traditional, but beautifully simple check out the "Made with Love" Range from Marks & Spencer which is spot on trend and features the wonderful "Tartan Wreath" fashioned from a delightful selection of Tartan Bows (£17.50).

Finally, in an age where it is important that we flash our green credentials as much as our greenery, why not go the whole hog and opt for the Newspaper Wreath by The Contemporary Home. It is surprisingly attractive and leaves you with a smile on your face and a surprisingly good feeling inside (£9.99; www.tch.net - 02392 469400).

Jamie Hempsall, BIID is a multi-award winning Interior Designer. Visit him at ww.jamiehempsall.com or 0800 032 1180.