Create a Christmas Floral Wreath

At Christmas time there are very few front doors or homes not decorated with a welcoming wreath or garland. Over the last five years they have become very popular with not only high street florists are creating them but also well known store chains producing them in bulk for buying over the internet.

They come in all shapes and sizes and after the Christmas tree; wreaths are the most popular festive design. The traditional ones are still the most sought after using, pungent ferns, holly, mistletoe, and ivy, brightened with ribbons and baubles, pine cones and dried fruit. Wreaths date back centuries to ancient Persia and Greece. Many countries and cultures worshipped evergreens such as the laurel or holly, believing them to represent immortality, so it became an obvious choice to create wreaths as a welcoming or reverence symbol. The Greeks in particular used to create them out of laurel to place on the heads or around the necks of champions.

Certainly much symbolism can be placed on a Christmas wreath. The circle has no beginning or end which could represent the circle of life or even God’s never-ending love. Evergreens being used in winter could signify the birth of new life as trees begin to grow again, flowers start to appear.

Decorating wreaths also dates back to ancient times. Just as we today use a number or a name to identify our house, the Roman in particular use to use wreaths to identify their houses. So at Christmas time when you put up your wreath, you can think of it as more than a decorative item. It also has tradition and meaning.

Mossed

A mossed wreath is ideal as a Christmas decoration. In the UK moss is protected and can’t be taken from its natural habitat without a licence. It can only be supplied through a registered supplier. The moss mainly used is sphagnum moss. It usually comes in bags and should be fresh and moist. Other moss used is Reindeer or lichen moss.

Floral Foam Wreaths

These days many florists use floral foam wreaths supplied by the wholesalers as mossing a wreath is very time consuming. They are very useful if you have to produce dozens of wreaths for Christmas. However if foam is not available or an unusual shape is required being able to moss a wreath is a valuable skill.

Creating a Mossed Wreath

Materials (all these are available from the wholesalers) Blue spruce or other evergreen; damp moss; 12 inch wire frame; a reel of wire; wreath wrap; stub wires; German pins; feathers; beads; baubles; door hook

Method

• Lay out all your materials and clean the moss by removing any twigs, stones etc. Make sure the moss is sufficiently damp before gently teasing the moss apart
• Attach some reel wire to your wire frame. Roll a handful of moss into a tight “sausage shape” and place this on the wired frame, packing it in tightly
• Using the reel of wire, wire the moss to the frame. Repeat until the frame is completely covered. Ensure the moss is always tightly packed in while doing this. Once you have wired round once repeat the wiring again
• The shape of the wreath should be even so trim away any loose bits of moss for a good finish
• Anchor the end of the reel wire into the firm moss
• Double wire your fern pieces and start anchoring them in the side and top of the wreath until it is fully covered. Always ensure that the foliage is securely anchored into the moss and wire frame
• Bring the wreath wrap back the other side of the wreath. Stretch the wrap over the frame anchoring with the German pins as you go.
• Decorate your wreath by wiring any decorations. I used feathers, beads and baubles and then wired them into the frame but you can use anything festive you like.
• Add the door frame hook and you are now ready to welcome people in for Christmas!