About Evergreen Garland
A garland is a chain decoration that is hung in celebration of important cultural and religious events. You will find decorative chain garlands made of evergreens in homes across Europe and America for Christmas. Evergreens were also hung in homes during the winter over 500 years ago before Christmas was celebrated as a religious event. Winter celebrations that include an evergreen garland pay respect to old-world beliefs of cultures that used evergreens as a source of strength during Northern Europe's cold, hard winters.
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Identification
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They are made from branches of pine, laurel, ivy, holly, or mistletoe that have been tied together with wire or string. Garlands will be hung around doorways, made into wreaths and wrapped around prominent poles inside the home. They maintain their color during use. Evergreen garlands made from scented materials like pine will have a pine scent that permeates throughout the room, and it is a great way to tell the homeowners have hung this kind of garland. Garlands made from holly and mistletoe will include the small red berries that give these garlands their distinctive holiday look. Identifying an evergreen garland is easy to do if you look for the features which distinguish them from other garlands.
History
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Pre-Christian cultures of Northern Europe and England revered the evergreen plant for its ability to thrive during the winter. People who brought them into their homes would do so to take advantage of the plant's natural powers of health and vitality, and it was done in celebration of the winter solstice. When Christianity was first introduced to this part of the world, missionaries incorporated many local beliefs into religious teachings to convert more cultures to Catholicism. A story about a witness to an evergreen growing from inside the middle of a split Oak tree is how an old-world tradition was incorporated into new-world religious teachings. As more people converted to Christianity, a garland made from evergreens continued to be an important traditional decoration to hang in the home when celebrating the winter holidays.
Function
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Evergreen garlands function as decorative additions to the home or body during the winter holiday season. To complete a Christmas interior design theme, include natural products and materials to add to the traditional use of nature in the home. They are also used as a symbol of strength and vitality to those in the home. They can cover banisters, mantles and doorways to create the perfect holiday environment for celebrating Christmas.
Warning
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Evergreen garlands can be made from holly and mistletoe. These come with berries that will make some people sick. Protect yourself and your children from illness. Never ingest this type of natural plant material. An additional warning includes the possibility of a fire threat. When an evergreen garland is hung for long periods of time, they become dried out without changing appearance. Keep evergreen garlands away from fire. They can become dry and easily ignited when they are older.
Considerations
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Evergreen garlands can be made from materials that are found naturally throughout the year. Each type of plant is considered to promote a certain benefit to the home. Pine garlands represents strength and vitality, and mistletoe represents friendship and fertility. You can construct evergreen garlands for the type of decorating you want to do. Give an evergreen garland as a gift to someone who needs what a particular plant represents.
Expert Insight
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The Northwoods Evergreen and Wire Company's Jon Schultz has been making evergreen garlands and garland making machines for the public since 1974. He has built a business around holiday garlands, and he says that each year more towns and designers are looking for better ways to make this traditional holiday trim. Professional decorators who trim city streets with long lengths of evergreen garlands need to create the decorations easily...and on a large scale. Jon Schultz makes machines that will automatically tie and wrap long lengths of evergreen garland quickly. You can find more tips on making your own by visiting the company's Website or contacting Jon directly.
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