Trying to find the perfect winter front door wreath but not sure where to start?

What better way to decorate your front door then marvelous winter wreaths?

As you walk around your neighborhood, or drive by any houses, some of the first decorations you will notice are winter front door wreaths. There are so many front door wreaths for winter to choose from though- the process can be a challenge!

We decided to make it easier for you.

We collected some of the best winter wreath ideas so you can dazzle up your front door this holiday!

First though– where does the idea of winter wreaths even come from?

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What Do Wreaths Symbolize?

Every year when we hung winter wreaths on our door, I never thought much of it. It was just part of Christmastime, right?

I realize now that there are many Christmas traditions that I have never questioned, or even thought about questioning. Especially when it comes to Christmas wreaths. Which is such a shame, because winter door wreaths actually have a fascinating history.

It wasn’t until my older brother cynically asked one day, “Why do we even hang these circles every year?” that I started to wonder myself.

So what do these front door wreaths for winter actually come from historically?

To answer that, we need to look at the main star of Christmas decorations: the Christmas tree.

In the 16th century, the Germans started the tradition of the Christmas tree. They would try to trim it down into a triangle shape to represent the Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When they would trim it down, they of course had excess branches.

With those excess branches came the Christmas wreath.

In a time where no one wanted to waste anything, people would take the excess parts of the Christmas tree and form it into a wreath.

The wreaths originally hung on the Christmas tree themselves, hence the circular shape. It would be a while until people started to use them for separate decorations entirely.

However, the circular nature of the wreath also held a beautiful symbol. Once created, it represented the eternal nature of God. Just like God has no beginning or end, the wreath was the same way.

For more information about the rich history of the Christmas wreath, check out Time magazine’s article– it is filled with fascinating history facts!

That is how the Christmas wreath started. However, in today’s world, we know that there are now all types of wreaths- for Christmastime, wintertime, and year-round!

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What Kind of Wreaths All There?

When you hear wreaths, you may automatically think of Christmas. At least, that’s usually what I think of. When I hear the word “wreath”, I always think of the classic green wreath with a red bow summing up the Christmas season.

However, there are all types of wreaths!

Types of Wreaths

• Advent Wreaths
• Harvest wreaths
• Funeral and/or memorial wreaths
• Crown wreaths
• Maypole wreaths
• Seasonal wreaths

When should winter wreaths be taken down?

There seems to be a lot of debates about when to take Christmas wreaths down.

And when I say a lot- I mean it.

The Internet is full of people debating when these front door winter wreaths should come down. In the article “Christmas Is Over, Take the Wreaths Down” from the Huffington Post, comedian and author Ward Anderson makes his opinion clear: Christmas wreaths need to go after Christmas. As he states:

“It happens every year. I find myself on a stroll in my neighbourhood only to see the wreaths still hanging on the fronts of homes until April. Sometimes there’s even a half-inflated plastic snowman or Santa Claus slumped over in the yard and still trying to wave at me from underneath two pounds of dirty snow and ice. These poor, depressed symbols seem to be taunting me, reminding me of a joyful season that didn’t disappear in grand fashion on New Year’s Eve. Instead it whimpered away as the early weeks of the new year rolled on. Like a relative that came to visit and then refused to leave, the Christmas Wreaths are no longer welcome and need to go away.” (Ward Anderson, “Christmas is Over, Take the Wreaths Down“

However, many of your friends may claim otherwise.

“Why stop the Christmas cheer the day after Christmas?”

“Keep Christmas going!”

And more.

So to really examine when to take those wreaths down, maybe it’s best to look at what other places do, such as churches.

There are a lot of churches that actually don’t take down their winter wreaths until January 6, also known as the Day of Epiphany. The Day of Epiphany is 12 days after Christmas, and is known in Western cultures as the day that the three kings visited Jesus (Three Kings Day), but in Eastern cultures is known as the day that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

Because many Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and other churches celebrate Three Kings Day, it is only after that day that the wreaths and more come down.

So what is the real answer to when to take the Christmas wreaths down?

Whenever you want. It’s your door and your way to celebrate! Don’t let anyone take that away from you.

The Best Winter Wreaths of 2020

Christmas Wreaths

1.

Anyone here obsessed with chalkboard style decorations? I know I am! This wreath has that chalkboard decoration feel to it.  Then the buffalo check ribbon mixed in with the gold gives this wreath both a rustic winter feel mixed in with the Christmas feel. Nothing like some greenery on the wreath to give it the fun Christmas spirit!

2.

Are you one for creativity? Getting this set of 6 Christmas wreaths may be the best idea for you! Getting identical winter wreaths can give a lot of creativity options of how to decorate your front door- and your front porch as well!

If six is too many, but you still wanted multiple wreaths that all looked the same, you could try this set of three wreaths as well.

3.

Want to make decorating your front door much easier this Christmas? This outdoor Christmas wreath is pre-lit and comes with the hook ready to go!

The wreath comes with 40 white lights. Not only is it run by battery, but it has a timer as well! This is how you can make your Christmas simple this year!

4.

Go elegant this Christmas season with this Elegant Champagne Winter Wreath!  Very full and very large, this wreath only requires three AA batteries.

(PS- Does anyone else feel like they are constantly spending money on batteries during the holidays? I just found out just how much cheaper these batteries are, and they work just as well! I spend about half of the amount on batteries now!)

5.

This red and burlap Santa wreath is a fun and festive!  This eye-catching large Christmas wreath is a fun way to bring in the Christmas season that will definitely get your neighbors to notice your beautiful front door!

Non-Christmas Winter Door Wreaths (January Wreath Ideas and More!)

1.

This winter wreath embraces everything that is wonderful about the winter season.

The sparkles and twinkles of white lights combined with the touches of silver bring all the romantic parts of wintertime that we look forward to all year.

This is also a convenient wreath as well- waterproof and sun resistant for those days that the sun reflects strongly onto the new fallen snow.

2.

I personally love this real cotton front door wreath for the simplicity it brings. This is a great wreath that brings both a farmhouse and a vintage vibe.

You can actually choose multiple sizes for this wreath as well, which is a huge plus. You don’t have to worry about the size of your door to get the perfect wreath you want!

3.

If you would are looking for January wreath ideas, this Moravia Winter Wreath may be one of the best bets for you.

This stunning winter door wreath can be both a Christmas and a non-Christmas door wreath. It pulls together the beauty from winter so it can be hung on your front door as long as winter lasts. (And this wreath will last just as long- no one will know that it is not real because of how real looking it is!)

If you are looking to gift someone a winter wreath, this one actually comes with a lovely white gift box as well.

4.

This white pip berry wreath is another great January wreath idea (or one for your door to wear all season long!)

This wreath is magical because even though it is simple in nature, it can take any bland front door and make it look both beautiful and elegant. It also comes with its own box to either be gifted or to use to store for years to come.

What else do I need beside a Christmas wreath or a January wreath?

I underestimated the need for a storage bag for my wreath. Every year, my husband and I would buy a wreath, just to put it in storage after the winter season and come back next year to a mangled, worn out wreath.

Is it sad that I had no idea that storage bags for wreaths existed? I cannot believe I went so long without one. It has been absolutely amazing, and now I don’t spend so much money on winter wreaths anymore.

Also, if your wreath does not come with it, make sure you buy a wreath hook and batteries if needed. My favorites are the adjustable wreath hooks!

While you are looking for Christmas wreath ideas, here is something else fun…

Anyone here a puzzle fan? Whether you love puzzles or you  are looking for a gift for a puzzle over or a Christmas lover, this 300 piece puzzle is fantastic!

Are you a Christmas wreath person or a non-Christmas wreath person?

Let us know your favorite Christmas wreath ideas (or January wreath ideas!) down below in the comments!

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