Santa peeking through a Christmas wreath

About this drawing

Santa in a wreath is a cheerful reminder that decorating with evergreens is far older than Christmas itself. Long before trees and wreaths became holiday staples, people brought green branches indoors in the darkest weeks of the year.

Evergreens such as fir, pine, holly and ivy keep their leaves through the coldest months, when most plants look bare. To many ancient cultures in Europe, that staying power felt almost magical. Green boughs became a symbol of life carrying on through winter and a promise that spring would return.

The Romans decked their homes with greenery during Saturnalia, a December festival honoring the god Saturn. Celtic and Germanic peoples also hung branches and garlands around the winter solstice, the turning point when daylight begins to grow again.

When Christianity spread, many of these customs stayed but took on new meanings. Evergreen came to stand for hope and everlasting life, and prickly holly with its red berries was linked to the crown of thorns. Today wreaths, garlands and centerpieces keep that ancient tradition alive on front doors and mantels across America, and many families still hang a fresh wreath on the first weekend of December.

• santa
• christmas wreath
• holly
• holiday decor