Usual round up of Nativity scenes, this year I’ve focused on small displays spotted in and around the London area, plus some interesting information about the history of the Christmas Wreath, which I always thought was a pagan tradition….

Another spectacular seasonal display at St John’s Belmont. The tradition of bringing evergreen plants: holly, ivy, evergreen trees and branches, into the home at the Winter Solstice goes back to pre Roman times in Northern Europe. The weaving of greenery and holly berries into a wreath symbolises the continuing of life and the seasons when the sun seems to have disappeared from the sky for ever. HOWEVER, the origin of the Christmas Wreath is as an Advent Wreath. It was created by German theologian Johann Wichern in 1839 with 28 candles (one for each day of Advent) out of a wagon wheel. The circular wreath, with no beginning or end, symbolises the eternal nature of God and eternal life through Christ. Prickly holly leaves and red berries were thought to represent Jesus’ crown of thorns and drops of his blood at the crucifixion. So although the wreath has its roots in pagan custom and tradition, you could say that theologian Wichern reinvented the wheel when he created his Christmas Wreath. (Sorry, couldn’t resist!)

Source: commongoodmag.com