The Wreath
Isaiah 61:3-11
“to give them a garland instead of ashes”
The wreaths in our homes at Advent and Christmas are often only decorative—pretty. But there’s an ancient Nordic and Celtic tradition of making wreaths from wagon wheels. When the sun disappeared in winter, these sun-worshipping people had a beautiful way of wooing it, beckoning back light and hope. As the days grew darker, colder, they took the wheels off their wagons and brought them inside to protect them from the elements.
But more than that, they decorated the wheels with evergreen boughs to remind them of the hope of spring, even in the darkest days. Then they hung the festooned wagon wheels on their walls. Instead of fighting winter, hoping just to “get through it,” they recognized that this season was calling them to stop their normal farm work—wheels off! It was time to stay close to home, close to the hearth, close to one another.
This Advent, what wheels could you take off? How about the right front tire of the family car? Imagine your Honda’s front tire wreathed in green, hanging on your wall. Too much? Try your bicycle tire. Imagine your ipad all in evergreen hanging above the mantle.
Advent is a time to be still. As our ancestors wooed back the sun, so we hang up our wheels and pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Prayer: Let our Advent and Christmas wreaths be more than decorations, Lord; let them be signs of our willingness to wait, and of the evergreen promise of your soon coming. Amen.
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I’ve never heard of this before. Thanks, David, for the image and the reminder.
Perhaps I could take my boots and socks off and hang them on the mantel. With those hanging from the mantel I’m ready for stillness and deep contemplation.
That’s beautiful, Monte–very much in the spirit of those who brought in the wagon wheels….
David, this is fantastic. I’d never heard this story before. But, I would not want to wreath my iPad or I wouldn’t be able to read your wonderful words. 😜
Ha! You’ll have to find something else to wreath
This is beautiful and deep, David. I will think of it each time I look at the wreath on my front door.
…or the front right wheel of your car sitting in the driveway 🙂
Art in this series (e.g. two girls on bench) is quite charming and vivid. Perhaps a credit to artist or photographer is in order. Best wishes.
Leslie! So great to hear from you. The art–actually, the art is generated by an AI program called Midjourney Bot. My daughter Maggy put me onto it–she and I feed prompts into the program…and see what it delivers! I’m really happy with it–and the continuity it gives the art in the series. My thanks, as ever, to Maggy.