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A wreath is a collection of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs, or various materials that form a ring. In English speaking countries, wreaths are commonly used as decorations for the home, most commonly as an Advent and Christmas decorations. They are also used in ceremonial activities in many cultures around the world. They can be worn as a chaplet around the head or as a garland around the neck. Wreaths have a lot of history and associated symbolism. They are usually made from evergreens and symbolize strength, as evergreens survive even in the harshest winters. You can also use bay laurel; bay laurel wreaths are known as laurel wreaths.

Wreaths were a design that were used in ancient times in southern Europe. The most famous are jewelry of the Etruscan civilization made of gold or other precious metals. Symbols from Greek myths often appear in patterns cut out of precious metal at the ends of an the wreath. Ancient Roman writers mentioned the Etruscan corona sutilis, which were wreaths of leaves sewn into the background. These wreaths resemble a diadem, with thin metal leaves being attached to an ornamental band. Wreaths are also depicted on Etruscan medallions. The plants shown that make up wreaths in Etruscan jewelry include ivy, oak, olive leaves, myrtle, laurel, wheat, and vines.

Wreaths were worn like crowns by Etruscan rulers. Etruscan symbolism continued to be used in Ancient Greece and Rome. Roman magistrates also wore golden wreaths as crowns, as symbolic evidence of their genealogy dating back to the early Etruscan rulers of Rome. The Roman magistrates used several other prominent Etruscan symbols in addition to the gold crown on the wreath: clasps, a swirl chair, a purple toga, and an ivory rod.

In the Greco-Roman world, wreaths were used as decoration that could represent a profession, title, achievement and status of a person. A laurel wreath was commonly used. The use of this wreath comes from the Greek myth of Apollo, the son of Zeus, the god of life and light, who fell in love with the nymph Daphne. When he pursued her, she ran away and asked the river god Peneus to help her. Peneus turned her into a laurel tree. From that day on, Apollo wore a laurel wreath on his head. Laurel wreaths were associated with what Apollo embodied; victory, achievement and status, and later became one of the most commonly used symbols to denote achievements in Greece and Rome. Laurel wreaths were used for the coronation of athletes who won the original Olympic Games and are still worn in Italy by students who have just graduated. Other types of plants used to make wreath crowns also had symbolic meaning.

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