Europe's Christmas Door Wreaths
Colorful and magnificent wreaths and crowns made by the villagers in the town of Kocaaliler (Melli) in the Bucak district of Burdur with the forest products they collect from the mountains adorn European countries every year at Christmas celebrations. Wreaths and crowns, each of which has a different beauty, come to life in the skillful hands of women and young girls in the town, and are meticulously produced to be used at the entrances of houses and workplaces, especially at Christmas time.
Wreaths are produced from plants such as wild strawberries, eucalyptus, myrtle leaves, cranberries, pines, andeza cones, black grapes, fire thistle, cypress leaves, American ivy, phosphorus, moonlight and ornamental pomegranate, which are collected with permission from forest areas. About 1 million pieces of wreaths are processed annually by women in workshops in Kocaaliler town center or in front of houses. The wreaths, which provide income opportunities for both village women and women in the city, are for Christians in European countries. It represents zero and fertility, symbolizing the birth of Jesus.
