Wreaths of Garland

 

Any Greek or Hebrew translations are quoted from

New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D.

Thomas Nelson Publishers 1990 edition

 

          A plant used as a form of false worship is ‘garland’.  This information is found in the Bible.  Acts 14:11-15:  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.  Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and ‘garlands’ unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out.  And saying sirs, why do ye these things?  We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.  The Greek word for ‘garlands’ in Acts 14:13 is “stemma, stem’-mah; …a wreath for show”.  Today we use wreaths of garland as decoration when they were used to worship the false gods Jupiter and Mercurius.  Sacrifice was also part of this false worship!  Which may explain why some wreaths are used today as a symbol of death!  We can plainly see in scripture that wreaths are symbols of false worship – which is exactly why we should not use, or keep, them as decoration. 

 

     (Special note:  If you have a wreath(s) from a funeral I would not keep it, even if it is not made out of garland!)