One of the benefits of being a traveling performer is the opportunity to see a lot of neat places. I often arrive extra early to my events because I like to scope out the area and have plenty of time for set up and “Murphy’s Law.”
I had a gig last night at a restaurant in historic Williamsburg, VA. They were having a masquerade ball to ring in the new year. I arrived a few hours early and had some free time before I was even able to set up my things.
So I took a long walk down the main drag of old-town Williamsburg. I’ve done this walk before, but never at Christmastime. One of Williamsburg’s features during this time of year is their city-wide display of holiday wreaths on the doors and windows of homes and business establishments (see all the pics below).
Homeowners and shop owners create their own wreaths and display them for all to see. And these aren’t just normal wreaths. These are legit wreaths made of real organic materials, especially fruit. You see cotton on the stem out of the ground, feathers from birds, wheat stalks, dried chili peppers, whole artichokes, magnolia leaves, and a variety of real flowers.
I love the art of making things out of raw, living things. We live in a culture where synthetic materials rule the world (the reasons for which I believe can be boiled down to money and consumerism). I find that so ironic because the raw materials of this earth have so much beauty to offer us. I believe God made this universe, and we have just scratched the surface of recognizing the raw beauty in what He has made. Williamsburg’s wreaths remind us that we all have creative capacities to make something beautiful out of the raw materials in our everyday midst.
Without further ado, allow me to present to you many of the holiday wreaths of Williamsburg…..
