PICKENS — On Monday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Audrey Medrick will lead a holiday wreath make and take workshop in the Granger Fiber Room at the Pickens Community Center at 129 School House St. in Pickens.

The hands-on workshop will be an opportunity for participants to make and decorate their own wreath.

Wreaths have been a symbol of victory and celebration since the early days of Ancient Greece and Rome. During the original Olympic Games, laurel wreaths were presented as crowns to the victorious athletes. Continuing this tradition, the medals placed around the necks of the most outstanding athletes in each competition of current Olympic games are emblazoned with a celebratory wreath.

Dating back to the Persian Empire, many religious groups have included wreaths as symbols when celebrating special holidays or seasons. Today, holiday wreaths are used to decorate homes, community streets, and businesses, particularly at Christmas time. Christians see the circle and the sphere of the wreath as symbols of immortality. Modern decorations use a wide variety of colors and design, but the traditional colors for Christmas are green and red. The green represents the continuance of life through the winter and the Christian belief in eternal life. Red symbolizes the blood Christ shed at his crucifixion.

Today, wreaths are not only used to celebrate athlete victory and religious ceremonies; they are also used as decorations throughout the year. Wreaths may be made by twisting or bending evergreen branches or artificial material into circles, ovals, or swags then decorated with fruit, plants, toys or other objects the creator wishes to use to carry out a celebration theme.

To participate in the workshop, participants will need to bring needed supplies. These include a wreath form (wire, grape vine or Christmas wreath to be decorated, etc.), hot glue gun and glue sticks, wire-cutters, scissors, wire or pipe cleaners (for attaching items to wreath), roll of nylon or burlap 21-inch mesh, ribbons and decorative items of choice. These items may be bought at Wal-Mart, Sam’s, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, etc.

The workshop will be limited to the first 10 pre-registered participants due to limited work space. Additional people who pre-register will be placed on a waiting list should there be a cancellation.

Those interested may stop by the Granger Fiber Room from 9-11:30 a.m. any Monday through Thursday prior to the workshop to view four wreaths which are on display. They may pre-register at that time or by contacting Lucy Harward at (864) 419-1794 or by email at daleandlucy@gmail.com.

Below is a list of the regular weekly activities at the in the Granger Fiber Room of the Pickens Community Center. The room is open from 9-11:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays and at other times by appointment.

On Monday from 10-11:30 a.m. is cathedral window quilts with Jacquie. Tuesdays from 10-11:30 a.m. feature yo-yos with Irene and prayer shawls and cancer caps with Sharon (in the library).

On Wednesdays, two activities are available. From 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. is weaving with Pat in the Heritage Room and from 10-11:30 a.m. will be knit-around with Tally.

On Thursdays, there is quilting with Sara from 10-11:30 a.m. and rug hooking with Cheryl from 1:30-3:30 p.m.