Garlands
Summary
Wreaths of flowers or leaves used especially in connection with heathen sacrifices and worship.
☩Use in Ancient Worship
Garlands played an important role in ancient religious ceremonies. In temples, priests, worshipers, and especially sacrificial victims were adorned with wreaths at the time of sacrifice. The Romans had a specific name for this: the corona sacerdotalis or 'priestly garland.' At Lystra, the priest of Jupiter brought garlands intending to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.
☩Christian Attitude
The association of garlands with heathen worship led early Christians to object to their use altogether. While the Israelites used flowers for personal adornment at festive occasions, the religious use of garlands remained connected to pagan practice in early Christian minds.
Related Verses1 mention
Acts· 1 verse
References
- 1.James Hastings (ed.), "Garlands," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 2.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "Garlands," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. IV (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).