Christmas Wreath coloring pages: 78 printable PDF designs spanning classic holly wreaths, wreaths in a wider scene, characters and animals framed by a wreath, and a couple of true Advent wreaths. Each page can be downloaded as a PDF to print or colored online in the browser.
A wreath’s circular shape has carried meaning for a long time before it ever showed up on a Christmas door: the shape has no beginning or end, which made it a symbol of eternity in both ancient Rome, where wreaths marked victory, and in later Christian tradition, where it came to represent everlasting life. The evergreen branches themselves added a second layer of meaning, since holly and pine stay green through the coldest months, a visible reminder that life continues even in the middle of winter. One specific kind of wreath in this collection carries an even more precise history: the Advent wreath, with its four candles, traces back to 1839 in Hamburg, Germany, where a Lutheran pastor named Johann Hinrich Wichern built a large candle-covered wheel to help the orphaned children in his care count down the days until Christmas. That’s a genuinely different object from a decorative door wreath, even though this collection includes both.
With 78 pages split between classic decorations, wider scenes, characters, Advent wreaths, and a large set of additional designs, the set works as a quick single-page holiday project and as material for a whole season of decorating and coloring.
What Is Inside This Collection
This collection groups its 78 pages by subject and detail, since a plain decorative wreath, a wreath with a character, and a true Advent wreath each call for a different coloring approach.
Classic Decorative Wreaths
Nineteen pages focus on traditional wreath decorations: holly, bows, bells, candles, and pinecones, without a character or scene attached. Real holly berries are a deep scarlet against fern-green leaves, so keeping that classic pairing rather than an unusual color combination reads as the most traditional, recognizable version of a Christmas wreath.
Wreaths in a Scene
Four pages place a wreath in a wider setting, hanging on a window or a front door, or framing a small snowy village. These pages benefit from a cooler background, pale blue snow shadows, or a deep evening sky, so the warmer greens and reds of the wreath itself still stand out as the focal point.
Characters and Animals on a Wreath
Nineteen pages set a character or animal inside or around a wreath: Santa, elves, angels, snowmen, a fairy, a kitten, and forest animals, plus one page featuring Mickey Mouse. Since these pages combine a character with a decorative border, it helps to keep the wreath itself in classic green and red and save brighter, more varied colors for the character in the center.
Advent Wreaths
Two pages show an Advent wreath, specifically, a different object from a general Christmas wreath, even though the two get grouped here. An Advent wreath is a specific liturgical item with four candles, traditionally three violet and one rose, or all four white, lit one at a time on each of the four Sundays before Christmas, so coloring the candles those specific colors rather than a random mix keeps the page accurate to the actual tradition.
Additional Wreath Designs
Thirty-four pages round out the collection with additional wreath designs, though their file names on the site don’t specify the exact style or decoration of each one, the way the rest of the collection does. These are still complete Christmas wreath coloring pages; clicking through to preview or Download shows the actual design before printing.
What Christmas Wreath Coloring Pages Do
Layered decoration rewards a careful hand. A wreath’s overlapping leaves, berries, and ribbon all ask for steadier, more deliberate coloring than a single plain shape would, and the American Academy of Pediatrics names exactly this kind of structured coloring, done between ages 2 and 7, as a clear path to fine motor skill development. The simpler decorative wreaths offer an easier version of that same practice before a busier character scene.
A shape older than the holiday. Since the wreath’s circular symbolism predates Christmas itself, going back to Roman victory wreaths and pre-Christian winter customs, coloring one is a small opening to talk about how a lot of holiday traditions are actually much older stories that got folded into a newer one.
Calm through repetition. A 2005 Art Therapy Journal study found a measurable drop in anxiety after coloring sessions built around a defined structure. The repeating leaves, berries, and looping ribbon on a detailed wreath are about as structured as a coloring page gets.
Two wreaths, two different jobs. Coloring one of the general decorative wreaths next to one of the Advent wreaths is a concrete way to see that they’re not interchangeable; one is decoration, and the other is a specific religious tool for counting down the weeks of Advent.
How to Color Christmas Wreath Pages Well
- Holly leaves and berries: Use Fern or Forest Green leaves with Scarlet berries, the most classic and recognizable holly combination.
- Ribbon and bows: Use Scarlet or Goldenrod, with a slightly darker shade in the folds to suggest the ribbon’s texture and shine.
- Pinecones: Use Raw Sienna or Burnt Sienna, since real pinecones run a warm brown rather than gray.
- Advent wreath candles: Color three candles Violet or Purple, one candle Carnation Pink, and optionally a White candle in the center, matching the traditional liturgical color scheme.
- Characters on a wreath: Keep the wreath itself in consistent greens and reds, and save brighter or more varied colors for the character so it stands out against the border.
- Snow and window scenes: Use Sky Blue or Periwinkle for snow shadows, kept cool so the wreath’s warmer colors read as the main subject.
5 Creative Craft Ideas With Christmas Wreath Coloring Pages
1. Wreath Fact Cards. Color a few of the pages, then write one real fact, like the Advent wreath’s 1839 origin, on the back of each card. A small stack makes a simple, reusable set for a holiday-themed lesson.
2. Paper Wreath Display. Color one of the larger wreath designs, cut it out, and hang it on a door or wall as a simple paper decoration. It’s an easy way to bring some holiday decor to a room without buying anything.
3. Advent Countdown Set. Color several small decorative wreaths, number them for the days remaining until Christmas, and use them as a simple homemade countdown. It turns a stack of coloring pages into a daily holiday ritual.
4. Christmas Card Wreath. Color a small wreath design, glue it to the front of a folded card, and write a holiday message inside. It’s a quick, personal alternative to a store-bought card.
5. Wreath Bookmark Set. Color a few small wreath portraits, cut them into narrow bookmark strips, and cover each with clear contact paper. A set makes an easy, low-cost holiday gift.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Christmas Wreath coloring pages?
Christmas Wreath coloring pages are free printable and browser-colorable wreath designs, from classic holly decorations to wreaths with characters, scenes, and Advent candles. This collection has 78 pages, available as PDF downloads or through the online coloring tool.
Why is a wreath shaped like a circle?
A circle has no beginning or end, which made it a natural symbol of eternity long before Christmas existed, used in ancient Rome for victory wreaths and later adopted into Christian tradition to represent everlasting life.
Why are wreaths made from evergreen branches?
Evergreen branches like holly and pine stay green through the coldest months, making them a visible symbol of life continuing even in the middle of winter, a meaning that predates Christmas and comes from earlier European winter customs.
What is the difference between a Christmas wreath and an Advent wreath?
A Christmas wreath is a general decorative item, usually hung on a door or wall. An Advent wreath is a more specific object with four candles, traditionally lit one at a time on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.
Where did the Advent wreath come from?
The modern Advent wreath traces back to 1839 in Hamburg, Germany, where Lutheran pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern built a large candle-covered wheel to help the orphaned children in his care count down the days until Christmas.
Why are holly leaves and berries a common Christmas symbol?
Holly’s prickly leaves and red berries are often associated in Christian tradition with Jesus’s crown of thorns and the blood of the crucifixion, giving the plant a symbolic meaning beyond just its winter color.
Are Christmas Wreath coloring pages suitable for young children?
Yes, with the right page. The simple decorative wreaths suit younger children, while the more detailed character scenes and intricate patterns suit older kids and adults who want more of a challenge.
Is the Mickey Mouse wreath page an official Disney design?
No. The Mickey Mouse wreath page is a fan-made coloring sheet for personal, non-commercial use and is not affiliated with, licensed by, or endorsed by Disney.
Start Coloring
Download any design by clicking it. No account, email, or payment is required to color or print. Every page opens in the online coloring tool for on-screen use or downloads as a full-resolution PDF for printing. Share a finished wreath page using the Facebook or Pinterest buttons at the top of the page.
