This holiday season, herbal wellness brand Lab Tonica invites Londoners to experience a unique Tudor-inspired wreath-making workshop.
- Herbal wellness brand Lab Tonica is hosting a Tudor-inspired wreath-making workshop at the historic Sutton House in East London on December 1st and 8th.
- Led by founder and herbalist Kitty McEntee, the workshop will revive the Tudor tradition of the “Kissing Bough,” teaching participants how to craft their own festive wreaths using seasonal, symbolic plants like holly, ivy, rosemary, and mistletoe.
- Tickets are available for £67.88, with a 15% early bird discount using the code ‘Earlybird15’ and can be purchased here.
Held on Sunday, December 1st and Sunday, December 8th at East London’s historic Sutton House, this festive workshop offers a chance to celebrate Christmas in a setting filled with centuries of charm.
Led by Lab Tonica’s founder and herbalist Kitty McEntee, the workshops will revive the Tudor tradition of the “Tudor Bough,” also known as the “Kissing Bough,” a precursor to the modern-day Christmas wreath.
Attendees will gain hands-on experience crafting their own festive wreaths using seasonal plants, learning about the cultural history and botanical significance behind each.
The Tudor Bough, a good luck emblem hung at the door, was once the most celebrated Tudor Christmas tradition, known for blessing the home and those within. This ritual evolved over the centuries into today’s custom of kissing under the mistletoe.
Kitty will impart her knowledge on sustainably foraging local foliage and creating wreaths steeped in tradition, drawing on seasonal greenery such as:
- Holly: It has carried Christian symbolism since medieval times, but its association with winter celebrations almost certainly pre-dates Christianity. It is thought that the Druids used holly in pagan rituals during the winter solstice, and interpreted its evergreen colour as a symbol of eternal life.
- Ivy: A symbol of endurance and faithfulness, famously captured in the Christmas carol “The Holly and the Ivy.”
- Rosemary: Associated with the Virgin Mary, symbolised by her blue cloak due to the herb’s delicate blue flowers. This fragrant plant is also linked to remembrance — particularly for those who have passed — and to love.
- Mistletoe: Believed to enhance life and fertility, with roots in an ancient Norse legend. Tradition holds that mistletoe must not touch the ground between its harvest and its removal as the final Christmas greenery at Candlemas.
The workshops will be held in Sutton House, a historic Tudor mansion that offers a rich setting for this unique experience. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the house’s mystical rooms and delve into its fascinating history.
Kitty McEntee, founder of Lab Tonica, said:
“Crafting a wreath is more than just creating a beautiful decoration; it’s about connecting with centuries of tradition. The Tudor Bough, with its symbolic greenery, offers a meaningful way to embrace the season and share the joy of nature’s healing plants. I look forward to sharing this experience and exploring the meaning behind the plants we use, as well as how they’ve been part of festive celebrations for centuries.”
Tickets are available now for £67.88 via Eventbrite here, but people can use a special early bird discount code for bookings made before 23rd November: Earlybird15. Spaces are limited so book early to secure yours.
