Ribbons and wreathes around trees for the dead

[Reephdweller]

Sometimes on the road I'll see a tree or a telephone pole that has a wreath or ribbon wrapped around it. Generally it's in tribute to someone who died there. Whether it be the result of drinking and driving or some accident that caused the person to die at that tree.

What is the reason for this? I'm not asking this to be rude or insensitive, but rather to understand why this is done. I mean I do understand it's in memory of the person, but part of me feels that if I had a loved one who died from hitting this tree, I'd only be interested in chopping that tree down. I know the tree didn't intentionally kill this person, but I feel like I'd want to destroy whatever took my loved one away.

Is there an origin to this practice of laying wreathes/ribbons at these places as well? Or has it always been something that has been done?

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[Death Metal Moe]

Maybe in the old days, people thought a person's spirit may have been restless around the place where they left this Earth so the put gifts there to calm them down or ease their suffering so they could ascend to heaven?

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[kc7586]

i think its like a memorial, like if someone died in a car crash or some shit then ribbons and other things may be placed on or near the spot of death.

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