Five of Wands and Six of Wands

The contest and the winner riding home. The tradition reads this as the most direct cause and effect in the suit: the scrap in the Five is settled, and the Six is the recognition that follows, with the crowd out and the wreath up.

Associated with a rivalry that resolved, or with being chosen. The pair is not gracious about the fact that somebody was not.

Competition followed by promotion or public credit. Read as earned, and as visible to the people who lost.

The Six of Wands is applause, which is pleasant and short. The pair is worth reading as a prompt to be decent to the other four figures, who are still there.