It is getting close to the time of year I would be heading into the woods. Forty years ago or so that is. Off into northwest woods to gather the required greens for holiday decorations. We kids went every year to get these items for Mom. The woods are still there but I expect you would get into a bit of trouble now a days with the gathering. Population problem and I hear some of the wood is a park of some kind. Wasn't so forty years ago.
There were several different items required. Most important was the Princess and Running pine. The Princess pine grew close to the dreen down to soak hide. A dreen is a form of drain. It drains the land to make it suitable for farming and such. Soak hide was the name of the place where the dreen emptied into the bay. I lived less than a quarter mile from there.With luck you could find the princess pine with its little brown top intact. Deer love to eat that little brown tassle.
In the same general area but a little back from the dreen was the Running Pine. Sometimes refered to as rope pine. It grows on long vines running along the ground, Grab an end and start pulling. Lengths of ten to fifteen feet were common. Great stuff for wrapping around poles and handrails. Also great on the mantle.
Of course you had to bring home pine cones. Could find them by the hundreds. All sizes and different shapes too. Look out for spiders though ,they like living in those cones. Trim some branches off a white pine for making wreaths. White pine was plentiful and quite supple. A bit sappy so gloves are a good idea.
Another item,more difficult to come by,was a nice piece of white birch. There weren't that many good stands of birch. A lot of the time the bark isn't as white and free of defects as you would like. So it took a little hunting to find a good one. We would carefully trim a good size branch off for our use. Never cut down the whole tree ! Gonna need that tree next year or the year after. We needed that birch to make the traditional yule log. Made one every year. Normally about a foot long with holes for three candles and smaller branches for feet. Greens,small cones,berries and ribbon all attached. It was burned on Christmas day.
As children we were told the yule log was a tradition from my Grandmother on my Moms side. She came from Sweden. I believed for a long time that this was fact. Later I read about the yule log and it's true meaning. Traditionally a large log made of hard wood, it was burned Christmas Eve in the fireplace. Believed to be a Norse tradition. I loved our tradition of the yule log. Over the years I have been lucky enough to get a piece of white birch every now and again to make my own yule log.
The holidays often make me nostalgic. I think it is that way with most everybody. A longing to go back to your childhood,if only for a few moments. To relive that excitement. It wasn't just the receiving of gifts on Christmas morning. That was a big part,I'll admit that, but most toys are soon forgotten. The time and preparation spent was what I recall more than anything else. Gathering the pines,making the yule log and setting up the tree. We had few outdoor decorations back then. A string of lights around the front window maybe or across the front of the roof line. Most all preparations were indoors. Decorating the mantle of the fireplace and the stairwell. Sprigs of green about the house. The Christmas tablecloth and coasters.
Yes, back then Santa Claus arrived at the end of Macy's parade and signaled the beginning of the Christmas season. You had just about a month to go. The excitement would build. Get out that Sears and Roebuck wish book and start to circling. It was an exciting time at home, in school and at Church.
I do relive those times every year. It is a little tradition I call, " Listening to the Christmas Tree." Turn out all the lights,except for the tree,turn off any televisions or radios, and just sit there. Can you smell the pine ? I can. Do you hear the stories of Christmases past ? What have you learned this year ? Listen closely to the Christmas Tree it has much to tell you.
I have done this every year since I can remember. The time spent doing it has grown a little longer each year. It's a fine tradition and one that takes years to understand and enjoy. Give it a try and you might be surprised by what the tree has to say.
There were several different items required. Most important was the Princess and Running pine. The Princess pine grew close to the dreen down to soak hide. A dreen is a form of drain. It drains the land to make it suitable for farming and such. Soak hide was the name of the place where the dreen emptied into the bay. I lived less than a quarter mile from there.With luck you could find the princess pine with its little brown top intact. Deer love to eat that little brown tassle.
In the same general area but a little back from the dreen was the Running Pine. Sometimes refered to as rope pine. It grows on long vines running along the ground, Grab an end and start pulling. Lengths of ten to fifteen feet were common. Great stuff for wrapping around poles and handrails. Also great on the mantle.
Of course you had to bring home pine cones. Could find them by the hundreds. All sizes and different shapes too. Look out for spiders though ,they like living in those cones. Trim some branches off a white pine for making wreaths. White pine was plentiful and quite supple. A bit sappy so gloves are a good idea.
Another item,more difficult to come by,was a nice piece of white birch. There weren't that many good stands of birch. A lot of the time the bark isn't as white and free of defects as you would like. So it took a little hunting to find a good one. We would carefully trim a good size branch off for our use. Never cut down the whole tree ! Gonna need that tree next year or the year after. We needed that birch to make the traditional yule log. Made one every year. Normally about a foot long with holes for three candles and smaller branches for feet. Greens,small cones,berries and ribbon all attached. It was burned on Christmas day.
As children we were told the yule log was a tradition from my Grandmother on my Moms side. She came from Sweden. I believed for a long time that this was fact. Later I read about the yule log and it's true meaning. Traditionally a large log made of hard wood, it was burned Christmas Eve in the fireplace. Believed to be a Norse tradition. I loved our tradition of the yule log. Over the years I have been lucky enough to get a piece of white birch every now and again to make my own yule log.
The holidays often make me nostalgic. I think it is that way with most everybody. A longing to go back to your childhood,if only for a few moments. To relive that excitement. It wasn't just the receiving of gifts on Christmas morning. That was a big part,I'll admit that, but most toys are soon forgotten. The time and preparation spent was what I recall more than anything else. Gathering the pines,making the yule log and setting up the tree. We had few outdoor decorations back then. A string of lights around the front window maybe or across the front of the roof line. Most all preparations were indoors. Decorating the mantle of the fireplace and the stairwell. Sprigs of green about the house. The Christmas tablecloth and coasters.
Yes, back then Santa Claus arrived at the end of Macy's parade and signaled the beginning of the Christmas season. You had just about a month to go. The excitement would build. Get out that Sears and Roebuck wish book and start to circling. It was an exciting time at home, in school and at Church.
I do relive those times every year. It is a little tradition I call, " Listening to the Christmas Tree." Turn out all the lights,except for the tree,turn off any televisions or radios, and just sit there. Can you smell the pine ? I can. Do you hear the stories of Christmases past ? What have you learned this year ? Listen closely to the Christmas Tree it has much to tell you.
I have done this every year since I can remember. The time spent doing it has grown a little longer each year. It's a fine tradition and one that takes years to understand and enjoy. Give it a try and you might be surprised by what the tree has to say.
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