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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-12-06, Page 8111E WHOMADYANCEIINES WEDNESOAV; DECEMBER B 1995 Long before the advent of Chris- tianity, plants and trees that re- mained green all year had a special meaning for people in winter. Just as people today decorate their homes at Christmas with pine, spruce and fir trees, ancient people hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many coun- tries people believed that ever- greens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. RA, SATURN and the DRUIDS Some ancient Egyptians wor- shiped a god called Ra, who had the head of a hawk and who wore the sun as a blazing disc in his crown. It was believed the winter came each year because Ra became ill and weak. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes which symbol- ized for them the triumph of life over death. Across the Mediterranean Sea, the early Romans marked the sol- stice with a feast called Saturnalia in honour of Saturn, the god of agri- culture. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. The Satur- nalia was a special time of peace and equality when wars could not be declared, when slaves and mas- ters couldeat at the same table, and when gifts were exchanged as , a symbol of affection and brother- hood. In northern Europe the mysteri- ous Druids, the priests of the an- cient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol . of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god Balder. Many historians believe that our Word for Yule came from the Norse word "rel", the Gothic word "huil" or the Saxon word "hweol", all of which mean wheel. and refer to the cycles of the sun. YULE LOGS When families bring home their Christmas tree from a sales lot or a choose -and -cut tree farm they are following a tradition that is more than a thousand years old. "Bring- ing Brineing in the Yule, log" was a ritual 'that began in Great Britain and that spread throughout Europe, eventu- ally reaching North America. 'On Christmas Eve, the large central trunk of a great tree was dragged from the forest. Everyone in the family, both adults and children, helped with the job by pulling on ropes. When the log was finally brought into the house, it was thrown on the family fireplace where it burned for the twelve days of Christmas. MIRACLE PLAYS In the fourteenth century, when few knew how to read, churches held "miracle plays" to tell people in villages and towns stories from the Bible. The play that was held every December 24, which was Adam and Eve's Day, was about the Garden of Eden. The play showed how Eve was tempted by the serpent, how she picked the ap- ple from the forbidden tree, and how the couple was expelled from Paradise. The time of year that the play was held created a problem for the actors and organizers of the play. How do you find an apple tree with leaves on it in the middle of winter? In Germany, the problem was solved by cutting down an ever- green tree, probably a spruce or pine, and tying apples onto it. As well, the tree was hung with round, white wafers to remind the audi- ence that even though Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise, the birth of the baby Jesus would bring redemption. The idea of a Christmas tree hung with apples amused people in Germany so much that before long many families were setting up a "Paradeisbaum", or paradise tree, in their own homes. The custom per- sisted long after the miracle plays were no longer performed. Ever since, red and green, the colour of the apples hanging on a pine tree, have been the official colours of Christmas. The wafers that once hung on the Paradise tree were replaced with cookies in the form of hearts, bells, angels and stars. With time, perhaps because so many decora- tions were eaten before the tree was taken down, the cookies were replaced with decorations Made out of thin, painted met- al. When families combined the decorations on the Paradeisbaum with the candles on Martin Lu- ther's Tannenbaum, they created the Christmas tree that is still found in homes today. Which is the best tree for hanging ornaments? Scots Pine An exotic species, often referred to as Scotch pine. A popular Christ- mas tree with medium length nee- dles, green to`blue-green in colour: Excellent needle retention is charac- teristic. Requires annual shearing and pruning to produce a dense, shaptly 8 foot tree, 7-10 years from planting. White Spruce The only Christmas tree native to Ontario, and the traditional Christ- mas tree to many. Foliage is short, pointed needles, green to. blue- green. Slower growing thap the pines, spruce require 8 - 12 years from planting, with, annual trimming, to produce an 8 foot tree. Balsam Fir.. A native Canadian tree, and long time favourite. Needles are short, flat and blunt, green o blue-green in colour, and have a pleasing, distinctive aro- ma. Fir trees hold their needles well and a good choice {f the decorated tree . is to be left standing for a longer period of time. Annual trimming for 8 12 years is re- quired for good quality trees over 8 feet in height. Douglas' Fir A native of the •Pacific coast forests and of the Rocky Mountain regions. Needles are single, flat tened, soft and relatively short. Col- our is dark green above and pale. green below. Easily identify its cy- lindrical, pointed red -brown bud. An excellent Christmas tree but somewhat difficult to grow in east - CANADA PAST The first Christmas tree in Canada was set up in Sorel, Quebec in 1781 by Baron Friederick von Riedesel. The baron, who was born in Germany, selected a handsome balsam fir from the forests that surrounded his home and decorated it with white candles. The next re- corded Christmas tree appeared in Halifax in 1846 when William Prior, a local merchant, cut down an evergreen and decorated it with glass ornaments imported from Germany to please his German wife. After that, the custom spread quickly as German' and British pio- neers settled throughout the growing nation. TODAY The Christ- mas tradi- tion that is celebrated in Canada today has borrowed many cus- toms from many lands, but families who have come from all over the world have all adopted the Christ- mas tree as the symbol and center- piece of the festive season. As much as decorating the tree. choosing the tree has become a tradition' of its own. Bundled in boots and winter coats, families walk through the snow to Christ- mas tree lots in the city or drive to plantations in the country in search of just the right tree. On some choose -and -cut farms. the growers may welcome the family with hot chocolate. a bonfire or a wagon ride through fields covered with beautifully shaped trees. Making the right choice is never easy. especially when it comes to Christmas trees. Discussions on the matter are always lively. Is the tree big enough or will it fit in the house? Is it full on every side? Is a pine tree with its long soft needles more beautiful than a spruce or fir with their shorter, stiffer needles? Decisions are difficult but sooner or later everyone agrees on the perfect tree. Decorating the tree is an espe- cially important job that is shared by everyone in the family. These days glittering glass ornaments, electric lights and shining tinsel have replaced the gilded fruits, pine cones, sweets, apples and candles that were once used as decorations. But the ceremony it- self has changed little over the centuries. Glowing with colour and light and topped with a star or radi- ant angel, the Christmas tree. green and lush in the winter, is a sy.mhol that life is eternal while the gifts below it are reminders of the love. joy and close ties that are shared by families and friends. The German folk song, "O Tan- nenbaum", says: Not only in the summer's glow/But 'mid the winter's frost and snow/O faithful pine. 0 faithful pine/ You're true and green forever. As it has for centuries, the ever- green still symbolizes our belief in renewed life and the hope and faith E RIGH" ONE that lives in all mankind, regardless of race or creed. It is a symbol of joy and a delight to all. (Information supplied by The Christmas Tree Growers Associa- tion of Ontario) In•home location requires consideration during selection A few simple procedures can make the selection. of a fresh, real Christmas tree easier: 1. Determine where in your home you will display your tree. With this in mind, you will be able to tell how tall a tree you will need and whether all four sides must be suita- ble for display. 2. Freshness is an important key when selecting your tree. The nee, dies should be resilient. Take hold of a branch about six inches from the tip. between thumb and forefin- ger. Pull your hand toward you al- lowing the branch to slip through your fingers. Needles should adhere to the branch and not fall off in your hand. 3. Bend a needle between your forefinger and thumb. The needle should form a "U" without breaking unless the tree is frozen. 4. Lift the tree a couple of inches off the ground, then bring it down abruptly on the stump end. Older outside needles should not fall in substantial numbers. (Inside needles shed naturally every year). 5. The tree should have a fra- grance and a good green colour. 6. A fresh tree will retain its moisture content and thereby keep its fragrance and needles if kept in a stand that has good water -holding capacity. • ern Canada because of its suscepti- bility to spring frosts. Some planta- tions have been established in southern Ontario. Requires annual trimming for 8-12 years to produce quality 6-7 foot Christmas trees. Fraser Fir An introduced species native to southeastern United States, foliage is. similar to balsam fir except nee- dles are darker green and waxy above with silvery lines beneath. Has a very pleasing appearance as a Christmas tree with excellent nee- dle, retention. Some plantations have recently been established in southern Ontario: Grows relatively slowly and requires 12-16 years to become a quality •Christmas tree. Colorado Spruce The Colorado Bine spruce is a truly beautiful tree which is now in great- er demand for Christmas. It has adapted well to Ontario's climate. but grows more slowly than the White Spruce. Needle colour rang- es from dark green to powdery blue with needles'that are 1" long. White Pine The White Pine is an excellent Christmas tree that is a favourite of pine buyers. The long soft needles, in bundles of five, are blue-green in colour with just a hint of white. Moderately strong boughs weep gracefully with the .weight of orna- ments. Years of meticulous shear- ing 'create a dense conical tree that stands straight and retains its nee- dles throughout the Christmas sea- son. It prefers sandy soil and ,toler- ates cold winters. (Information supplied by The Christmas Tree Growers Associa- tion of Ontario) • Facts about Christmas Trees • Each, year about three ' million Canadian families enjoy a natural Christmas tree. About one million of those families are in Onta- rio. • Growing time for a Christmas tree is seven to fifteen years and even longer now that more ex- otic species are being in- troduced. • The major Christmas tree producing provinces are: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Onta- rio and British Columbia. • Only 10% of the trees on a Christmas tree farm are harvested each year. Ninety percent of the land remains in trees at all times. • Thousands of people are employed by the Canadi- an natural Christmas tree industry. • In eastern Canada, the most popular Christmas trees are Scotch pine, White spruce and Balsam fir,, although Fraser fir and White fir are also gaining in popularity. • In western Canada, Douglas fir and. Scotch pine are traditionally most popular. •Canadian grown Christ- mas trees are an irnpor« tant export commodity.