Article submitted by Sharon Moore, with photos by thecity1.com.
Wreaths were made by Garden Club members Kathy Anderson, Jan Kelly, Mary Latwesen, and Sharon Moore. Items to construct the wreaths came from the yards of Vern and Mary Latwesen and Cheryl Christianson.
Below is a description of each tree.
Mexico–designed by Diane Garcia. This tree represents Mexican Christmas traditions. It begins with the celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe, followed by Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24 on Buena Noche, Christmas Eve. Las Posadas is a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for shelter in a posada (Spanish for inn or lodging.) Characters are chosen to play the parts of Mary and Joseph; they visit homes of friends and family, singing a song asking for shelter for the weary travelers. On the ninth day, Buena Noche, they are given shelter. Prayers of thanks and the figures of Mary and Joseph are placed in the Nacimiento (Nativity.) Everyone enjoys a feast and attends Midnight Mass/Mass of the Rooster. Children lead a procession to the church and place a figure of the Christ Child in the Nacimiento. Día de los Tres Reyes Magos/ Epiphany, January 6, celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men bearing gifts for baby Jesus. On the eve of the twelfth day, children traditionally leave a shoe by the doorway or the windowsill and wake the next morning to find gifts and special treats from the Mago Reyes. The poinsettia, Flor de Noche Buena, meaning Christmas Eve Flower, is native to Mexico and widely used to decorate for Christmas. Legend tells of a girl called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to give a gift for the celebration of Jesus’s birthday. She was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.
England–designed by Sharon Moore. The tree is decorated with various English traditions. “Happy Christmas” is more commonly said than “Merry” Christmas in England. Figgy Pudding is pictured at the top, because it is part of the traditional Christmas dinner. Mistletoe is featured; it has a long time tradition of England as well. The custom of kissing under mistletoe comes from England. The original custom was that a berry was picked from the sprig of mistletoe before the person could be kissed. When the berries were gone, there could be no more kissing. There are two, paper tube Christmas Crackers placed on the tree, another long-standing tradition in England. One is normally placed on each plate at the Christmas dinner. They are opened before dinner is started. “When the cracker is pulled by two people, each holding one end of the twisted, paper-covered tube, the friction creates a small explosive ‘pop.’ This ‘pop’ is produced by a narrow strip of chemically-impregnated paper. The cracker tears apart and out of the cardboard tube tumbles a bright paper hat, a small gift, a balloon, and a motto or joke. It is a running joke that all the jokes and mottos in crackers are unfunny and unmemorable.” The book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is also depicted on the tree, because the story took place in England. It was first published in 1843. This story has become a long-time tradition in many countries.
Ireland–designed by Sharon Moore with a lot of help from Patrick Moore. The Gaelic greeting for “Merry Christmas'” is “Nollaig Shona Duit,” which is pronounced as /null-ig hun-a dit./ Placing a lighted candle in the house window on Christmas Eve is still practiced. It has a number of purposes, but primarily it was a symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph, as they traveled looking for shelter. The candle is usually red, and the window is decorated with holly. Holly was one of the main plants that flourished at Christmas time. It gave the poor ample means with which to decorate their dwellings. A picture frame was converted into a shadow box by Patrick Moore to give the appearance of a window. The painting in the background of the Christmas tree was done by Angie Renkes of Morrison.
Germany–designed by Sharon Moore. Placed at the top of the tree you will see a pickle ornament. According to German tradition, the pickle brings good luck and was the last ornament placed on the Christmas tree. On Christmas morning, the first child to find the pickle was rewarded with an extra little gift left by St. Nicholas. This tradition encouraged the children to appreciate all the ornaments on the Christmas tree, rather than hurrying to see what St. Nick had left for them. Below the pickle is a picture of Saint Nikolaus. December 6 is St. Nicholas’ Day and “der Nikolaus” brings some small gifts, such as sweets, fruits ,and chocolate, to the children. He comes in the night between the 5th and the 6th and puts the presents into the shoes of the children, who usually place them by their doors on the previous evening. On the tree are a pair shoes that St. Nicholas has filled. “Frohe Weinachten” is the more common way to say Merry Christmas in German.
China–designed by Mary Latwesen. Mary states, “It took many family members to create this one.” The Chinese greeting for Christmas is “Happy Holy Birth.” Red lanterns are used in many ways to celebrate the occasion. They are used on this tree to display the four characters that express the greeting. The first is “Holy,” the second means “Birth,” the third is “fast or lively,” and the fourth is “happy.”
Holland–designed by Kathy Anderson. Children in Holland await the arrival of St. Nicholas Day, on December 6, and the arrival of Sinterklaas. He wears a Bishop’s robe and hat and arrives riding a white horse. Children place their wooden shoes by the fireplace with hay, carrots, or apples for the horse. In return, Sinterklaas leaves them small gifts and sweets in their shoes. Later in December, families decorate Christmas trees and their homes. Families celebrate Christmas and attend church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but after December 6, no gifts are exchanged. Some children do hang their stockings on the fireplace on Christmas Eve–but no gifts or surprises are put into them. It is a time for family to gather, have a large meal, tell stories, and sing carols in the evening.
