Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Floral Christmas indoors and in the garden

By Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer
25 December 2021   |   4:10 am
December is a month filled with festivities and celebrations. The greatest and most important in Christiandom is the celebration of the birth of Christ Messiah all over the world in December.

 

December is a month filled with festivities and celebrations. The greatest and most important in Christiandom is the celebration of the birth of Christ Messiah all over the world in December. December is significant also because it is the last month of the year and so marked with celebrations while waiting to usher in the New Year. So the celebration extends into the first month January of the New Year. There are many traditions mainly to celebrate Christmas day and New Year’s Day.

The attention here is the tradition of floral decorations during this season. In the western hemisphere where it is winter and climate is near freezing the trees are bare having long shed their leaves. There is a longing for greenery and firewood (logs) for the fireplace for warmth.

The search for the Christmas trees cut from evergreen coniferous trees that defy the freezing temperatures to remain green are cut and brought indoors. Colorful objects and decorations are hung on it mostly representations from the nativity scene of Bethlehem such as angels and stars, the holy family, the wise men bearing gifts, the animals at the manger. The Christmas tree is central and the focal point to the celebrations during the season. Wreaths are also made from evergreen vines such as the holly with its red berries. Wreaths are hung at the entrance doors and walls indoors.

The dining tables, where the family will gather to partake in the Christmas dinner is important and so gets decorated with floral center pieces amidst beautiful China and crystal glasses. Bouquets of dried flowers in vases or hung tied with ribbons in Christmas colors of green, gold, red and also silver and white. All the floral decorations create the scene for the heightened mood of jollity and celebrations. All these are restricted to the home indoors.

However, in warmer regions of the tropical and subtropical climates, where it is warm even hot, the gardens are lush, green with colorful blooms. It’s no surprise that the gardens get decorated and become a place to gather for the seasons activities. Here for instance, the date of many important occasions and celebrations are set for the month of December, when the rains have stopped and will not ruin any arrangements.

The gardens are not only decorated but will be used for various social activities such as wedding ceremonies, birthdays, friends and the extended family parties and a place to relax and unwind when the indoors gets crowded and stuffy. It like having one’s cake and eating it. That is enjoying both the indoors and outdoors Christmas scenes. The trees, shrubs and bushes in the garden get different types of lightings and bubbles then of course the lawns become settings for nativity scenes built up with realistic sculptures and figurines. Or one might opt for the abstract decorations choosing geometrical objects.

The variety of choice is endless, in style, themes, for the imagination. If not minding the constraints of money, which really never stops the spirit from celebrating and expressing the joy, happiness and friendship of humanity personified by this Jesus Christ who came down and was born in Bethlehem so long ago. Because of that singular event, we will forever celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas and A Happy Prosperous New Year.

In this article

0 Comments