“It is possible for any man, by good deeds, to enshrine himself as a Saint in the hearts of the people.” – L. Frank Baum, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
“In all this world there is nothing so beautiful as a happy child.” – L. Frank Baum
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – I wonder which holiday traditions our Lake County pioneers, such as the Andersons, who once resided in the ranch house at our own Anderson Marsh State Historic Park would have practiced?
The Andersons would have seen lots of mistletoe in the oaks surrounding their house.
The tradition of placing mistletoe in a strategic spot under which lovers were lured to kiss goes back to ancient times when, according to Norse mythology, it was drawn upon as a sign of friendship.
The Druids told of mistletoe's mystical luck-bringing powers and was used to keep evil spirits at bay.
Mistletoe, a parasite that requires water and nutrients from its host, is also poisonous. That being said, there is a variety of mistletoe which has been used medicinally for many purposes.
Holly and California holly, two different species, are both evergreen and produce red berries.
Holly is popular at Christmas time since the thorny leaves stand for the circlet Jesus wore upon his head at the crucifixion. The holly berries signify the blood he shed due to the thorny crown.
A plant found all over Lake County, and a California native, is toyon. Toyon is also known as California holly and produces a berry favored by birds.
Since toyon, or California holly once grew in abundance in the Los Angeles hills, the name Hollywood was born.
The candy canes we see at this time of year go back more than 250 years. First, the sweet treats were long sugar sticks given to assuage wiggly children at prolonged Christmas nativity services.
The shape of the candy cane into a “J” or hook came later, and is said to have come from the first letter of Jesus' name or possibly as the shape of a shepherd's hook.
In 1920 an American from Georgia, Bob McCormack, started Bob's Candies, who produced candy canes, and in 2005 the company was purchased by Farley and Sathers, who still make candy canes today.
wreaths can include pine boughs, pine cones, flowers, fruits or bay laurel. A wreath has been used for many cultural events around the world. There are maypole wreaths, crown wreaths and memorial wreaths.
Christmas wreaths made of evergreens are thought to represent strength, since they last so long. In Sweden decorations, such as wreaths, are placed beginning on the first day of Advent, and many Western traditions include a “hanging of the greens” ceremony.
It is believed that the tradition of a Christmas tree was taken from a pagan tradition around winter solstice, which utilized evergreen boughs.
Then, in 1835 the words “Christmas tree” were taken from the German language and commonly used around the world.
The German tradition of the Christmas tree has been around since the 18th century, however. Some argue that Martin Luther started the tradition in the 16th century.
Another popular holiday tradition is the baking of gingerbread cookies. The gingerbread cookie tradition goes back to early America when gingerbread cakes were baked.
Children then were said to have loved gingerbread cookies the most of all the pastries. Gingerbread was hearty fare then, and could withstand lots of handling as it was baked in both brick ovens and cook stoves.
In Europe honey was added to the batch of gingerbread dough, while American cooks used molasses to create the charming, browned cookies.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.