Wednesday, November 27, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
21
Deck th e Halls ,
Mantl e & Walls !
Continued from page 20
Program at https://openforest.fs.usda.gov.
Once again this year, the Forest Service¾s
program of free trees for fourth graders is back.
To claim a free Christmas tree permit for a
fourth grader, log on to www.everykidinapark.
gov and take the pass to a Forest Service office.
Finally be sure that your Christmas tree hunt
is a safe one and be properly equipped. Bring a
hand saw or axe as well as winter clothing and
safety equipment. Tire chains and a shovel are
recommended, as is extra food, drinking water,
blankets, a flashlight, first-aid kit and survival
gear. Tree cutting and travel can take longer
than anticipated, so notify friends or family
of your destination and return time. Be sure to
leave the woods well before dark.
Also, keep in mind that children have a
tendency to wander off, so keep a close eye
on children while in the woods. If you travel
Holidays in Sisters
Give an everlasting
Gi
l i
gift that will become
an heirloom piece.
Clocks • Watches • Repair
Featuring renowned master
clock maker Ed Beacham.
541-549-9971
300 W. Hood Ave., Sisters
PHOTO BY CRAIG EISENBEIS
Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Closed Sun. & Wed.
Christmas tree hunting is a popular family tradition in
Sisters Country.
any significant distance from your vehicle, you
should be prepared for outdoor winter travel;
and remember that winter weather conditions
can change rapidly.
Oregon Hazelnut Goodies
• Toff ee & Turtles • Butter
• Roasted (Whole or Chopped)
• Brittle & Artisan Chocolates
• 2 lb. Oregon Scenic
Chocolate Bar
• Pancake/Waffl e Mix
Christmas tree was adopted
into Christian holiday
— By Craig F. Eisenbeis, Correspondent —
Regardless of a person¾s cultural back-
ground, nearly everyone in our society has
grown up in the shadow of the Christmas tree,
making it a familiar — and inescapable — sign
of the season. Accordingly, the Christmas tree
is usually accepted as a neutral and secular
symbol of the holiday season.
The name “Christmas,” of course, is derived
from the term <Christ¾s Mass,= which is a cele-
bration of the Christian tradition of the Nativity
of Jesus. While the actual birth date of Jesus
is not known, it is generally acknowledged
that the date of December 25 was somewhat
arbitrarily selected, most likely to conform to
preexisting seasonal festivals, most notably the
Roman Saturnalia.
Initially, the celebration of Christmas was
not an integral part of the Christian faith, and
the birth of Christ was not even observed
until hundreds of years after the event. The
actual religious observance of the date did not
begin until the middle of the fourth century.
Christmas trees, as we know them today, did
not appear until much, much later.
Actually, there is evidence that the Christmas
tree had its beginnings in pagan traditions dat-
ing back more than a thousand years. The tree
concept was adopted into Christian custom
in the 16th or 17th century, a tradition that is
generally considered to have begun in north-
ern Europe, with Germany most often cited as
the point of origin. By the mid-nineteenth cen-
tury, Christmas trees had also become common
throughout Britain.
By the time that the first settlers of European
descent arrived in Sisters Country, in the latter
part of the 19th century, the Christmas tree cus-
tom was well established. Back then, obtaining
a Christmas tree simply meant going out into
the forest, cutting the perfect tree, and bringing
it home to decorate. That was traditional then,
and it still can be today.
Kassidy Kern is the public affairs specialist
for the Deschutes National Forest. Her enthusi-
asm for the Christmas tree hunt is pretty clear.
<Whether you¾re an old hand at this tradi-
tion or you want to try something new with
family or friends,” she said, “this program is a
great way to experience your National Forest—
both in the journey to find the tree, and then the
enjoyment of it in your home for the holidays.
You may not find the noble fir that¾s perfect
in every way, but you will have an adventure
worth remembering in the years ahead!”
The first step, of course, is to obtain that
Christmas tree permit.
Growers • Roasters • Candy Makers
Order online at hazelnuthill.com
or call 541-510-4464
Black Friday
STOREWIDE
SALE!
25 OFF THE ENTIRE
STORE FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Best selection of the season SHOP EARLY!
351 W. HOOD AVE.
Hours: Open Wed.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Closed Sun.-Tues.
Shop Local
Blazin Saddles
Thanks to the generosity of the Sisters community, Blazin
Saddles has, over the past five years, put the joys of cycling
ing
in reach of all through a holiday season bike-donation
program.
“It’s not just for kids,” says Blazin Saddles owner
Casey Meudt. “We want to get the families out riding
together.”
Drop a bike donation off at the shop on the corner
of Hood and Pine between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. seven
days a week until December 15. All sizes and types of
bikes in good condition are welcome.
nd
Blazin Saddles will get the bikes running safely and
into the hands of a joyful Sisters resident.
If you know a good candidate for a donation, call
541-719-1213 or email blazinsaddles@bendbroadband.com.
Blazin Saddles is also a great place to put checkmarks next to the cyclists’ names on your
Christmas list. From bikes to clothing, it’s all here — with friendly service and expert advice to
help you make the right choices.
Staff Gift & Craft Boutique
Through December 24
311 W. Cascade Ave. Sisters, Or
(541) 549-6061 • stitchinpost.com
5th