A Christmas wreath from Maine has become a holiday tradition for many families across America. Corporations, internet shoppers, early birds, last minute shoppers and just about anyone can take advantage of what a great gift idea a Christmas wreath or centerpiece is. A Christmas wreath is a decoration that appeals to a wide range of people, young and old, singles or couples and homeowners to name a few. A Christmas centerpiece is also a great gift idea that brings the greens and fragrance of the holidays inside.
At Maine Made Christmas we have been providing quality Christmas wreaths and centerpieces for the mail order customer for over a decade. Freshly picked tips are handcrafted into wreaths and centerpieces which are then decorated with colorful weather resistant holiday decorations. Our wreath is then carefully packaged and shipped directly to the customer to ensure that you and your friends and family receive the best product possible.
The traditional Christmas wreath is made from evergreen boughs. Balsam fir is the evergreen of choice at Maine Made Christmas. Balsam fir (Albies balsamea) is a coniferous evergreen common in Maine. Coniferous means the tree reproduces by growing cones. Evergreen means the leaves which are small needles that line branches stay green all year. An evergreen does not lose its needles. Many species of fir are used to make wreaths but balsam is known as the fragrant fir. The scent most people associate with Christmas is the fragrance of balsam fir.
Another reason balsam fir is a good choice for Christmas wreaths is that the needles are not so rigidly attached to the stem that they feel prickly. When you run your hand along a balsam fir branch the needles will fold next to the branch appearing to make the branch soft to the touch. This desirable feature though is why the timing of the harvest of balsam fir tips is very important.
A tip is the end of a branch or side lateral on a balsam fir tree. The tip is usually the growth produced by the branch in the last two or three years. When harvested and cared for properly a tip will not lose its needles, the needles are set.
In the wreath industry the term “set” means the needle will stay on a tip and turn brown over a period of time without falling off. The opposite of set is sprilling. Sprill is a local term for a needle. When tips are picked too early or stored improperly, the needles will separate from the branch so the tip is said to be sprilling.
The common misconception is that cold weather is what causes the needles to set to the branch. The old wives tale is that after three hard frosts tips will be firmly set. In Maine we may have three hard frosts by mid October or it may be mid December before this occurs. Actually, it is the amount of daylight that determines when tips are ready. What is affected by atmosphere and temperature is storage. Tips should be stored out of the sun in a cool environment until they are used.
Balsam fir is a great choice for wreaths and centerpieces because of its fragrance, soft touch and needle retention. Start a Christmas tradition this year by adding a quality balsam product to your gift list.
October 27, 2009, Author Robert D. Foss owner of Maine Made Christmas Inc. a Christmas wreath and Christmas centerpiece business located in the heart of balsam fir country, Washington County, Maine.

What is a Balsam Buddy?

A Balsam Buddy is a wreath hanger. Our unique hanger transforms a wreath into a whimsical, seasonal character.

The hanger does it all. There is a hook for the wreath. The face and sign attach by sliding screws (already in place) into keyhole cutouts. The whole character can be assembled in less than 5 minutes without tools.

The hanger is designed to hang a Balsam Buddy on a variety of surfaces. The hanger comes with an over the door hook to display your Buddy on any standard door or fence rail. Remove two screws to detach the hook and the Balsam Buddy can be hung anywhere you can put a nail or screw. Mailbox posts, fence posts, walls, decks and trees can be used to display a Balsam Buddy.

The character can be mounted on a standard 36” wire easel to be used anywhere in your holiday decorating. We have even used a common hose clamp to mount a Buddy on a metal lamp post.

The face, greeting sign and feet are made with the same board that road signs are made of. Colorful, weather resistant decals and screen printing are then used to create our holiday characters. These non-perishable features are durable, long lasting and reusable.

This item is very popular with children as well as the kid at heart. We have grandparents tell us their grandchildren know Christmas is near when they see the Balsam Buddy on the door.

Click here for more Balsam Buddies

Christmas Traditions and Legends
The Legend of the Holly
“When Christ was born in Bethlehem on that first Christmas night A barren bush outside the stable blossomed full and bright It bore a grim reminder of the crown he’d one day wear It’s prickly leaves foretold the thorns of sorrow he would bear Amidst the green there grew strange fruit – small berries scarlet red As crimson as the blood our savior was to shed In honor of the Prince of Peace A flower pure and white Blossomed sweetly when the Lord was born that holy Christmas night. ”

* Author unknown

Because of the symbolism described above Holly is truly a Christmas tradition. Holly is an evergreen with waxy leaves that resist water loss when the soil is frozen in Winter. This is why it does not wither when brought indoors as a Christmas decoration.

The History of the Beautiful and Humble Christmas Tree
Christmas Trees are always evergreens, because the evergreen tree symbolizes “life”. It stays green all winter, and gave past cultures a feeling of hope. In ancient cultures greenery was brought into their homes to remind them during the long winter that life would soon blossom forth. Some evergreens, can even produce flowers and fruit during the Winter, which seemed magical to these people.

The first recorded reference to the Christmas tree dates back to the 16th century. In Strasbourg, Germany (now part of France), families both rich and poor decorated fir trees with colored paper, fruits, and sweets. The retail Christmas tree lot also dates back that far – in those times, older women would sell trees harvested from nearby forests. The tradition spread through Europe and was brought to the United States by German settlers and by Hessian mercenaries paid to fight in the Revolutionary War. In 1804 U.S. soldiers stationed at Fort Dearborn (now Chicago) hauled trees from surrounding woods to their barracks at Christmas.

The popularity of the Christmas tree then proliferated. Charles Minnegrode introduced the custom of decorating trees in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1842. In 1851, Mark Carr hauled two ox sleds loaded with trees from the Catskills to the streets of New York and opened the first retail lot in the United States. Scattered records from family diaries, journals, and letters indicate that early-day decorations included homemade cookies and “sugars”, corn husk dolls, and various food ornaments such as pomander balls (apples or oranges studded with whole cloves and dusted with cinnamon). Franklin Pierce, our 14th President, brought the Christmas tree tradition to the White House. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony now held every year on the White House lawn.

While the enduring tree symbol, which is even older than Christianity and not exclusive to any one religion, remains a firmly established part of our holiday customs. Many of the modern decorations have direct roots to the Christian faith, such as the star which led the wise men to the saviors manger and the angles who proclaimed the glorious news of Gods promise being fulfilled among just a few. A beautiful live Christmas tree engages our senses of sight, touch, and smell, and evokes feelings of joy and faith in both young and old.

Maine Made Christmas is a family owned Christmas Wreath business located in the heart of balsam fir country on the beautiful downeast coast of Maine.  Owners Robert and Colleen Foss pride themselves in sending out only the freshest Christmas wreaths and centerpieces possible.  We send what we would like to receive.

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