Tree Dressing Day

Tree Dressing Day around the world

Provence, Corinthia, Wales, Russia, Norway

On May Day in Provence, May trees were decked with flowers and ribbons in every village and hamlet, while on St Georges Day (April 23rd) the young Slavs of Corinthia decorated a tree which had been felled on the eve of the festival with flowers and garlands. In parts of Wales, a flower-decked birch would be set up for dancing on St John's Day (Mid Summer's Day / June 24th) and beyond.  

In some parts of Russia on Maundy Thursday the people of a village would select a young birch tree from the wood and dress it in women's clothing or ribbons and beads. This was followed by a feast, at the end of which the dressed tree was taken back and set up in one of the villager's own homes, where it remained until Whit Sunday. During this time guests called at the house to visit the tree, maintaining a broad social dimension and connecting with nearby living trees lost to the more private Christmas tree ritual. 

The Norwegians, particularly in Oslo, still take branches of birch inside and decorate them with coloured ribbons or feathers. Nowadays, they can even be bought from the shops ready made.

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