Burning of the greens

It's common during the first week of January to see Christmas trees lying naked by the side of the road. For some, including the congregation at St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Va., disposing of the trees has become an occasion for gathering for an Epiphany bonfire, bringing to life the light that is the promise of Advent and Christmas. The event, which drew about 100 people from the church and the community, was featured in a Washington Post video this week.

"We bring that light and warmth into what is often a very cold and dark night," says the Rev. John Dohmer, rector of St. James. (It bears noting that temperatures in the D.C. region have been unseasonably warm this week.) The bonfire commemorates and celebrates the light of Christ coming into the world, he continues.

Posted on January 10, 2008 8:53 AM | |
Comments (2)

We feed our trees to the goats - they love them after their winter hay diet. Goats are used as pack animals in the Wind River Mountains - they do less damage to the trails.

Posted by Ann Fontaine [TypeKey Profile Page] | January 10, 2008 10:42 AM

The SSJD (Sisters of St John the Divine) in Toronto have in the past taken their community Christmas tree, removed the branches (using them to insulate the flower beds for the rest of the winter) and cut the trunk in two (one third, two thirds) and fashioned a cross that stood where the tree had been for the season of Lent, tying the two seasons together.
Susan Graham Walker

Posted by sgwalker [TypeKey Profile Page] | January 10, 2008 10:55 AM

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