Christmas may be one of America’s favorite holidays, but it’s rather surprising how little we tend to know about the day.

Not convinced?  Here are seven of the strangest and most surprising facts about this popular holiday. Photo by Beaucon/Flickr Creative Commons 

1)  Birth of the Sun

Christmas and the winter solstice have more in common than you think.

The birth of Jesus was assigned to various dates for more than 300 years, but never much celebrated. In the fourth century A.D., Roman Emperor Constantine moved the holiday officially to Dec. 25.   The Julian calendar used at the time erroneously considered Dec. 25 the winter solstice.

Many early civilizations, including Ancient Rome, believed this occasion – the year’s longest night – symbolized the birthday of the sun, and the return of the light.

This annual celestial event was extremely important for these early cultures, which depended on the natural elements to survive.  The joyous occasion seemed an appropriate day to celebrate Christmas.

Photo by Shutterfotos/Flickr Creative Commons

2)  The Giving Tradition

Today, it’s hard to imagine Christmas without gifts.  But it wasn’t always so.  The tradition dates back to the Ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, held on the days leading up to the winter solstice.

Kalends of January, the New Year, was another important gift-giving event.

As the Greek Libanius explained, “The impulse to spend seizes everyone . . . a stream of presents pours itself out on all sides.”

As a result, the early Church considered gift giving to be a pagan holdover and frowned upon the practice for centuries.  Gifts were given on Twelfth Night (January 6) instead.

3)  A Slow Start

Christmas ranked low as a holiday for centuries.

Many traditions had pre-Christian roots, and the early Church wasn’t keen to accept them.

It wasn’t until the late Middle Ages that the holiday became popular.  Towns and cities often appointed a Lord of Misrule, who presided over the Christmas entertainment.  He dressed in colorful clothing, and directed elaborate processions, plays and festivities.

The largest feasts often included roasted peacock and swan, painted with saffron and “refeathered” right before serving.

“… no observation shall be had of the five and twentieth day of December, commonly called Christmas Day; nor any solemnity used or exercised in churches upon that day in respect thereof.”

An Order of the English Parliament, December 24, 1652

4)  Against the Law

Christmas merriment came to an abrupt halt when the holiday was declared illegal during the English Reformation, from the 1640s until 1660.  Citizens were forbidden to decorate, sing carols or even prepare the traditional roast goose.

Even in America, it was a penal offense to observe Christmas in New England. The law was declared in 1659 and continued until the nineteenth century, when the influx of German and Irish immigrants lessened the Puritanical strictness.

In Scotland, Christmas was banned for nearly 400 years, from the 1580s until the 1950s.  It wasn’t until 1958 that it became an official public holiday.

Photo by Kevin Dooley/Flickr Creative Commons

5)  The Start of Santa

Santa Claus and Rip Van Winkle share important similarities.

Washington Irving, the author of “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legends of Sleepy Hollow,” introduced Santa Claus to the United States.  Irving adapted legends about a Dutch Saint Nicholas to create an American tradition.

In his best-selling 1809 “Knickerbocker’s History of New York,” Irving gave the first literary description of Saint Nicholas in the United States.  The legend traveled fast.  Before long, the character evolved into the loveable Santa Claus we know today.

Photo by Jennifer Donley/Flickr Creative Commons

6) Oh, Christmas Tree

 The Christmas tree got off to a rocky start in America.

German settlers brought their rich tradition to this country, and trees were found in Pennsylvania settlements as early as 1747. But they weren’t accepted by mainstream society.   In fact, many considered Christmas trees dangerous pagan symbols as late as the 1840s.

The custom finally caught on when the popular English Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, were seen with a tree in the Illustrated London News in 1846.

Before long, the tradition spread throughout England, Europe, Russia and the United States.  By the 20^th century, the Christmas tree was firmly entrenched in the American culture.

Learn seven earth-friendly ways to recycle your Christmas trees.

7) Xmas Not So Bad

Those eager to keep “Christ” in Christmas needn’t worry about using Xmas.

“X” is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ: Xristos.  Saying or writing Xmas is quite appropriate when you consider it.

Photo by Alexey Kljatov (ChaoticMind75)/Flickr Creative Commons

Learn More

The Oxford Book of Days (Oxford University Press, 2000)

The Stations of The Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain

The Rise and Fall of Merry England: The Ritual Year (1400 – 1700)

More Christmas Stuff

Vintage Christmas Cards of 20th Century

More Vintage Cards 

A Toast to Wassail (plus, a recipe!)

The cold weather season is upon us. But that doesn’t mean you need to cut yourself off from nature now, even if there is a foot of snow on the ground. From the foods you select to the activities you plan, you can retain your connection to Mother Nature. Here are five easy ways to keep you thriving in late fall and winter, even when the temperatures drop to freezing.

Snow storm photo by Phil Roeder/Flickr Creative Commons.

Cold-weather foods by Smith_c19/Flickr Creative Commons

1) Eat Seasonally and Locally

Even in winter, it’s a good idea to eat as seasonally and locally as possible. In our home, we make aromatic stews in the slow cooker with hardy vegetables like carrots, parsnips, turnips, potatoes and cabbages. The smell is amazing, and the stew provides healthy meals for several nights.

We also stuff acorn squash with cooked rice, slivered almonds, chopped sage and cooked ground turkey; then we sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top before baking again. Delicious!

Vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes and yams show up frequently on our menu at this time of year. We mash them with plain Greek yogurt and spices. On warmer nights, we grill thick slices with a dash of cumin and cayenne, and serve them with pork chops or chicken breasts.

Here’s why eating locally is important.

Here are five favorite fall foods (also good for winter).

Here’s where to find local foods all year long from Local Harvest.

Here’s how Niki Jabbour grows food in winter outdoors in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Indoor herbs by dogeared/Flickr Creative Commons

2) Grow Indoor Herbs

Have a sunny window? Try growing culinary herbs indoors this winter. It’s a convenient way to have fresh foods at your fingertips. You snip only what you need, so you reduce food waste and save money. Best of all, however,  is enjoying aromatic fresh herbs when the world is frozen outside. Talk about local foods!

Chives, thyme, sage and rosemary are just a few easy herbs to grow in a sunny window.  Water when dry, but make sure the plants drain properly. Don’t let pots sit in water. Keep plants away from heater vents or window drafts. A weekly fine spray of water helps keep away mites from rosemary.

From local farmers to indoor herb gardens, a wide variety of fresh local foods are available in winter. It’s particularly satisfying when those foods come from your kitchen window.

Houseplants by ConanTheLibrarian/Flickr Creative Commons

3) Select Plants for Clean Air

Alongside the houseplants you eat, be sure to make room for plants that make your home healthier. In winter, it’s common to live in stuffy, closed-up houses and office buildings with questionable air quality. Some windows can’t even be opened in high rise buildings to allow in fresh air.

Fortunately, you can grow certain plants that help clean the air of your home, according to the NASA Clean Air Study. The NASA study was done in conjunction with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America in the 1980s, and identified a number of common plants that naturally remove toxic agents such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene from the air.

Spider Plant by Opacity/Flickr Creative Commons

These aren’t exotic and rare plants either. Plants that are known to improve indoor air quality  include such favorites as aloe vera, English ivy (Hedera helix), azaleas (Rhododendron simsii), peace lilies (Spathiphyllum), snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’), weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) and spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) shown above.

See a copy of the NASA Clean Air Study.

Amaryllis by Gabludlow/Flickr Creative Commons

4) Grow Beauty in Your Home

There are houseplants you can eat. There are houseplants that clean your home’s air quality naturally. And there are even houseplants that will make you feel better in dreary weather just because they have beautiful flowers.

In our home, Amaryllis bulbs are popular flowering plants to grow indoors from October to March. They bloom for weeks, spreading cheer on gloomy days. And don’t forget the delicate and fragrant paperwhites, which are easy to grow indoors and smell sweet in winter. We love decorating with these pretty white flowers at the holidays.

Experiment with other blossoming beauties, such as jasmine, begonia, oxalis, Kaffir lilies, Christmas cactus and African violets. Most are easy to grow, and bloom for weeks with the right conditions.

You just may find these houseplants satisfy your need for flowers until it is warm enough to garden outdoors again.

Walk in snow by CarlaB_/Flickr Creative Commons

5) Get Outside More

If winter makes you sleepy, depressed and craving carbs, you aren’t alone. Just like bears, it’s natural to want to hibernate now.

Many of us suffer from the “winter blues” or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during winter’s short, dark days, according to Dr. Mark Servis, professor of clinical psychiatry and vice chair of UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. If winter depresses you, he offers these practical tips for fighting SAD.

Spending time outdoors in winter may not seem as appealing as snuggling up in a blanket with a cup of cocoa, but being outdoors helps keep you healthier now.

You could hit the ski slopes, of course. But even a simple winter walk around the neighborhood will give you much-needed vitamin D on these shorter, darker days. That walk also helps you burn calories, feel invigorated, brighten your mood and reconnect with nature. So, lace up your snow boots and grab a warm hat. There is a quiet beauty to winter that can be cherished. Enjoy!

Mayo Clinic’s Safety Tips for exercising outdoors in winter.

Don’t forget your kids. Even your children should play outside in winter. Mommies magazine tells you why.

What are your favorite ways to connect with nature in cold weather?

Learn More

Garden Bloggers Tell How They Survive Winter

Winter Feng Shui

Fall Foods to Eat Now

Eight Tips for a Wonderful Winter Garden

We’re celebrating the start of spring at Seasonal Wisdom with fun garden tips, seasonal recipes and old folklore.  “Spring would not be spring without bird songs,” said Frances M. Chapman.  We agree!  Singing birds, flowering trees, baby rabbits, tender lettuces, sweet peas and so much more…

Here are some of Seasonal Wisdom’s favorite resources for spring.  Photo via Isabel Lawrence Photographers.

Spring Garden Guide

Some things never change. March and April are still extremely busy times for gardeners; just as they were more than 330 years ago.

“In March and in April, from morning to night

In sowing and setting, good housewives delight

To have in a garden, or other like plot

To physic their house or to furnish their pot.”

Markham, The English Housewife, 1683

To help you “delight to have … a garden,” don’t miss this Seasonal Wisdom Spring Garden Guide with timeless gardening advice, regional spring growing tips, garden-fresh recipes and much more.

Spring Holidays and Folklore

Spring Equinox

So, what exactly is this spring equinox, and what does it have to do with Easter? Read this cool trivia about the official start to Spring.

St. Patrick’s Day

Okay, so St. Patrick’s Day isn’t officially spring yet. But it’s only a few days before – and this Irish holiday is a common time to plant your peas.  Enjoy this folklore about St. Patrick’s Day you probably didn’t know.

Easter

What do an ancient goddess, fertile rabbits and decorated eggs have to do with Easter? Glad you asked. Here are some strange facts about Easter.

May Day

Believe it or not, the first of May was one of the most important days of the year in earlier centuries.

Find out why May Day was once considered a scary time, and how it didn’t always occur in spring. Here’s a historical look at May Day.

Don’t forget to celebrate with a glass of May Wine, featuring sweet woodruff flowers and leaves. Enjoy this May Wine recipe, and let me know what you think.

Enjoy Your Spring

A Spring Gargle for the Throat

Red rose buds dry and unfolded about a tablespoon, to which add

a half a pint of boiling water. After letting it stand an hour,

strain and add a tablespoon of rose vinegar

and a little sugar, if you like.”

The Housekeeping Book of the Saunders Family Women, Ann Saunders

Spring is right around the corner.  I know it’s hard to believe in some parts of the country. But it’s not too soon to start sowing seeds for spring and summer food harvests … or at least, thinking about what you might want to plant when the soil finally thaws.

To get your garden off to a great start, here is a mini Spring Garden Guide with some of Seasonal Wisdom’s favorite resources. It’s illustrated with photos from the inspiring 2014 Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle. Come take a peek.

Spring is such an easy time to love in the garden and home.  As the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy wrote, “Spring is the time of plans and projects.”  It’s a time for new births and new beginnings, especially in nature.

Before we step out into the garden, however, let’s look at our homes first. To help get your home ready for the season, here is Spring Feng Shui Advice from Ann Bingley Gallops of Open Spaces Feng Shui.

Regional Spring Garden Advice

Spring is an excellent time to prepare your soil for healthy gardens. Add organic matter like compost, worm castings and well-aged manures to your soil.  Clean up winter debris in the garden. Cut away broken or diseased branches, but don’t prune spring-bloomers until after they flower. Check on the conditions of your sprinklers.  Make sure the garden shed is organized and ready, and that’s for starters…

In some places spring had sprung a few weeks ago. In other areas, spring seems like a dream that may never come. Each region has different spring garden chores and timing. Here’s advice from university extension services from different regions around the United States:

Northeast: Cornell University

Southeast: Clemson University

Midwest: University of Illinois

Central: Texas Agrilife Extension Master Gardeners

Intermountain West:  University of Colorado

Northwest: Oregon State University

California: University of California Master Gardeners

Growing Food in Spring

Spring is the time to get your seedlings started for the growing season.  Some crops like lettuces, peas, radishes and carrots can be sowed directly in the garden. Others, such as warm-season tomatoes, eggplants and peppers, are best sowed indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date.

Here’s a brief primer on how to grow food from seeds, including seed resources, and tips on what to start indoors and what can be sowed directly in the garden. 

Need new seeds? Here are six questions to ask before buying seeds.

Are your seeds still good? Here’s how long vegetables seeds will stay viable.

Don’t let damping off disease kill your baby seedlings. Here’s advice.

Eating Well in Spring

Make sure these foods are in your spring meals! Seven Spring Vegetables to Eat Now

Growing Spring Foods

Garden-fresh foods always taste best. Here are gardening tips and photos of different spring foods, including interesting heirloom and hybrid varieties:

Beets  

Broccoli

Cool Season Veggies

Cool Season Vegetables to Grow From Seeds

Carrots, Peas and Salad Greens

Carrots for rocky, clay soils

Lettuces  

Radishes

Spring Garden Basics

And just a few more basic tips for your spring garden:

How to Read a Fertilizer Label

Basic Pruning Tips for Healthy Garden

Enjoy your spring garden! And don’t forget these wise words from author Margaret Atwood, “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” We agree.

“Is it snowing where you are? All the world that I see from my tower is draped in white and the flakes are coming down as big as pop-corns,” writes Jean Webster in the 1912 novel Daddy Long-Legs.

In honor of this extra-snowy winter—when even the South is seeing plenty of white stuff—Seasonal Wisdom dedicates this post to the beauty of snow, with photos from Our Life in Idaho blog and various quotes.

Come take a minute to remember how gorgeous a snowy winter day can be, especially when you don’t need to drive anywhere! All photos copyright Our Life in Idaho.

No doubt about it. Snow storms can make life challenging with all the slippery roads, slushy walkways and shoveling work. But for kids of all ages, there’s something rather magical and beautiful after a storm.

“Look up at the miracle of the falling snow,—the air a dizzy maze of whirling, eddying flakes, noiselessly transforming the world, the exquisite crystals dropping in ditch and gutter, and disguising in the same suit of spotless livery all objects upon which they fall,” writes John Burroughs in The Snow-Walkers, 1866.

“O the snow, the beautiful snow,
Filling the sky and earth below;
Over the house-tops, over the street,
Over the heads of the people you meet,
Dancing, flirting, skimming along.”
James W. Watson, Beautiful Snow

“When snow falls, nature listens.” Antoinette van Kleeff

“A cold wind was blowing from the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things.” George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones.

But when a robin is spotted in the garden, can spring be far behind?

Perhaps … but remember the old weather proverb that warns, “As the days lengthen, the cold strengthens.”

This means we’ll probably need to endure colder temperatures and storms for a while longer before spring finally arrives.

Until then let’s keep in mind this wise old advice from The Perpetual Almanack of Folklore:

“Walk fast in snow

In frost walk slow

When frost and snow are both together

Sit by the fire and save shoe leather.”

More snow stories to enjoy:

Eight Easy Steps to a Wonderful Winter Garden

Winter Survival Tips from Five Pros

Daydream in Winter for Great Summer Garden

The Snow-Storm by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Don’t forget to stop by Our Life in Idaho to say hi!

Over the centuries, cultures around the world have given specific full moon names for each month.  These full moon names tell us much about the way these early cultures set schedules for hunting, planting and harvesting. They also explain how plants, animals and weather patterns typically behave during a particular month.  Photo courtesy FrenchFinds.co.uk/Flickr.

In this post, Seasonal Wisdom reveals some of the old full moon names that were given by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior, as well as European settlers and other cultures. Come take a peek.

A Year of Full Moon Names

January: The Wolf Moon

Packs of hungry wolves howling on a cold January night are the inspiration of this full moon name. Other popular names were Old Moon, Ice Moon and Moon After Yule.

February: Snow Moon

February is often the coldest and snowiest month of the year.  Other common names were Storm Moon and Hunger Moon, as food reserves ran low and early cultures waited for spring to return.

March: Worm Moon

As the ground thaws, the worm trails that start appearing around now inspired Native Americans’ name for this moon. Other names included Crow Moon, named after the cawing of crows as the weather warms. The Crust Moon describes how March snow can get crusted from daytime thawing and nighttime freezing. The Sap Moon meant it was time to tap the maple trees. And some settlers called this time the Lenten Moon for religious reasons.

Photo by QwinCowper/Flickr

April: Pink Moon

Herb moss pinks and wild ground phlox are early widespread flowers in spring. Their pink color led to this month’s full moon name. Full Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon and Fish Moon were other popular names.

May: Full Flower Moon

April showers bring May flowers. So, it’s little wonder how this month got its name of Flower Month. Other names were Corn Planting Moon and Milk Moon, which showed important farming tasks for the month. Hare Moon was another name, indicating the animals are prevalent now.

June: Strawberry Moon

Strawberries are harvested in North America during this month, so the sweet fruit is honored with a full moon name. Other names were Hot Moon for the steamy weather, and Rose Moon by Europeans as the beloved flowers bloom this month.

July: Buck Moon

Male deer (or bucks) begin to regrow their antlers around now, after shedding them each year. Thus, giving the moon its name.  Thunder Moon is another popular name, because of the month’s many storms. Hay Moon signified the July harvest time.

August: Sturgeon Moon

Native Americans named this moon after a large fish called sturgeon, which was readily available in August.  Green Corn Moon and Grain Moon were other names that detailed farming and gardening chores. Red Moon was named after the reddish color the moon often appears when rising now.

September: Full Corn Moon or Harvest Moon

Now is the time to harvest corn, leading to the Corn Moon name. The Harvest Moon is the full moon that happens closest to the Autumn Equinox. It’s an especially bright moon, which allows beans, corn, squash and other summer crops to be easily harvested now. Other names include the Barley Moon.

Photo by PennStateNews/Flickr

October: Hunter’s Moon

Often called Blood Moon, Hunter’s Moon or Sanguine Moon, because this was the time to hunt and store meat for the long winter. The particularly bright moon was also called the Travel Moon and the Dying Grass Moon.

November: Beaver Moon

This moon gets its name either because beavers build their winter dams now, or because beaver traps are set in November.  No one is quite sure. But the other name is Frost Moon. No one from the northern climates has any questions about that name.

December: Cold Moon

The December days are shorter and colder. The nights are longer and increasing in length until the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s easy to understand why this moon was often called Cold Moon, Long Nights Moon or Moon Before Yule.

Sources: The Farmer’s Almanac, National Geographic

Learn More: The Chinese Solar Calendar was another traditional way to consider time, and the seasons were tied to the natural world.

When burning a proper fire, the types of woods you use matter a great deal. Which firewoods burn best? The Firewood Poem by Lady Celia Congreve gives helpful advice on this topic. This poem was believed to be first published in the Times on March 2, 1930, but it mentions old folklore and shares knowledge that dates back further than that.

See for yourself which firewood is “fit for a queen” and which one has “a bitter smoke, fills your eyes and makes you choke.”

The Firewood Poem

by Lady Celia Congreve

Beechwood fires are bright and clear

If the logs are kept a year,

Chestnut’s only good they say,

If for logs ‘tis laid away

Make a fire of Elder tree,

Death within your house will be,

But ash new or ash old,

Is fit for a queen with crown of gold

Birch and fig logs burn too fast

Blaze up bright and do not last,

It is by the Irish said

Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.

Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,

E’en the very flames are cold

But ash green or ash brown

Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,

Fills your eyes and makes you choke.

Apple wood will scent your room

Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom

Oaken logs, if dry and old

Keep away the winter’s cold

But ash wet or ash dry

A king shall warm his slippers by.

The Firewood Poem is © Celia Congreve.

Photo courtesy Andi.bxg/Flickr

Learn more about the best types of firewoods in this HGTVGardens.com article that features tips from me!

Be Respectful: Always maintain your fireplace properly, and respect your area’s “no-burn” days to ensure your fires are not disturbing your neighbors’ air quality.

Enjoy! “Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”  Edith Sitwell

From our house to yours, our warmest wishes for a happy holiday season — and a great start in 2014.  As the old weather proverb advises, “If Christmas day be bright and clear, they’ll be two winters in the year.” Stay warm and cozy wherever you are.

For more holiday folklore, history, vintage cards and winter recipes, keep reading… Photo courtesy of MissTeee/Flickr

Photo courtesy Peppysis/Flickr

In the spirit of the holidays, here are several seasonal posts to help you enjoy and appreciate this special time of the year:

Christmas History

Yep, Christmas Was Once Outlawed

More Christmas history

Vintage Greeting Cards

Christmas Cards of the Twentieth Century

Vintage Christmas Cards, Part II

Tree Recycling Advice

Seven Earth-Friendly Ways to Recycle Trees

New Year History

Strange Facts about New Year’s Day

Chinese Solar Calendar

Photo courtesy AquaOwl/Flick

Winter Recipes and History

Raise Your Glass to Wassail

Bacon, Kale and Butternut Pasta Recipe

Slow-Cooker Frosty Day Stew

Martha Washington’s Great Cake

Happy Holidays all!

This edible seasonal tablescape was specially created by Nell Foster of Joy Us garden. The talented book author and professional decorator agreed to share her secrets with Seasonal Wisdom readers, so you can create this beautiful table decoration yourself this holiday season.

On this project, Nell brings along the professional decorating skills she garnered while designing and installing large-scale holiday decorations in San Francisco, as well as window displays for Marshall Field’s Flower Show in Chicago and Macy’s Flower Show in San Francisco. Best of all, this seasonal tablescape should last most of the month. All photos are copyright Joy Us garden.

Making an Edible Seasonal Tablescape

Nell Says:  I love making these edible tablescapes and was delighted when Teresa asked me to post one on her blog for the holiday season.  I call them tablescapes because in a way, it’s like landscaping your table for a special occasion. Everything I used is in season now so you should have no problems finding the vegetable and fruit ingredients.

We’ve created a video to show you the step by step creation of this piece over on our YouTube channel.  You’ll find that link at the bottom of this post. That’s where you can see exactly what all the ingredients are and watch how fast this seasonal tablescape comes together.  You’ll also meet my cat Oscar who loves to be part of any photography or video shoots we do in the house.

Pictured above you’ll see some of what I used: buttercup, acorn and sweet dumpling winter squashes, Rome apple, magnolia cone, forelle pear, pomegranate, Brussels sprouts, walnut, cranberries and an air plant.

I live in Santa Barbara, California where I’m fortunate to be able to shop at our farmers market all year long.   I’m a regular at the market on Tuesdays and Saturdays and love being able to interact with the farmers themselves.  I bought all the produce there except for the pomegranates, which came from a friend’s tree.  The Rome apples, adorable forelle pears and cranberries came from a local natural foods market.  All are organic or grown without sprays – this is very important to me.

The aeoniums, which are succulents, came from my garden.  They will last for months out of the ground as long as they have nice, bright natural light.  I like them in this piece because they remind me a bit of green roses.  The air plants, or tillandsias, are a nice touch and just need a spritz or two of water every week.  In nature, they grow on other plants but are not parasitic like that other popular holiday plant, mistletoe.

We sell air plants on our website and you’ll find a link to them below. I have a 7-foot Rosemary ‘Tuscan Spires’ growing in my front yard that yields an endless bounty all year long.  The French thyme and Greek oregano were picked out of my herb garden in the backyard.

The beauty of this tablescape is that it can be made in early December and will still look good through Christmas day.  The only things that might need replacing are the Brussels sprouts.  If you can’t find all the ingredients I’ve used, then substitute something similar.

This piece is low enough so that your guests can see over each other while enjoying the wonderful meal you’ve made.  I sometimes do these arrangements on a side table in my living room where they are a focal point.  Adjust the arrangement’s size to your own table – it’s very easy to do.

Just think, you can enjoy your beautiful centerpiece and then eat it. Have a wonderful Holiday Season everyone!

Learn More:

See Nell’s video showing the creation of this edible seasonal tablescape.

Buy air plants for this seasonal tablescape from Joy Us garden.

Buy Nell’s book that shows how to make holiday ornaments with succulents and air plants.

About the author:  Nell Foster is the creator of Joy Us Garden. Her horticultural career has taken her from the East Coast to the West – from Boston and New York City to San Francisco and now Santa Barbara. She has been employed as an herb propagator, interior landscaper and nursery salesperson.

She owned Nell Foster Designs in San Francisco for 16 years installing and maintaining residential landscapes as well as designing and installing large-scale holiday decorations. For many years, she did window displays for Macy’s Flower Show in San Francisco and the Marshall Fields Flower Show in Chicago.

Nell is a life-long gardener who still to this day gets giddy at the thought of a trip to one of the local nurseries or the local farmers market. She has always been an organic gardener and always will be.  She is the author of “Mother Nature Inspired Christmas Ornaments” and regularly blogs on Garden Gluttony which can be found on her website http://www.joyusgarden.com

To all the Seasonal Wisdom readers out there … Happy Vintage Halloween! This autumnal holiday is one of our favorites, particularly all the strange and wonderful Halloween superstitions, folklore and strange facts.

Come join us as we look back at this popular holiday, whose history is stranger than fiction. All these vintage Halloween cards are courtesy of RiptheSkull on Flick. Read more if you dare…

Halloween has many strange traditions you probably didn’t know.

This vintage Seasonal Wisdom post takes you back in time to learn strange Halloween facts and folklore rituals, with more vintage cards from RiptheSkull on Flickr.

From ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties, And things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!” Old Cornish Prayer

Halloween has long been considered a scary night, when the veils between the living and dead are especially thin. Read old and often-humorous Halloween superstitions in this vintage Seasonal Wisdom post.

Pumpkins are a common symbol of Halloween. They’re easy to love in the garden and the kitchen, especially when they aren’t flying through the sky.

Learn more about growing and eating pumpkins here.

See unusual pumpkins, winter squashes and gourds.

When I was a little girl, this scary old poem was one of my favorites. Little Orphan Annie by James Whitcomb Riley.

Be sure to read this poem aloud with lots of gusto.

You aren’t the only one who finds Halloween a scary place in terms of all the calories.

Here are different Halloween candies with the lowest calories. Definitely worth a read!

Hope your Halloween is fun, safe and happy.

All vintage Halloween cards in this post are courtesy of RiptheSkull on Flickr.