The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

CANDLES WERE USED ON CHRISTMAS TREES INSTEAD OF LIGHT BULBS, AND
AS THE PEOPLE WOULD BE WALKING HOME FROM MIDNIGHT MASS THE
CANDLES WOULD BE LIT, SO THAT THE TREE COULD BE SEEN THROUGH
THE WINDOW. THEN EVERYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD WOULD STAND AROUND THE
TREE FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, AND THEN THE CANDLES WOULD BE PUT OUT.
THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME THE TREE WAS LIT, BECAUSE OF THE FIRE
HAZARD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS