TEACHER'S GUIDE TO

History and Folklife of the Kentucky Frontier

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY

Frontier Christmas Decorations

The Christmas tree (a German tradition that became popular in the Victorian period)
was virtually unknown on the Kentucky frontier.  In fact, the celebration of Christmas did 
not become popular until the 19th century.  However, modern children may enjoy
making ornaments from items available to pioneers.  Such ornaments can be created from:

     strings of popcorn and/or cranberries
     colorful yarn and ribbons
     painted milkweed pods decorated with bits of lace, ric-rac, and ribbon
     painted sycamore and sweet gum balls
     painted or gilded pine cones
     hemlock cones strung on heavy thread (carpet thread works well)

To make a wreath for your classroom door (or centerpiece for a table), glue acorn caps 
around the outside edge of a donut-shaped piece of light plywood.  Pile and glue various
kinds of nuts to the plywood (acorns, walnuts, pecans, hickory nuts, and pinecones).  
Garnish with bits of evergreeen or boxwood and a red ribbon.  Because acorns and other
wild nuts may house small worms, you may wish to heat them in a 250 degree oven for 
about thirty minutes to destroy any insects.

This activity comes from A Teacher's Guide to Pioneer Life in South Central Kentucky, by

Nancy Disher Baird and Carol Crowe-Carraco.