Carols are in the air and Christmas markets are opening from Ostend to Eupen. Christmas decorations adorn our streets and squares and many people are also decorating their homes. Today, a Christmas pine, real or artificial takes pride of place in many Belgian homes. The tree is an ancient custom of the Germanic tribes. Germanic people celebrated the yule tide with a tree symbolising renewal and fertility, a custom repeated to this day across Belgium.
A household custom in Germany for many centuries Belgium was late to the party. Christmas trees only appeared in our climes as a 'castle tradition' around 1870, when the lord or lady of the manor had a tree decorated with presents, fine fare, clothes and coins. It was only towards the end of the 19th century that the custom entered Belgian homes.
A real tree can set you back a pretty penny, but the good folk of the Oud-Turnhout area of Antwerp Province are more fortunate. At the De Liereman nature reserve many of the tees over 2 metres tall need to go. Locals can fell one themselves and make a free donation that goes towards the upkeep of the nature reserve. Our colleague Machteld Libert donned her boots and set out to discover more.