Sappy Holidays

Borough residents ushered in the holidays the old-fashioned way, listening to classic Christmas tunes and making pine wreathes at a class held earlier this month at the Queens County Farm near Little Neck.

Hands sticky from sap, with eyes trained on pine-wrapped wire wreath frames, participants practically overflowed with holiday cheer.

"I just love wreath making," said Doris Wilshere, a veteran of the craft who teaches the class every year at the Queens County Farm Museum.

For Wilshere, wreath making is a seasonal indulgence she looks forward to every holiday season.

"It's about having fun, and about taking a day to relax with friends and family, while doing something festive for the season," Wilshere said. 

For Madiha Cokely, a first time attendee at Saturday's workshop, wreath making was also about getting back to the basics of a holiday tradition.

"Nothing signifies that the holidays are here more than putting up your wreath," Cokely said. "But this year I wanted to decorate my door with something different, so here I am."

While making your own wreath might seem like a novelty today, in what is now Germany during pre-Christian times the seasonal crafting of wreaths was a family ritual that accompanied an annual winter feast.

However, to the more seasoned modern-day wreath makers joining Wilshere, there was nothing old or inaccessible about this time-honored craft.

As such, for three friends, Andrea Giannotti, Aimee Fareth and Kim Eustaquio, who return to the farm every year to make their wreaths, there was excitement at keeping the ancient tradition alive and in new hands.

"It's become our holiday ritual," Fareth said. "Every year we get together for a 'Mom's Day Out.'" 

Giannotti added that, for her, crafting this year's holiday wreath was like therapy.

"It's tough finding time to relax, especially around the holidays," Giannotti said. "This provides me with the outlet I need to recharge."

Wilshere said she was proud to pass on this storied holiday tradition.  

"I think probably the best part about the wreath making experience is that sense of pride you get the first time you hang your wreath on your front door," Wilshere said. "I'm glad I get to share that with others."