The Métis Arts Whispering Winds ...the voice of the Métis Community in British Columbia Perhaps the most important domestic task performed by the women at the fur trade posts was to provide their family with a hand made clothes and decorations for their homes.
Mittens from the Hudson Bay Point blanket will keep your hands warm for hours while you enjoy the great outdoors, or to ensure hands do not go numb while winning the snowball fight!
As times progressed young ladies spent hours working on Christmas crafts. Decorations were still of a ‘home-made’ variety. They sewed little pouches for secret gifts, made paper baskets in which sugared almonds were placed and made beautiful angels to sit on top of the tree. The tradition of hanging stockings from the fireplace originated from one of the most famous Christmas stories of St. Nicholas. The story comes from the 1800’s, when the father of three young maidens could not afford a dowry for his daughters to be married. From his castle, St. Nicholas heard of the poor misfortune of the maidens, and secretly threw three bags of gold coins down their chimney. It is said that the gold coins landed in the girls’ stockings, which were hanging in the fireplace to dry.
Do your kids make homemade gifts for teachers, grandpar- Suzan Lagrove teaches Dakota how to sew HBC clothing. ents, and friends? Get inspired to make this your most memorable Christmas ever. These traditions are sure to keep spirits high, families united, and children occupied! The holidays are a time to revel in the gratitude and love we feel for one another.
Christmas stockings are a perfect gift that will be treasured for many years and even generations. Everyone in your family can personalize their own holiday stocking from cuff to toe.
Fall 2007
What ever your family tradition is, ensure you keep it alive to past onto the next generation.
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