When Christmas is over, dragging the Christmas tree out to the curb is anti-climactic and, let’s face it, depressing. Following its glorious reign inside the house, fragrant, decorated with lights and ornaments, the centerpiece of festivities and the locus for gifts, putting it out for the trash is an ignominious end.
Here is a community that, in partnership with a local house museum, has come up with a different way to discard the tree. For the past ten years, Newburyport, Massachusetts has held a Christmas tree bonfire that has proven a community favorite. Closely supervised by the local fire department, trees go up in flames as a fitting and dramatic end to the holiday season. And, for up until four days before the bonfire, residents are welcome to bring their Christmas trees to a number of drop-off places, including the local firehouse.
This season’s Old Newbury bonfire will take place on Saturday, January 15th from 3 to 8:30 pm. The bonfire is typically lit at dusk, or whenever the fire department deem it to be safe. Dusk is at approximately 4:30 pm. In honor of the original purchase of Newbury, MA in 1701, the 10th Annual Old Newbury Bonfire benefits the Newbury Volunteer Fire Department and Historic New England. The Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm, the Historic New England property providing the parking for the event, is located on a 230-acre site that includes a 1690 manor house, one of the oldest house museums in the country. The fire itself will be lit across the street, on an open piece of farmland.
There is historical precedent for a Christmas tree bonfire: tradition has it that families kept their yule logs burning until the 12th day after Christmas. The burning of the Christmas trees symbolizes the end of the holiday season; it also is loosely affiliated with Epiphany on the Christian and Orthodox calendars.
While fire department-supervised bonfires are great neighborhood events, it is worth noting that it is not a good idea to burn a Christmas tree in the stove or fireplace. The sap from resinous pine trees can create a fire hazard in a chimney or vent piping. If local ordinances allow, however, and if safe fire management practice are followed, the trees can be burned in outdoor fire pits.
Newburyport is not the only town that holds a Christmas tree bonfire; all around New England, and further afield, communities have taken to the practice. Turns out, the locals like it, saying it’s a great way to get rid of the tree, mark the end of the holiday season and take the children to an impressive event where there will be food trucks, popcorn, music, beer, wine and hot chocolate – not to mention a great, big fire.