Christmas in July is becoming more popular every year. It is used most often by retailers as a marketing tool. Many stores have Christmas in July sales. Seasonal businesses like campgrounds will have Christmas in July celebrations as a fun festivity. Campers decorate their campers and a contest is held for the best decorated campsite. Traditional natural decorations are limited for use in the hot summer months but many alternatives are available.
Artificial or twig christmas wreaths are used to decorate rather than fresh balsam christmas wreaths which Maine is famous for. However, the fragrance of freshly mowed lawns, lilacs, wildflowers and outdoor barbeques don’t replace the unique aroma associated with Christmas that only balsam fir has.
Fresh balsam boughs when cut from the balsam trees during the summer months lose their needles quickly. Most balsam boughs are harvested from early October to early December in Maine to make fresh
christmas wreaths and
christmas centerpieces. The balsam boughs retain their needles best if harvested after the second hard frost. If you have received a fresh balsam Christmas wreath whose needles have fallen off quickly its likely that the balsam boughs were harvested before the cold fall weather has set the branches of the balsam fir tree. Setting seals the branch's pores with wax and the needles will stay on the branch for months after cutting.
Consequently, fresh balsam isn’t used often for Christmas in July wreaths. They are not commercially available. At Acadia Wreath Company we have sent out samples of our fresh balsam christmas wreaths to
corporate christmas wreath clients in the summer months but we make sure they understand that it’s going to turn brown fast and the needles are going to fall off quickly.
Nice natural alternatives used in Maine for Christmas in July are Maine
blueberry vine twig wreaths. They are limited, harvested in late winter and early spring but they are beautiful. The vines are red and green and easy to add decorations to. Another popular wreath choice are sweetfern twig wreaths. Sweetfern has brown and burgundy tones and has herbal sweetfern scented pods on many of the twigs. Both of these twig wreaths are harvested in the wild blueberry barrens in Downeast Maine. Either the blueberry vine twig wreath or the sweetfern will last for years. Place a balsam fir pillow near your twig wreath or artificial wreath and get the wonderful scent of Christmas.
Lynn Jebbia is the owner of
Acadia Wreath Company.
Acadia Wreath Company, based in Bar Harbor, Maine, handcrafts fresh Maine balsam fir
Christmas wreaths,
Christmas Centerpieces and
Kissing Balls which are shipped directly to customers and
corporate clients throughout the United States.
