Bonfires usually take place during football season kickoff rallies or fair weather outdoor activities, but a huge one recently lit up Main Square Park.
The annual Twelfth Night Tree Burning celebration found an audience of almost 200 people bundled up as they waited for the Highland Fire Department to start the blaze of evergreens.
“I love this event, I’ve never seen it anywhere else,” said Marilyn Curtis of Highland. “We always bring our tree and wreaths here every year. It’s a very unique was to dispose of them.”
Twelfth Night — usually celebrated on January 5th or 6th — officially closes the Christmas season for many cultures, since the Middle Ages.
One of the most important days in the Christian calendar, this night also marked the Feast of the Epiphany, when the three wise men, or Magi, arrived in Bethlehem to see the Christ child.
In 567, the Council of Tours proclaimed that the entire period between Christmas and Epiphany should be considered part of the celebration, creating what became known as the Twelve Days of Christmas, or what the English called Christmastide. On the last of the twelve days, called Twelfth Night, various cultures developed a wide range of additional special festivities.
In modern times, some in English-speaking countries believe that it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations up after Twelfth Night.
The Town of Highland takes this idea a little further by offering residents the opportunity to dispose or burn the natural evergreen wreaths and trees they used for holiday decorations,
This traditional burn has continued for almost three decades in Highland.
This is the first year that Aimee Adams and her son Jayden, 11, came to the celebration.
“This is very cool,” Jayden said, as he took pictures of the high flames shooting toward the night sky. “It’s cold out here, but the fire is keeping us warm.”
Griffith resident Janet Matusiak agreed, adding that she comes every year to add her contribution to the bonfire.
“My holiday decorations came down a few days ago, but the tree stayed up,” she said. “I always wait until this event, so I can bring it here to watch it burn with the others.”
Highland resident Steve Dykstra brought his children Mikayla, 5, and Noah, 3, to observe the burning.
More Top Picks Best Wobble Boards For Balance Training
“I grew up in the city and never saw anything like this before,” he said, as the family perused the park’s decorations before the main event began. “I think it’s great that the town of Highland does this. It’s a wonderful way for people to get together — whether they are from Highland or other towns and cities.”
As the mountain of greenery wound down, many visitors stayed to watch the burning embers.
Candy Thomas of Highland commented that the bonfire event was more than appropriate to wrap up the holidays.
“This is so relaxing, since the rush of shopping and entertaining is over,” she added, as she took pictures of the dying fire. “And this burning event reflects the end of something — and making room for new memories.”
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.