“The feeling of solidarity, the conviviality, the forging of friendships, the Christmas tree burning should not disappear,” says Esther van Meel of the Midwoud-Oostwoud Village Council. Van Meel makes a passionate argument for preserving the event: “It is very important for the village feeling.”
Even after Christmas, children are busy collecting as many Christmas trees as possible. Because every Christmas tree yields 50 cents and a raffle ticket. If the ticket is drawn, the winner will have the honor of lighting the Christmas tree pile, under the supervision of the fire brigade.
Traditions are there to be preserved
This year that honor went to eight-year-old Bentley Mak. “Very cool, I’ve never had the opportunity to do this before,” he says as he lights a torch into the dry pine pile. Hundreds of villagers came to the bonfire despite the sharp cold. “We are still the only village in West Friesland that holds a Christmas tree burning,” says firefighter Bart van Meel, who co-organizes the event. “Traditions are there to be preserved.”
The Christmas tree burnings have increased over the years extinguished. Due to stricter environmental regulations, almost no permits are issued throughout the country. This also plays a role in Midwoud and Oostwoud. “It’s about air quality and CO2 emissions, but a chipper also works on diesel, so what is it about? It’s clean wood,” says Van Meel.
Save for a new scooter
And the children also think the same way. They make a nice bit of money from collecting the Christmas trees. “We put our money in a piggy bank,” says Tess, who has collected 35 trees together with her sister Fien. “I’m saving for a new scooter.”
The organization of the Christmas tree burning is not yet discouraged. They are going to send a letter to the municipality with arguments why the tradition should be preserved. A petition is also being started. The municipality of Medemblik was not yet able to respond, partly due to the occupation during the weekend.