Holiday Traditions: Old and New

By Jens Molbak

For The Woodinville Weekly, December 2009

If your family is anything like mine, plenty of traditions have been woven into the way you decorate and prepare for the holidays. I love the traditions - they put me in the holiday spirit. But I also love to discover new variations on holiday classics.

Take poinsettias, for example. When my parents, Egon and Laina, started growing and selling poinsettias in 1957, Molbak's offered just one variety - because there was only one variety of poinsettia being grown back then. Vivid red in color, it was a fragile, brittle plant that lasted only a few days.

Now, more than 50 years later, poinsettias have become Molbak's signature holiday item.  This year alone we are growing over 42 varieties of these showy tropical plants, in a palette of colors that includes orange, copper and hot pink as well as stunning two-tone, marbled and speckled varieties.

In terms of quality and longevity, our current crop of poinsettias has little in common with the plants of yesteryear. In fact, with a little care, you may find that you're still enjoying a beautiful poinsettia long after the holidays have passed.

One thing that hasn't changed about poinsettias is that they don't like extreme temperatures. So I recommend that you keep them away from entries and fireplaces, give them as much light as possible, and don't let them sit in water.

One of Molbak's favorite holiday traditions, our stunning 14' poinsettia tree is made up entirely of Cortez Red poinsettias this year. Over the years, the tree has been the backdrop for countless holiday photos of our customers and employees as well as my own family. It's the centerpiece of our Festival of Poinsettias started by my mom in 1975.

Another holiday classic that has kept up with the times is the holiday tree. Nowadays, with cut trees, living trees, flocked trees, non-traditional trees and even permanent trees, there are a number of beautiful choices to suit your individual tastes and needs.

When selecting a tree, give careful consideration to its size and placement. With cut trees, keep in mind that you'll need to make a fresh cut just before putting the tree in its stand (or put the tree in a bucket of water).  If you do it right, trees can take a lot of water initially. Don't put a cut tree near a heat vent or in a very warm room and check the water level every other day.

Flocked trees are back in style and today they are made using biodegradable materials. Other points in their favor: Flocked trees come with a stand and don't need water because the flocking seals the tree.

If you select a live, potted tree it can be planted in your yard later.  But it is important that you don't keep living trees inside for more than a week. For an avant-garde holiday tree that's also a good bet for your garden, you might want to try a Japanese maple. Ornaments can look beautiful hanging from the bare winter branches.

Finally, there's been a huge improvement in the quality of permanent trees. They don't look fake or plastic anymore. And today's artificial trees come with warranties and often include a matching wreath or garland.

No matter what tree you choose, switching to LED lights makes sense because the new LEDs use 75 percent less energy and generate less heat than incandescent lights. They also last 10 times longer.

Another holiday favorite: Danish Kringle. Almost 40 years ago, my parents started serving Kringle to customers as a special holiday treat. A generation later, I am happy to report that the Kringle tradition is still going strong in our own family. We have given Kringle to our children's teachers, brought it to parties as a hostess gift, and wrapped up boxes for the mailman. It is a simple, heartfelt way to say thank you and to share in the spirit of the season.

And this year, we are introducing a new twist on holiday hospitality with the introduction of Ice Apples. Ice Apples are the last picked Fuji apples of the season and they are the sweetest, juiciest apples you'll ever eat. These special, once-a-year apples are a rare and delectable treat!

Happy, Happy Holidays!

Jens

Jens Molbak and his wife, Blair, own Molbak's in Woodinville. He can be reached at jmolbak@molbaks.com. More information on gardening is at www.molbaks.com.