During our walk in Esher woods today we noticed a tree decorated with baubles and tinsel. Esher common is very popular with dog walkers, and a family had decorated a tree with Christmas decorations in memory of three of their dogs.
Bauble in the woods
Having found one tree, we kept coming across different trees all decorated for different pets, and one lone tree decorated with a single bauble decorated for a cat, and ‘Mum’
Tree covered in Christmas Decorations in Esher Woods
Remembering Pets
In Memory of a pet cat & Mum
I’ve not seen this kind of thing in England before, but then we haven’t had a dog at Christmas for very long. Last year we did all our winter walks around St Martha’s Hill where we got married. Probably a good idea as it is a lot less muddy!!
To find out more about this weeks Travel Theme, hop over to ‘Where’s My Backpack?‘
This week’s Travel Theme is Festive
My other entries are here and here
Day One 
This is a sweet and lovely idea – thanks for visiting!
LikeLike
It is isn’t it 🙂
You’ve just reminded me I still haven’t submitted my ‘Wood’ photos..
Oh well…. tomorrow
LikeLike
What an interesting surprise to find while walking in the woods. Have never seen anything like this before. I especially like your close up shot of the peeling red Christmas ball.
LikeLike
Me too :). Thanks xxx
LikeLike
The practice of leaving gifts for trees is more common than you think. It is, I believe, a pagan rite predating Christianity . If you look for sacred trees you will invariably find them newly decorated at the Solstices. The best known local example is the Ankerwycke Yew over at Runnymede. Its is always decorated, has letters left, photographs and often wreaths and corn dollies. The most sacred of trees, the yew, often has a Church built right next to them. Go figure.
The appropriation of this rite is seen in England at Xmas. Green boughs were used in medieval times to decorate the house’s threshold. ” The Christmas tree is considered by some as Christianisation of pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree worship; “according to eighth-century biographer Æddi Stephanus, Saint Boniface (634–709), who was a missionary in Germany, took an axe to an oak tree dedicated to Thor and pointed out a fir tree, which he stated was a more fitting object of reverence because it pointed to heaven and it had a triangular shape, which he said was symbolic of the Trinity.
http://www.greenshinto.com/wp/2012/07/24/pagan-connections-2-sacred-trees/
http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/winter-solstice-evergreens-and-the-history/
LikeLike
Wow! Thanks Richard 🙂
It’s funny what you say about the yew trees, St Martha’s, the church in which we we got married, has two Yew trees on either side of each of the entrances to the church yard.
The practice of Christian churches adopting and adapting pagan practices and making them their own is very common. In Ireland there are so many pagan traditions that have become Christian over the years. Easter eggs are a classic international example, and as you say, celebrations involving decorating trees and lighting candles coinciding with the pagan festivals of light
LikeLike
The single bauble is my favourite.
LikeLike
Mine too. The bauble looks like it has seen a few Christmases but still manages to look festive
LikeLike
I wonder what will happen to the decorations once the season has passed?
LikeLike
I was wondering about that too! I wonder are they superstitious over here about January the 6th? I know most people have their decorations down by then, but will people bring these home for using again next year? I’ll try & remember to find out!
LikeLike
Pingback: Travel Theme: Festive. | the unbearable lightness of being me.
Very heartwarming, Barbara. What a wonderful gift to stumble upon this while walking Wilson. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
We saw loads more of them yesterday in a completely different part of the same common. A great idea
LikeLike
Pingback: Travel Theme; Festive – Desborough Island « Day One
what a wonderful idea – I love it
LikeLike
Me too. I can’t believe I never noticed these before! We’re decorating a tree in our garden next year for our cat Tiggles who died a few years ago. He was my first pet & I still miss him!
LikeLike