A Touch Of Tradition

Elise loved making wreaths with her grandmother, but some parts of the process seemed a little fanciful!

ELISE always loved making the couronne de Noël with her gran, Colette.

It was a family tradition, and she'd been thinking about it all day at work, planning how she would decorate this year's wreath.

Now here they were at last, in her parent's living room with everything spread out around them.

"I think we will make more this year," Colette announced, her blue eyes twinkling. "At least three." "Three?" "Yes. One for the front door, one to hang in the window of my room, and you must have one for your apartment, too, no?”

Elise grinned.

“| thought there were a lot of materials. Well, if you think so.”

“I do.”

_ They set to work, and

Elise had to concentrate hard while she wove the willow into a hollow ring.

Her grandmother had taught her how, many years before, but Elise was not as skilled as Colette, whose fingers seemed to fly, creating an intricate circle in no time.

Elise loved to watch her: mouth set in concentration, eyes bright.

Before long they were finished and it was time for the part that Elise liked best.

“Which decorations have you brought this year?” Colette asked with a smile.

They always wove fir branches into the ring and attached pine cones, red bows and dried slices of orange.

This time, Elise had also brought small gold stars, tiny baubles and shiny boxes that looked like presents.

Her grandmother clapped her hands.

“They will be more beautiful than ever.”

Elise nodded and they worked in companionable silence for a while.

By the time they were complete, all of the wreaths looked gorgeous.

“Now for the toast!”

Elise accepted a small glass of wine from Colette.

There were some parts of this tradition that seemed a little silly to her, but it was all part of the fun.