Happy Mitten Tree Day!
December 6th is Mitten Tree Day!
Origin
Do you remember story time? You know, when you were in elementary school, and your teacher would have you all grab your carpet square and gather around to hear a story read aloud? This wintery holiday was created by elementary school teachers based on the beloved Ukrainian folktale called The Mitten.
If you aren’t familiar with this snowy story, a grandmother knits her grandson some mittens. He drops one of the mittens in the snow without realizing it, and many woodland creatures find it and try to fit inside. A mole, a rabbit, an owl, a badger, a fox, a hedgehog, a bear, and finally, a mouse. SPOILER ALERT: The mouse climbs onto the bears snout, which tickles his nose, causing him to sneeze, which in turn causes all of the animals to go flying out. The mitten is ejected into the sky, and the little boy spies it, finding his lost mitten, and returns home without disappointing his grandmother! Daaaaaw. I wish this happened to me every time I lose a mitten.
The illustrations by Jan Brett are just beautiful. It is definitely the perfect book to read on a cold, wintery day, with a mug of hot chocolate.
But why Mitten Tree Day? Well, a “mitten tree” is a mitten stand on which you can place pairs of mittens to dry and warm inside your house. But it can also refer to a tree on which you hang donated mittens for those who may have cold hands (and can’t afford to buy mittens) during the holidays. What a festive, thoughtful way to give back!
How to Celebrate
Well, I already mentioned the Mitten Tree mitten donation idea. You can easily set up a tree at school or work and start collecting mittens and gloves to give to those in need.
You can also read The Mitten! You are never too old for this sweet, sentimental childhood classic. You will probably get something more out of it than you did when you were little.
Christmas Song of the Day
“When it snows, ain’t it thrilling
Though your nose gets a chilling
We’ll frolic and play the eskimo way
Walking in a winter wonderland.”
– Winter Wonderland
Featured image via ShutterStock
