Boston Brick.Com: Christmas And Fireplaces

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Submitted by: Jo Lauricella

When I first moved to Southern California I thought having a fire for the Holidays was a thing of the past. Not so. Many homes in the Los Angeles area have fireplaces in living rooms, family rooms and master suites. I have frequently smelled the perfume of wood smoke on a cool evening while walking my dog in the neighborhood.

A government official once remarked that some people think that having a wood burning fire in their fireplace is an inalienable right. Funny thing is inalienable rights only became popular in 1776; fireplaces have been around for thousands of years. We love fires. Many of our celebrations are centered or accented by fire. The college pep rally with the bonfire. Where else would you want to be but in front of the fire after Thanksgiving dinner? But the big events are the holidays that fall at this time of year. Whatever your celebration, the fireplace is very closely connected.

Starting in mid-October and well past the New Year, Boston Brick and Stone is inundated by home owners with requests to get their chimneys and fireplaces cleaned and repaired; why? Holidays and guests are coming.

Children know that if there is a chimney, Santa will come down it. They hang stockings from the mantel in hopes that Christmas morning will find them filled. Legend says that St. Nicholas dropped gold coins down the chimney to provide a dowry for three sisters. The coins landed in the stockings they had hung at the fireplace to dry. Personally, I wouldn t try tossing anything down the chimney. Better to wait for Santa to place gifts into safely secured stockings.

This is the time of year mothers and fathers of young children tell me stories of their little one s Santa Claus concerns. One mother told me her 5 year old son thinks the fireplace opening isn t big enough for Santa. Another told me her daughter wanted a chimney and fireplace built right away, otherwise how was Santa going to leave the presents.

Still another was worried about having a fire in the fireplace on Christmas Eve; she didn t want Santa to get burned. One little guy was afraid the reindeer might bump the chimney off the roof. A little boy saw our team put a cap on the top of the chimney and wanted to know if his Dad would take it off on Christmas Eve so Santa could get in.

I also wondered what the significance of the Yule log was. Not the rich and delicious chocolate French concoction. I mean why was it important to burn a special log and why call it a Yule log. I found legends from different countries. This tradition has been carried forward in different forms from various Winter Solstice observations across Europe. They all center on good luck for the future. The log had to be started from a fragment of last year s log. The longer the log burned the better next year would be. Saving a fragment of the log to start next year s fire was considered the assurance for future lucky years.

Whatever your beliefs and family traditions are, the Boston Brick and Stone team wish you and your family a Merry and Safe Holiday Season and a very Happy and Lucky New Year.

About the Author: Jo Lauricella is Real Estate Marketing Manager at Boston Brick & Stone (

bostonbrick.com

), at 2005 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena, CA. Boston Brick & Stone is the most relied upon chimney inspection & repair contractor in the greater Los Angeles area. For more info, please access our website at

bostonbrick.com

. Visit our blog for Realtors at

bostonbrick.com/blog/real-estate/

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