Page 14 - North Haven Magazine Issue 26 Holiday 2022

by Sally Brockett

o you remember making popcorn strings with your family to decorate the Christmas
Dtree, the stair railing, or the mantle? Have you carried on this tradition with your chil-
dren and grandchildren? It is a wonderful activity to do with family and friends on a cold
winter night as you prepare for the holiday. Let’s find out more about this tradition and see
how it started.

A tradition brought here by immigrants
The tradition of stringing popcorn was
brought to America by European immigrants
who wanted to blend their own customs with
those in the New World. Stringing popcorn
was very popular with German immigrants
and German Americans. Around the holi-
days, Victorians would decorate their hous-
es with evergreens and added color with the
snowy white popcorn. It was an inexpen- Decorate the tree and home
sive but fun treat to make, and to eat, while
stringing for the tree! It was used in America Materials needed, popcorn, needle, Feed the birds!
as early as 1842 on a Christmas tree in Wil- thread, cranberries –optional. After the holidays, it is fun to remove the
liamsburg, Virginia. with the needle. Show them some simple strings of popcorn and cranberries from
patterns such as cranberry/popcorn, cran- the tree and put it outside, either on a tree
Is popcorn a special type of corn? berry/popcorn, which would be an ABAB or around the deck railing so the birds can
There are distinct types of corn, and popcorn pattern. The concept can be extended to have a holiday treat. It is safe for them to eat
is specifically grown for popping. Sweet corn more complex patterns such as AABB, or the cranberries while fresh, but usually birds
is the type we grow in our gardens to eat fresh prefer them dried. They will likely be dried
or freeze. Field corn is grown by farmers to AABAAB, or any combination that they want by the time you are ready to discard them,
to create! Encourage them to try new
feed the cows and produce ethanol. These patterns as they work. so this works perfectly for you and the birds!
two kinds of corn cannot be used for pop-
ping. Popcorn kernels are rounded or have a Tips for Stringing
point at the tip while the other two varieties If you are now motivated to make some pop-
have a rectangular, flat end. Oil, moisture, corn garlands, here are a few tips to make it
and starch are contained within the popcorn more successful.
kernel. Sweet corn contains much more sug-
ar which makes it tastes so good! Purchase popcorn that is plain, no salt, no
butter!
There are also varieties of popcorn. Some,
such as Lady Finger, produce yellow kernels, An air popper works best, but a microwave
will also work, just be careful not to burn it.
while others, including Strawberry Popcorn,
produce burgundy-colored kernels (but Make your popcorn a day or so in advance
white popcorn). Popcorn can require 85 to so it has time to become a little stale and less
115 days to reach maturity, so plan ahead if fragile.
you want to grow some in your garden. Chil- Use a needle with a large enough hole that you
dren will especially enjoy growing their own can easily thread it.
corn to pop! Feed the birds and other wildlife with it.
Use a length of sewing thread about 4-5 feet
Add cranberries to the popcorn string! long. A shorter length might be easier for a Remember, you do not have to just string
young child.
Cranberries became part of the tradition in popcorn and cranberries for the holiday
the 1800s and are often added to the string Tie a double knot at the end of the thread, season. On a chilly winter day in January or
of popcorn to add color and interest. Cran- leaving 5-6 extra inches at both ends if you February, it is fun to make more strings spe-
berries are available in the winter and have a plan to tie several strings together. cifically for the birds to feast on. You can also
long shelf life. Various patterns can be creat- Put the needle through the round, puffy mid- add slices of orange or apple to the string and
ed by integrating cranberries with the white dle of the popcorn. watch to see which fruits your birds prefer!
popcorn. This is another great activity to keep children
Slide each piece of popcorn to the end of the busy and away from those electronic devic-
Popcorn/cranberry strings are a wonderful thread before adding another piece. es! So, there are wonderful benefits involved
way to introduce children to the concept of Be sure to have plenty of popcorn ready as it with the simple activity of stringing popcorn.
patterns, when they are old enough to be safe takes a lot for long strings.

14 North Haven Magazine - Holiday Issue 2022