LEON CHRISTMAS BOUQUET 50 cm

The Leonese bouquet of Christmas is an ornament of religious origin recovered in recent years at Christmas.  

It consists of a triangular-shaped wood frame, in which a number of odd candles are placed, we place 13 but now the tradition is being changed by 12 candles symbolizing the months of the year.

From the same hang different offerings, such as ties, lace, embroidery, bagels and fruit. This frame is supported by a wooden stick placed vertically on a pedestal that serves as support. At the foot of the bouquet is usually put back a basket with offerings, commonly chestnuts and walnuts.  

The origins of the industry seem to date back to pre-Christian times, in which the industry (understood as a branch of the tree itself) had a votive character as prelude to spring and the fertility cult. It is, therefore, a pagan symbol assimilated by the Church apparently through pastoradas (small cars of Christmas in the atriums of churches).  

The tradition evolved from the natural bouquet to the wooden structure above explained, probably under the influence of the existing tenebrario within the parish temples where they were initially placed. Later they began to set within households, in a similar way to the Christmas tree.  

With the depopulation of the Leonese field occurred during the 20th century now lives a new reborn to become fashionable in the Leonese society, especially that of the provincial capital.