Where to get the best produce.

9:20am Monday 17th December 2007

THERE was a time when it was considered unlucky to put up your Christmas decorations before Christmas Eve. Indeed, many people believed it was extremely foolish to bring evergreens, one of the most traditional of seasonal decorations, into the house before that date.

In modern Britain, however, most people put up their decorations about a fortnight to a week before the big day (although most public displays are in place some time around the end of November). Few people would wait until Christmas Eve.

If you take yourself down to Malvern Christmas farmers' market today, or Bromsgrove Christmas fayre or Pershore Christmas farmers' market tomorrow, you will find a range of traditional decorations, sold by the people that make them.

So much of our Christmas is homogenised or imported, it is important to bring a little something to your home that is unique. The table decorations supplied by Sarah Hodgins, of Meadow Days, Holt Heath, include a lovely seasonal selection of plants.

"Our planted Christmas bowls are lovely as gifts when you're visiting someone and make great table decorations. Our bowls include cyclamen, ivy, poinsettia and flaming Katy," said Sarah.

A wreath made of mostly evergreen tree twigs, sometimes with pine cones and a bow made of red ribbon is a common Christmas decoration. Wreaths have been made for many thousands of years - there is evidence of ancient German tribes using wreaths 2,500 years ago. They would place lit candles in them during the cold and dark December days as a sign of hope for the warm and sunny days of spring.

Rosabelle Needham, of Chaddesley Growers, near Kidderminster, makes her own decorative Christmas wreaths, swags and mantelpiece bars.

"Our wreaths are made of fresh evergreens that are all grown locally. The wreaths have a mix of holly, noble fir, larch cones and silver birth twigs," she said.

Christmas is also a time to remember loved ones. Wreaths for placing on graves are supplied by Linda Davies of Four Acres Nursery, Pershore. "We use holly, fir, ivy and variegated evergreen shrubs to hand-make our traditional wreaths," said Linda.

Malvern Christmas farmers' market is today, from 9am to 2pm. Bromsgrove Christmas fayre is tomorrow, 9am to 4pm. Pershore Christmas farmers' market is also tomorrow, from 10am to 3pm.

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