Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate all of our blessings with our family and friends. You’ve worked hard in your garden all year and enjoyed fresh salads, large potatoes, endless zucchinis and a multitude of delicious veggies. Why not share the benefits of your hard work with a hand-made cornucopia this Thanksgiving?
A cornucopia, or horn of plenty, is a traditional symbol of prosperity and good fortune. The end of the harvest season combined with the holiday of Thanksgiving provides the perfect opportunity to proudly display this symbol of richness in life.
Originally, cornucopias were made with a goat’s horn and filled with grains, nuts, berries, and other fruits. But since goat horns aren’t exactly easy to get, baskets have become much more popular.
Some people prefer the challenge of weaving their own basket using flexible materials such as straw, vines, willow branches, or reeds. And be warned, basket weaving is quite challenging. But it can become addicting as you continue to hone the craft.
Whether choosing to make your own cornucopia or purchase one from the store, your next step is filling it. Have the kids help gather leaves from the yard or the park to include as a bed for the fruit and vegetables.
Make sure you put your basket on top of a flat surface, such as a tray or fabric covered pan, so that the fruit and veggies overflow onto the bedding. This makes it easy to transfer the display and clean up is much simpler.
For a longer-lasting display, choose items with a waxy coat. Place the larger fruits and vegetables in the back and work your way to the smaller ones in the front. Fill in the spaces with smaller pieces to fill out your centerpiece. Choose fruits and vegetables like dried Indian corn, small apples, gourds, miniature pumpkins, pomegranates, peppers, artichokes, cranberries, and nuts.
Also, I always like to include some foliage, like fall leaves or grape leaves, in among the fruit and veggies for a great contrast in textures.
If done correctly, your display should last up to two weeks, if waxy filler is chosen and you will have a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece that is the talk of the day.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Cornucopia—Meaning,-History,-Tips-and-Suggestions&id=2886766
http://www.decorate-redecorate.com/thanksgiving-cornucopia.html
http://www.savvyhomemade.com/basket-weaving.html
