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The Mickman Christmas Wreath Story

Grandmas_wreath_Story

 

The Mickman Christmas Wreath Story


 As my grandma told the story to me many, many years ago, this is how our family wreath business was founded. 

“When I was a young girl in Norge (Norway) back in the late 1800’s, my mother used to make a wreath each year from evergreens we children would gather from the forest alongside the fjord above which our home was perched. It wouldn’t take many boughs, and I liked gathering them. When I was older, my mother showed me how to make the wreath that we would display on the door of our small cottage each year. Ours was a tough life and all of my brothers eventually died at sea as either fishermen or merchant sailors.


After I met your grandpa in England during WWI, we moved to America and, because the people in New York told us that there were many Norwegians living in Minnesota, we moved to St. Paul. Our small family had a hard ‘go of it’ during the Great Depression as did all our friends. However, each Christmas I loved making a nice wreath and displayed it on the front door of our rented home. These wreaths always reminded me of my own mother so many years ago.


One year when your father [John Victor Mickman] was about 12 years old, he came home from school and saw my nice wreath on the front door. He wanted to buy a Christmas present for me and had an idea that maybe he could sell that wreath down the street to someone. Well, that is just what he did. He walked down Summit Avenue where all the rich people lived, until someone purchased this wreath. 

With his newly earned money, your dad went to a store and purchased a lovely set of porcelain figurines – the set that I have on my bedroom bureau. The salesclerk was kind enough to wrap this gift for your dad, and he came home and presented it to me. Well, I knew your dad didn’t have ANY money and I pinched his ear until he told me how he got the money to pay for the present. He finally confessed that he had taken the wreath off the front door and sold it down on Summit Ave. I couldn’t imagine that anyone would want to pay money for such a thing, and asked your dad if he thought he could sell any more. He said he thought he could sell as many as I could make!


So, your grandpa, your dad and I gathered as many boughs as we could, and I made wreaths out of all the boughs we could find. Your dad was able to sell these wreaths as fast as I made them, and he sold every single one – we didn’t even have a wreath on our own door that year [of 1934].”

 

Looking for Gift Ideas for Employees? 


The Perfect Holiday Gifts: Wreaths or Centerpieces

 

The perfect holiday gift


This family tradition of handcrafting and selling wreaths has continued each year since. Our firm currently works with thousands of customers nationwide to help them welcome home friends and family for the Holidays. These wreaths make perfect Holiday Gifts for companies to thank their clients, vendors and employees for their loyalty and dedication.