tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post6373141978199358599..comments2024-03-28T19:58:04.966-04:00Comments on Cup on the Bus: Pine trees and car barnsJoanne Noragonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09834682329952369721noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-21868321337407024862014-05-02T17:46:34.008-04:002014-05-02T17:46:34.008-04:00I know it's schoolboy humour
But when I read
&...I know it's schoolboy humour<br />But when I read<br />" For a few months long ago I worked for a construction company."<br />I all I envisaged was you in a hard hatJohn Going Gentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-48837247606960048362014-05-02T17:31:22.780-04:002014-05-02T17:31:22.780-04:00Thank you for this explanation Brigitta!Thank you for this explanation Brigitta!Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-65429381015038976152014-05-02T15:12:29.663-04:002014-05-02T15:12:29.663-04:00I have seen pine trees mounted on top of derricks ...I have seen pine trees mounted on top of derricks on construction sites but never knew why there were there. Thanks for the info!Ms Sparrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03417670251423549014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-5955297558482067552014-05-02T10:53:35.816-04:002014-05-02T10:53:35.816-04:00Never heard of the custom, but I've led a shel...Never heard of the custom, but I've led a sheltered life. I did though used to put my initials in betadine at the end of a successful procedure, usually on the patient's tummy. Should Fish Morehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18400586203204886095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-55470608512598109522014-05-02T10:23:51.888-04:002014-05-02T10:23:51.888-04:00I didn't know about the taking everyone to din...I didn't know about the taking everyone to dinner but I have often seen pine trees atop buildings whose structure or skeleton had been completed.ellen abbotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00535475792150335186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-19295225944343680832014-05-02T10:11:53.232-04:002014-05-02T10:11:53.232-04:00On one side it is the thanks to the builder, on th...On one side it is the thanks to the builder, on the other the plea for God's blessing. You can still see the crowns or trees on the timber roofs in Germany. Brittahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10688373434576442657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-43321052575371930312014-05-02T10:07:48.497-04:002014-05-02T10:07:48.497-04:00Dear Joanne,
we have the same ritual in Germany, ...Dear Joanne, <br />we have the same ritual in Germany, the Richtfest: when the roof timbering is ready, the carpenters plant a decorated crown or tree upon it and drink a Schnaps, then one glass is thrown down (look at your bill!) after the speech, and it is a good omen when it bursts. Then follows the Richtschmaus - a sort of banquet. Brittahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10688373434576442657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-37212704755786692292014-05-02T08:04:28.327-04:002014-05-02T08:04:28.327-04:00I've seen the trees on the tops of buildings, ...I've seen the trees on the tops of buildings, and knew of the custom, but hadn't realized how formalized it could be. I guess I had thought the workers, in a fit of exuberance, hunted down some random tree and parked it on their finished product!Martyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02366449267039641100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-69721165908286857122014-05-02T03:31:44.600-04:002014-05-02T03:31:44.600-04:00Interesting custom and one I've never heard of...Interesting custom and one I've never heard of before. Do they still do this today?Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794655013673748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-74718062446885548622014-05-02T00:11:32.597-04:002014-05-02T00:11:32.597-04:00Thank you for the link to the explanation. Appeasi...Thank you for the link to the explanation. Appeasing the tree-dwelling spirits released during construction - indeed! Now I have learned my One New Thing for today :)jenny_ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475480579733466963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-12682595517515198112014-05-02T00:10:29.923-04:002014-05-02T00:10:29.923-04:00wow I learn something every day but never had an i...wow I learn something every day but never had an inkling about topping out.Linda Starrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04364078667554676592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-35514783356150794192014-05-01T21:44:15.485-04:002014-05-01T21:44:15.485-04:00This was interesting to read about the work involv...This was interesting to read about the work involved in the building and shipping, but how interesting with the final custom! I had never heard of that. I bet they do enjoy their celebrating!<br /><br />bettybettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06323135450742337670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-12956253306753861602014-05-01T20:59:51.575-04:002014-05-01T20:59:51.575-04:00Looks like you had your plate full with this compa...Looks like you had your plate full with this company. I am sure you are thrilled now that the end is nearing. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10304701332216772385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-54889337770969409962014-05-01T20:31:55.510-04:002014-05-01T20:31:55.510-04:00I can't believe that I am 55 years old and hav...I can't believe that I am 55 years old and have never once heard this. Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05049511202014141182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-69186996428720159382014-05-01T18:50:28.274-04:002014-05-01T18:50:28.274-04:00First I heard of this, Joanne.First I heard of this, Joanne.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12692170857496442623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-6827220843100481512014-05-01T18:14:15.665-04:002014-05-01T18:14:15.665-04:00The building industry is a bit unusual they do kno...The building industry is a bit unusual they do know how to have a good time, we have a few friends in it and they have lots of end of week parties.<br />Merle...............Merlesworldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00573975763012762631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-20585053238395346532014-05-01T18:11:49.123-04:002014-05-01T18:11:49.123-04:00It still, sometimes, happens here too. Dinner or ...It still, sometimes, happens here too. Dinner or drinks happen often.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-72391462901620346442014-05-01T17:02:57.063-04:002014-05-01T17:02:57.063-04:00What a nice way to finish off a job.What a nice way to finish off a job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-39400665520795059272014-05-01T16:58:42.107-04:002014-05-01T16:58:42.107-04:00I've not heard of this custom...hmmmm I need t...I've not heard of this custom...hmmmm I need to build something.<br />Jane xJane and Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08102086552682194819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-62268421469195032952014-05-01T15:53:07.163-04:002014-05-01T15:53:07.163-04:00Celebration when a big project is finished is very...Celebration when a big project is finished is very common (I've enjoyed a few). I had never heard of "topping out" and the pine tree custom. I assume the pine tree is later removed from the roof. Of course, the green roof is an interesting trend to help the environment.Bill Lislemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15187273560129198423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-52579519016247842332014-05-01T15:39:31.659-04:002014-05-01T15:39:31.659-04:00My first husband was a brick mason and when a proj...My first husband was a brick mason and when a project was finished it was customary to place a pine tree at the top of the building. As for the accompanying celebration... I don't think those guys needed an excuse.. nor did they wait until the project was done to party.The Odd Essayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17168404014947652773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-20794119570434495322014-05-01T14:28:25.499-04:002014-05-01T14:28:25.499-04:00I think this is an old custom. It used to be done ...I think this is an old custom. It used to be done in quite a humble way in Germany when I was a kid, I mean just the guys who built a house would tie something on top of it and have a drink to celebrate. I forgot what they tied on, but it was probably a small fir tree or something. Strange how these customs continue. I wonder what it means. Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920860526738969165.post-16890547616745565212014-05-01T14:14:59.026-04:002014-05-01T14:14:59.026-04:00Hari OM
Ah yes, the old topping out ceremony - I s...Hari OM<br />Ah yes, the old topping out ceremony - I saw this first in Sydney. Any excuse for a party. Nice insider peek you gave us here! YAM xxYamini MacLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18383916589808462620noreply@blogger.com