For a few years, Golden had a tradition of gathering for “the burning of the greens.” This was a community bonfire, where we burned our Christmas trees.
The event started small. In 1953, Calvary Church celebrated the Twelfth Night of Christmas by burning the greens they had used to decorate the church. About 60 people participated, and they combined it with a chili supper.
The next year, the Golden Ministerial Alliance got involved, as did the Chamber of Commerce. The event was moved to the area we now call Lions Park. Community members were invited to bring their Christmas trees, and the Chamber brought the ones used along Washington Avenue. The trees were burned near the pond (which is now gone), so people were invited to bring their ice skates.
By the mid-60s, the Golden Jaycees were sponsoring the event, with the Mayor and the Methodist Minister as speakers.
By 1970, we had new air pollution standards, and bonfires were illegal. That year, Golden residents were invited to bring their Christmas trees to the Foss Ranch, where they would be used for bird cover and soil conservation.
