Replies

1. 
   DavidxDoud | Nov 23, 2005 04:26pm | #1

   I'm aware of the tradition - Eric Sloane mentions it in 'Eric Sloane's America' - in the second sentence of the book: "The hewn rafters of the first Plymouth barn were put in place and,  with a prayer of thanksgiving,  a  small tree was lashed to the peak as part of the ceremony.  Builders still put that symbolic tree on the rooftree of a new house without any particular reverence for wood itself,  but just for "the luck of the house".  The great importance of trees in the forming of an American philosophy seems almost lost in this plastic age."....

   and in 'Diary of an Early American Boy',  Sloane writes: ..."Another ancient custom is seen in Izaak's "putting a brush on top" of the new structure.  Even nowadays you will you will see workmen put a small tree or bush on the top of a new roof when it has been completed.  That ceremony calls for a round of drinks for the builders,  and although we don't seem to know why we do it,  we say it is "just to give the house luck."  That tree tacked atop a new building goes all the way back to Druid lore when men worshipped trees!"...

    

   "there's enough for everyone"
2. 
   earl06 | Nov 23, 2005 04:43pm | #2

   It's called "topping off".

   We used to have topping off parties when a house was finished. We put a fir branch or something similar on the top of the front gable and had a few beers with the crew and subs who built the house. Nice tradition, building was pretty fun before houses became commodities.

   DCS Inc.

   "Whaddya mean I hurt your feelings, I didn't know you had any feelings."  Dave Mustaine

    

3. 
   superwork | Nov 23, 2005 08:00pm | #3

   This is also done in the commercial field . With structural steel . When we top off , we wire a small pine or fir to the top steel beam .

   Mike - Foxboro

4. 
   kate | Nov 23, 2005 08:12pm | #4

   Nice custom!  Since I wasn't here when my house was built, 300+ years ago, we did it this summer when we put the new roof on.  I figure a house, & its occupants, need all the good luck that's going around!

5. 
   Framer | Nov 23, 2005 08:27pm | #5

   Check out this thread of mine from last year. We nailed a Christmas tree up on the ridge with lights.

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=51613.1

   Joe Carola
6. 
   CapnMac | Nov 23, 2005 08:56pm | #6

   Wow, no end of " 'splanations" huh?

   I was told it was an Iroquois or Mohawk tradition to put a cedar bough up to mark the finishing a lodge.  And, that the tradition carried over into iron working big commercial buildings.

   Folk from down closer to the Valley seem to have picked up having a cedar or local pine tree to mark the finishing of framing (except, it's usually live in a pot or b&b, and goes to the segundo's (or primaro's) house after the project finishes).

   Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)