Grandfather pine is a winter celebration that happens in December. It is a time where people get together to express gratitude to the Peace tree. A time where we gift the tree with bright and shiny ornaments and the wee people (little spirit people of the forest) enjoy coming to get them.

It is also a time of planting a prayer stick on a mound on the skin of Mother Earth. Whatever negative emotion you would like to release is planted in the earth on that stick. On the upper part of the same stick are the new positive things you would like to receive in the coming year.

According to an ancient legend attributed to the Cherokee peoples, it was a simple act of kindness towards an injured little bird that earned pine trees this very honor of being evergreen.