Of Old Sleds and Snow: December 16

With snow gracing many parts of the world now it’s nice to see children, and those young at heart, enjoying sledding. It bring back so many memories of our own childhoods when it seemed like snow fell often and we could sled, and skate on the ice, and build snowmen and snow forts that glistened like crystals.

We’d like to thank our readers who have posted photos of vintage sleds and skates. Some have been decorated for Christmas; others are decorated with snow. Sleds have a magic of speed, of freedom. They are even incorporated into come iconic works of American fiction and drama such as Orson Welles’ 1941 film Citizen Kane and Edith Wharton’s novel Ethan Frome in 1911. Sleighs have an even larger romantic appeal. The sleighs and snow in Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak are like jewels especially when the accompanied by the sounds of bells on the horses. And, of course, we all know that Santa flies through the air in a sleigh!

Our old ice skates, too, give that memory of freedom on cold days. Like roller skates, we could go on and on in them…until we fell. We could be like the skaters on the Christmas postcards, or at Rockefeller Plaza, or from the tales of Hans Christian Anderson.

As we can see here, they make wonderful Christmas decorations and bring back so many memories…

from Eddiekim Valcikdailey

from: Steve Weathers: “Acquired these at a yard sale and painted them up nice.”

from: Darlene Duplessis: “A another sled and skate idea….I also hang skates on my porch and mailbox.”

And, of course, horses (or reindeer) pulling sleighs may need a collar and would definitely need Christmas bells!

from: Carole Selleck: “Here’s a picture of my old leather horse collar decorated for Christmas.”

Thanks to everyone who shares their enjoyment of vintage…and memories…with our community at Dusty Old Thing.