Volunteers thresh wheat for Christmas displays in Belgium
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In Merksplas, Belgium, volunteers from ‘Vrienden van de Kerststal’ (Friends of the Nativity Scene) threshed wheat to provide straw for Christmas displays in Merksplas and Zondereigen.
The group intentionally uses traditional methods, employing old threshing machines and tractors instead of modern agricultural equipment. They harvested nearly one hectare of wheat in July and are now processing it by hand to prepare materials for the nativity scenes. The volunteers separate the grain from the straw during threshing.
They will use the straw for the roofs of the nativity scenes and set aside around 200 kilograms of grain to resow the field. Maintaining the old machines requires significant effort, including a full day of maintenance before and after the annual task. Herman Verstraelen, a volunteer, explained that precision is essential in aligning the belt connecting the tractor to the threshing machine, requiring adjustments down to the centimeter.
He also noted this method of threshing is rare in the Flanders region of Belgium. The group’s work forms a consistent step in preparing the nativity scenes, which in Merksplas, change shape each year and incorporate materials like wood and old roof tiles.
