Interview with Grandmothers

Answers to Artificial Celebration
by Gerda Steiner, Jörg Lenzlinger and Kim Maxwell

We exchanged questions and interviewed our grandmothers about plant life, real or artificial, used within the home and during times of celebration. The discussion was inspired by Gerda and Jörg’s use of artificial flowers in their artwork, and my family memories filled with their significance and meaning, such as fake pine trees used in Australian homes to celebrate Christmas. This discussion looks at the subconscious effect family ornamentation places on our asthetic, and experiments with the bond shared between family and friends. I mean that grandparents can be very practical, not only does plant life form a symbolic function, but it also acts as a clean and functional vehicle for tradition and memory. By diving into the meaning of the subject we discover their practical uses and learn of a culture inherited in the family by form of decoration and story-telling.

 

Questions posed by Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzlinger, directed towards Grandmother, Olive Riley of Vermount, Victoria. The interview was conducted by myself at Grandma Riley’s home on Sunday 28.th, 1999. Additional questions I pose are in arrow brackets. (Kim Maxwell)

1.) The main reason to use plastic flowers was it.....
A) because they are more beautiful then real flowers?
B) or because they are more practical and clean?
B, Because they are more practical...<you said you clean them from time to time>...ye...I dust them over and can shake them.

2.) Artificial flowers don’t smell, does that bother you?
....No,...No not really

3.) Is there a difference between the colours of artificial or real flowers? If so, which ?
No, they’re very similar, very life like the similarity..<You mentioned before that Grandpa doesn’t like the smell of real flowers around the house>...He likes some real flowers like jonquils and freesias, which I have at the moment...<Which are your favorite flowers?> ...Ohhh, my favorite flower is the Rose. Like that one in the corner. (Pointing to red plastic rose sitting behind her). ...<And what does the Rose symbolise?> ---Love I suppose. I don’t know. That’s what they say - you give a dozen red roses... that’s what they say!

4.) Is there a need to replace artificial flowers from time to time? What are the reasons for the replacement?
...You want a change, you get sick of the same ones, so you make a change, ... or they get a bit untidy looking. They can tend to look old. Sometimes new varities come in too... <In the store do you check them out much?> Only when I need them.

5.) What did the first artificial flowers look like ?
They weren’t as real looking as they are today, they were plastic and very stiff ... the colours weren’t as natural back then. <When was the first time you saw them?>.. I can’t remember it would have been 20 years ago. I don’t remember.

6.) What did you think when you saw them for the very first time?
I thought it was amazing that you could have such life like flowers and they were artificial.

7.) Where did you buy your first artificial flowers?
Probably at Target in Box Hill... <Where do you get them now?> .... Wherever I see them. Very often those I have now, are those I have inherited from the deceased, those (pointing to the yellow flowers displayed in front of her) are Auntie Beryls’, the sweet peas are Auntie Beryls’ too..... <OHH, That’s nice, have you any others from members of the family ?> ... I’ve got artificial flowers that were my mothers, they are made out of feathers, died pink feathers, I’ve got flowers that made out of died coloured stockings too, ...I’ll show them to you later....

8.) Which are the materials you know artificial flowers are made from?
There’s feathers and died stocking! paper...( she touches the flower in front of her) ... don’t know what they’re made of...... <are they synthetic?> .... The leaves are very real looking and the stalks are plastic and the leaves are made of synthetic but they’ve got wire in them, .... you can bend the stems in these too,(she demonstrates) they must have wire in it. <What about the base, the fake garden? ... What is that, is that cut up plastic?> ...Ohhh, It’s just something to hold them in, that’s all....

9.) Did you ever make them by yourself?
I used to make paperflowers and ones out of fimo. <What did you use them for?> ..to make earrings and things.

10.) What are the criteria for the most beautiful artificial flowers?
A) they look like real ones
B) nice colours
C) fantastic form (sexy)
D) good price
A. They look like real ones.

11.) Does your husband have the same opinions?
It doesn’t really bother me. He wouldn’t worry if he had flowers in the house or not. One of the main reasons why I have them here is because with the floor heating on, ... you can’t keep them alive for more than a day.

12.) How do artificial flowers make you feel?
......oh, they’re an ornamental in the house. There are many memories in my plastic flowers, poppies are for armistice day, Daffodils raise money for cancer. I keep each of these flower pins and wear them each year. The feather flowers I have I gave to my mother when she was sick.

Grandma Riley is 78 years old. She has 2 great grandchildren, 4 grandchildren, and 2 daughters.

 

Questions posed by Kim Maxwell to Grandmother Lenzlinger. Interview conducted by Jörg Lenzlinger and Gerda Steiner , September 15th, 1999. At her home in Uster, Switzerland. Answers received via email with photo attachments.

1.) How do you celebrate Christmas?
Together with the families of my son and daughter. My son gives his wife every year a parcel, and I always know there’s a too small skirt inside! ...... These days I don’t have any Christmas tree. When I was a child we always went to cut a tree from our forest.

2.) Does it snow at Christmas time, at your home?
.... Always, there used to be snow already at the end of October.

3.) What is a traditional Swiss Christmas like?
In the evening of the 24th of December the family comes together in front of the Christmas tree. First we sing, then we give each other a present, then we have dinner together.

4.) Do you get lots of presents?
When I was a child we didn’t get presents. I was happy when I got an orange... Ohhh, ones I got a teddy bear, this was quite something! ... later together with my sister we got a pram, our cats had to play the babies and we made them jump into the air! ...

5.) How tall is the Christmas tree in the house?
The tree used to be placed on a small wooden box, and it reached the ceiling.

6.) If the tree is quite tall how do you make it stand up?
Everyone uses the same type of glass vase, it’s a special type of glass vase.

7.) How long does the tree last?
.... We remove it after New Year.

8.) Are there any spiders or cones on the Christmas tree?
It’s winter, too cold for insects..... And there are no cones, the trees are too small.

9.) Do you find it hard to clean up the pine needles?
You remove the tree before the needles drop.

10.) Is Jörg a good grandson?
Yes, ---of course, of course!

11.) What are the foods you serve in Switzerland at Christmas time?
My mother made a lot of pastries. All kinds of cookies, apples ... and pearcakes. She wouldn’t buy anything.... life was simpel and healthy. With my children we eat "Fondue Bourguignon!" (Jörg explains: In the middle of the table stands a hot pot of oil. Everybody dips small pieces of raw meat, with a long fork, into it) .... Today we eat "Mixed Grill".

12.) Is there a family tradition which involves decorating the Christmas tree?
The children are not allowed to see the tree before the evening of the 24th of December. The surprise to see the tree was brilliant.

13.) What do the grandchildren do to keep themselves amused on Christmas day?
They play out in our sleeping room... "plumsen". Climbing up the shelves and jump into the soft bed.

14.) How do you decorate your tree at Christmas?
When I was a child, we had candles, balls and apples ... later, strawstars and chocolate joined in! ... As for the top of the tree we place an angel on top.

15.) Do you believe in Santa Claus?
Today not anymore. When I was 4 years old, I was hiding behind the stove when he came to our house.

16.) Does Santa Claus come from Switzerland?
Yes, yes... it is like this.

17.) Are you a religious person?
Religious? What shall I tell you? God is inside us.

Grandmother Lenzlinger is 93 years old. She has 3 great grandchildren, 5 grandchildren and 2 by herself.