Making fire

"In the North, every family once had what we called a 'Keeper of the Household Fire'. These were wooden figures, shaped somewhat like a human, with a small hollow carved into them. Into this hollow, people placed dry moss or wood dust and spun a dry stick in it for a long time. The friction would produce sparks, which ignited the moss. These sparks had to be quickly caught with birch bark to kindle the fire. Once the fire was lit, it was carefully tended – its embers were never allowed to die out. Fire was the giver of life: it meant warmth, food, and comfort. The wooden figure was treated with the same care and respect and was passed down within the family."