We will be rockin’ that Christmas tree this year……
Well, it’s here: the next round of the holiday season. We took last week and dialed in on some “to-do’s” for Thanksgiving. And hopefully you will be ready for the big day on Thursday because you are uber organzied! And…. like so many others, we put away the turkey, all but the leftovers on Thursday. And on the DAY AFTER it is a full court press to get the tree and all the decor up for Christmas! So, my question for you is: what is your tree type?
Oh…wait!!!! Before you answer that question, let’s explore a bit of how the Christmas tree became so prominent in our celebration of the holiday! The History of Christmas Trees tells us “the evergreen fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals (pagan and Christian) for thousands of years. Pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come.” And, as late as 2004 ” Pope John Paul called the Christmas tree a symbol of Christ. This very ancient custom, he said, exalts the value of life, as in winter what is evergreen becomes a sign of undying life, and it reminds Christians of the “tree of life” of Genesis 2:9, an image of Christ, the supreme gift of God to humanity.” So whatever it is to you….let it be just that! I really love how Christmas trees have become so personal over the years!
It used to be that all of the trees were pretty much the same and you would store decor year after year until it became family heirlooms. And…that is still o.k.! I love it! And as a matter of fact, I still have every ornament my children ever made in school. And YES! I can still fill an entire tree with those ornaments. I will confess, I have two trees and have had for years! Actually, more if you count all of the “under 3 ft. trees” for individual rooms…but two full size decorated ones. On occasion, I break them out, but some years I like the simplicity of just one! I used to feel overindulgent having two!!!!
But NOT ANY MORE! Tree decor is now and art form and a hobby and even a career! Everything is themed and pristine to the “enth” degree. And so entertaining! Trees seem to be the center or focal point of the season. Some crafty and memory laden. Some artfully created. Some with a floral flair and some, just barely there. AND…. some not even there! A tree doesn’t bring Christmas; it’s like most of all the other things we do during the holiday season, it’s a tradition. Traditions are fun and rewarding but can be tiring as well! Some decorate with everything but the tree and that is o.k. too! I just feel like a tree helps get me in the mood!There is a way to have a tree of every shape, color, small and large or even something that doesn’t even look like a tree, be a tree.
I remember one year of friend of mine who was a cowgirl decorated a HUGE tumbleweed from her family’s ranch and had it in her condo! So fun! And another year, another friend had just pruned some Quaking Aspens from her property and decided to bring some of the residual branches into the house and decorate them! So natural and peaceful and refreshing!
It seems nowadays we can have any shape and size for a tree and for it to be just as symbolic as ever. Very freeing to use your imagination and change some things up a bit! Let you imagination FLOW! Find your tree type! What really speaks to you, your family and the space it will accommodate? What can you do for your Tannenbaum this year!?