“Thousands of lights were burning on the green branches, and gaily-colored pictures, such as she had seen in the shop-windows, looked down upon her. The little maiden stretched out her hands towards them when--the match went out. The lights of the Christmas tree rose higher and higher, she saw them now as stars in heaven . . .” Hans Christian Andersen
We usually set up our tree on December 1, however this year after some discussion the kids agreed to set up the tree on November 30 so that daddy could be there to help. I think this is the first year that I haven't directed the placement of the baubles - that was done by the kids, as it should be. I am now the house Christmas photographer. The official tree-trimming night is accompanied by loudly-played Christmas music.
We have owned this [clearly fake] tree since Blossom was a baby and each year we choose a new bauble each, often from the David Jones Christmas Shop. Apart from those that have been given to us this tree represents 10 years of bauble-buying. I love the eclectic mix and buying the baubles slowly means that each one is beautiful and has some meaning to each of us.
Once, pre-kids, we went to a tree-trimming party where the invited children decorated the host family's tree from a large box of baubles. I love the idea of this but shudder at the reality of fifteen children grabbing baubles and fighting for a space on the tree. It was, however, a great night that the invited kids really loved.
I'm happy with our simple ritual and love the look of the tree sitting with its lights twinkling between the lounge and dining room.
Do you have a tree-trimming ritual?
12 comments:
Yes - our ritual is that we painstakingly arrange all the ormaments, tinsel, angels etc to meet the aesthetic requirements of a certain someone in our house. And then the badly-behaved Bengals rip everything off. So we start again. And they rip everything off again. By the end, we just toss things at the tree and hope they catch on something.
No, no, no!
You mustn't let the kids arrange the ornaments!!
What if they put two green ones next to each other or there isn't sufficient distance between two that are similar?
BTW, I have a similar problem to Fairlie with respect to naughty cats. Last year I found a stash of ornaments under our bed.
I do ours with the kids and we always have a real tree because the smell of pine in the house is what really says Christmas to me. Last year we put on candy canes, a couple of times I came in to find the tree looked a bit dishevelled which I'm pretty sure was sugar-related...
I had not thought about the cat-factor at all! I just know Bertie Wooster is going to be a bad cat about this, because he is being a complete adolescent pain in the arse at the moment...
lol I say "bah humbug" until the 1st of December and then I graciously allow V and 'Salina to get out the (fake) tree. I help put it up (cause I love technical stuff) and then find some task or other to keep me occupied while they decorate.
No but I want to with my little boys.
I love The HCA quote and your ritual sounds very special.
We are making a slow start this year. Grown up kids - lots of rushing around still to do. After a crappy year we feel we should be thankful and grateful for the season, but perhaps in a less showy manner than usual.
We always end up with a pile of ornaments in one spot. Which drives me crazy. I like things all symmetrical and orderly. But I also enjoy that it is "kid-made" and that they have so much fun getting it to look that off-kilter!
Your tree is lovely. Not asymmetrical at all!
I am trying (trying mind you!) to be less of a control freak about the placement of the baubles - so this means letting the girls put them anywhere they like and me re-arranging them once they've gone to bed! GOT.TO.STOP.THIS.BAD.HABIT!
Our tree trimming ritual sounds similar to yours. Each year we buy a couple of ornaments (DJ's or Bed Bath and Table mostly) and are slowly accumulating a tree's worth. Most of the baubles end up on the bottom because the children are still so little and I get to spend the next month ensuring that no-one pokes their eye out on the tree. This year we have 3 walkers and 1 roller. I am very excited about not having a crawler for Christmas!!!
I am looking at our tree as I type this .... I love that you let the kids loose ...
Now I have a four and five year old I let them loose on the tree. They did an amazing job - we have a mix of store bought and home made ornaments ...
My mum still has some made by us kids - over 30 years ago - now ain't that sweet ...
cheers le
I let the 4yr old do the bottom branches this year - and am pleased to say, I only had to move a couple of them :)
I also like to add something new each year: this year we made paper chains - they look fab: much better than ye olde tinsel..
P.S. - looks like we might have similar house floorplans - your tree is where OUR tree is :)
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