In the home I grew up in, every Christmas we had a live tree in the living room. That’s the way it was, and it didn’t change for years. My father brought two ornaments, blue glass deer, to that tree from his home as a boy. It was always a thrill to unwrap those deer and hang them on the tree.
My husband brought to our family the candle holders that clip onto the branches and hold real candles. I’ve changed the tree decorations many times in 30 years but never the tree itself. It is a real evergreen, it smells like evergreen, the branches become brittle, the ornaments droop on the branches after 5-6 weeks, the needles fall, but if that’s all we ever have for memories, for family tradition, then that is enough.
One tree has given so many memories to our family. It continues to be the one tradition that our children hold dear for their own families. I weep when I think of all the gifts one tree can give to families of the past, present, and forevermore. How simple, how real.
What is your Christmas tree tradition?
This message is an excerpt from a Women of the ElCA blog by Syd Brinkman. Today is Christmas Day or the Nativity of Our Lord (II & III).
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