Christmas Traditions - A 21st Century Look
Author: Marlia Brightston
Category: Shopping and Product Reviews
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I adore Christmas! I am not alone in thinking it is the best holiday of the year. In July the process begins, thinking about hand made Christmas cards and what alterations I should do to the decor.
Early in our marriage, my spouse and I would go to the Christmas tree farm in the days following Thanksgiving to find the right tree. I would play a John Denver Christmas album while going to the top of the hill. I made it a holiday tradition to play the album with the song "Daddy, Please Don't Get Drunk This Christmas," even though my husband despised it. We would travel from one lot to another in search of the difficult-to-find ideal tree: right height, evenly circular without gaps and spaces that lacked branches, and perfectly upright. At the end of the afternoon, I'd usually be tired, cold, and cranky; I'd tell him to just cut down the next tree he found and be done with it.
After arriving home with the tree, we would start putting it up and stabilizing it. For several years we had to stabilize the tree by wiring it to the wall to keep the cat from pulling it down. In spite of our best efforts to keep the tree watered, lifeless needles were spread across the floor by January. One year we brought home a very big family of insects that were living in the tree as well. This is not clean! It also appeared, over the years, as if we had more to clean up, and it was taking longer once the holiday was over.
We eventually decided it was best to buy a fake tree. I didn't feel that a faux tree would be as satisfying as a natural tree. I was greatly surprised by how much I liked it. The hinged limbs come with lights already attached. Trimming the tree can begin sooner as putting the tree up is easy. Once the tree is removed, come January, the rug is still clean. We do not allow disgusting insects to invade our home.
At times I miss the tradition of our "yearly Christmas tree battle." But we changed and developed new traditions in place of the old one. Once the tree is decorated, we listen to Christmas music and I prepare biscuits using dough I made and kept proportioned in the freezer. We brew a pot of hot spiced cider because we like to fill the house with the aroma of Christmas. The John Denver cassette I once had is gone, but I don't mind. It is no longer needed as we now have a new tradition.
We also bought pre-lit garland to adorn the fireplace and a wreath for the entry door to compliment our beautiful tree. We use pine air fresheners in our home and still have the live Christmas tree scent without the mess.
I am sure that you can make new traditions to go along with not having a real tree this year as well. Have a wonderful Christmas!
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Keywords: artificial xmas trees, Artificial Christmas wreaths, Pre-lit Christmas wreaths, Holiday wreaths, Decorative wreaths, artificial christmas garlands
View Count: 133
Date Submitted: 7/10/2008
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