Decorating for Christmas: How many trees do you have?

Christmas. The time of year when everyone, myself included, become stressed and sometimes forgetful of why we celebrate the holiday. However, I try to find time to stop and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas even before I set up my trees and house. When I sit back and think of the great memories of childhood past, I feel as if I have reverted into a child again and want to bring that same “magic” feeling into my house for my children and husband. 

 

If you grew up in Michigan, you may have heard of a tiny place called Bronner’s (HAHA). I can remember as a child going to Bronner’s in Frankenmuth, Michigan every year with my maternal grandparents. It was a special trip for all of us especially me. I can recall looking at all of the glass ornaments and being in absolute awe as I passed each tree. I loved the color, the design and the sparkle of each tree no matter what area we were in. My favorites though, have always been the glass ornaments from Poland and Germany. The ornaments are intricately handcrafted and painted so beautifully, that they have to be my favorites by far. It would seem only natural to be drawn to these, but not when you are a little girl and I give credit to my grandparents and parents for instilling the love of such beauty into my heart.

 
Each ornament has a special story behind it and some are older then me. It has been a family tradition to stop to Bronner’s every year since I was born to get an ornament that was just mine for our families Christmas tree. This is a tradition that has been hard to do since I now live in Colorado and I do not get home every year. Instead, we go to our local Christmas store so my children can pick out an ornament that represents them at each stage in their own life. Yet, when we travel home, you better believe we stop to Bronner’s (and of course Zehnder’s for chicken!) so that my own children can feel the “magic” of Christmas. So, it may be said that I am crazy for Christmas, but I love to decorate my trees with special memories of years past, present and future. Each year we put up our main family room tree and my son and daughter decorate their bedroom tree, the “kid” tree in the basement has decorations that date back to my pre-school years, and this year we put a 10 foot tree in the living room (we call it our white tree). As we decorate our trees, I pull an ornament out and there is always a back story that I share with my children, my husband has heard them all! Each ornament fills my heart with joy and marvelous stories or memories and I hope to continue this tradition as our family gets older and then my children can pass on the tradition of ornament story telling.

 This is a true and dear time for me as it also brings back the memories of being at my paternal grandparents house on Christmas Eve. The entire family would gather there and it was always chaotic, but some of the most fun as a child I have had. Forget sleepovers and ice cream, Christmas Eve was the day all of the cousins waited for because we knew that Santa was going to be there. It was a guarantee that Santa would be there after dinner and like clockwork, he appeared and sometimes brought Mrs. Claus with him. All of the family would sit in amazement that Santa was there and we would all sing Christmas carols, talk to him, receive gifts from him and then say good-byes. All of this took place next to another beautiful Christmas tree decorated with beautiful ornaments of its own kind. Some of these ornaments I have inherited and I put them up on the “kid” tree in the basement for my own children to enjoy. Santa’s tradition continues, and has been for 39 years, so that the great-grandchildren can experience the “magic” of Christmas.

So, as we continue with the on-going stress of Christmas, let us all sit back and think of a story or memory that an ornament on your tree may have given you. Perhaps, you may start your own ornament story telling tradition this year. Either way, sit back, enjoy your tree ornaments and remember to feel the “magic” of Christmas as if you are a child again. This is why I love Christmas tree decorating, I can relive past of innocence through my children’s eyes.