I’ve been doing some heavy thinking these days. Does anyone think it’s strange to cut down a living tree, put it in your house, and decorate it? How strange are we to do this? If you consider that the first “tree inside the house” had actual candles on it, yes, it is indeed strange. This sounds like a perfectly good idea, doesn’t it? Let’s put candles on a dead, dry, flammable tree inside of your house.
It was the Germans who brought the tree into the house first. The Evergreen tree, which remained green all year-long, was special during the cold winter months, and held dear, so dear, they brought it inside the house. It is believed that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added candles to the tree to mimic the stars outside.
We can thank Albert Sadacca for turning the candles into electric bulbs. He was only fifteen at the time, and his family happened to have some extra bulbs on hand. Safety was the main factor in this progression. Later the bulbs became a string of lights, which didn’t catch on right away. He only sold a hundred strands his first year. They became more popular when he started painting the bulbs in red, green, and other colors. Needless to say, that guy had a bright idea. A little joke for you.
I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t quite “feel” like Christmas until we have decorated our tree. For the last six years, we’ve been going to a Christmas tree farm to select a tree. We’re greeted with hugs and candy canes. It makes me feel good, too, to support a local tree grower. They cut the tree in such a way that it will regrow yet another tree in its place.
We take our time picking out a tree, enjoying the property. Even if we see our tree within minutes of looking, we still wander around. For me, it’s one of my favorite things about Christmas. Someday, I’ll probably switch to artificial. In the meantime, however weird this tree thing is, I dig it!
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Lovely photos…we have always done artificial but this year the hubs has taken an interest in the real deal…guess cos of the kids.
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Thanks, Boomie. I’m sure the kids will enjoy it!
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When I do real I usually buy one in a pot that I can plant later outside. My dad used to do this sometimes also. I like it. You get the best of a tree without killing one. 🙂
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That’s a great idea! We did that once. We don’t have a lot of room anywhere to plant one in our backyard, unfortunately.
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Yeah most people wouldn’t. One year when I was broke after my divorce I used a large house plant. I even put little lights on it. It was festive anyway.
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Well, that works! I like to put lights up everywhere, too. It does make things festive. It helps get me in the spirit of things.
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But the trees – don’t you feel their pain? Haha, sorry, I always remember that stupid Ferngully cartoon movie. I can’t have real trees because I’m allergic to everything green. So we have fakes. We only recently got a six-foot because, well, Thing Two.
I love your snowman up in the border. People have these cool borders that change. I’m not sure how to do that. Huh. And your boys are very cute. How old are they?
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I should feel sad about the tree, but I like it too much. It’s like coffee. I’ll never give that up. I could handle a fake though, of course, if I had to. I don’t think all the themes can have different pictures in their header. This one could do that. So, it’s probably not you. Your theme maybe just can’t do it. Thanks…My boys are 9 and 6, good friends now.
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We’ve used an artificial tree before–after a holiday tree festival where we purchased one through an auction. We still have it and set it up in the basement, but we’re back to a real tree for our main room. It’s just not the same without that scent in the air. 🙂
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I do like pine scent. It’s nice, isn’t it? I’m sure we will have a fake one some day, but I like this little tradition of ours. I love roaming around the Christmas trees. What’s your tree like that you purchased through an auction?
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Very nice with lovely decorations. Our hospital has an annual tree festival and auction.
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Where’s the snow? Or freezing rain? Unlike here in New Hampshire.
Admittedly, a Christmas tree is a ridiculous custom, an ever-so pagan one at that, despite Martin Luther’s endorsement, at least until you have kids. But it’s also something my wife endorses, and that’s that.
We usually don’t even go out to the tree farm until a few days before Christmas, and even then don’t bring it into the house until Christmas Eve. Of course, the tree usually doesn’t leave the house until Groundhog’s Day, either.
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It is pretty ridiculous, but we just do it anyway, don’t we? It’s such a fire hazard to get a real tree, but, admittedly, I like it. I have to make sure to water it so it doesn’t dry out. Nope, no snow here, not much rain. A foggy morning is all. I know we’re a little spoiled! We didn’t take our lights down until March last year. For reals. It was St. Patrick’s Day!
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Like you, I couldn’t imagine Christmas without a tree. There is nothing like the smell of a fresh tree. But I gotta say, we’ve never gone to a farm to pick one. That must be quite the experience. Are the trees more expensive compared to buying them from a local commercial lot?
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Hi Anka. No, not really. There may be a few lots that could be a little cheaper, but I think for the most part it’s about the same as a commercial lot. At least,at this particular farm. It’s fun. It’s a little bit of a drive, etc., but it’s worth it.
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I haven’t had a big enough house for a ‘real’ tree for years. But with the re-buliding of the old house I’ll be looking for one next year 😀
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Oh, good Dianne! That will be a nice added bonus for re-building your house, I bet. 🙂
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always get a real one. Have to have the wonderful scent of pine..a tradition. A tradition I hope that will bring a certain college girl some smiles and relief this weekend :0)
Love the family photo.. and why do they always find the water?
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Audra, oh I hope so. I’m sure your daughter will love to come home to the pine scent of the Christmas tree. I hope you can get a smile out of her! That will be nice to spend some time together. Thanks! It never fails, they find water, and their shoes get absolutely soaked. Ah, to be a kid again!
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Back home my mom would always get a real one, once I moved out and my first tree I got a real one too, huge mistake when that thing starts to dry is impossible to keep the house clean. After that I get artificial, I have two, one black and one white, this year we put on the white one.
Really cute pics.
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Thanks, Leo! A black tree, huh? That would be something to see. I’m not sure I’ve seen that before. I agree the real ones get dry pretty fast, especially if you forget to water it!
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It is a very bizarre custom, but I agree: having a decorated tree in the corner of the living room makes it feel like Christmas, especially if the lights are off, with only the tree lights on, Christmas music playing softly…ah, nostalgia. Also, back when there were candles on the tree, how did 100% of the houses not burn down at Christmas every year?
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I know, isn’t it crazy to think they put real candles on the tree? My tree gets so dry sometimes I hesitate to turn the lights on. We decorated our tree last night. Finally, it feels a little more like Christmas. Out in sunny California, I’m not complaining, I need this to get into the Christmas spirit.
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Our tree is up as of last weekend … and putting it up to the music of the season is an added bonus.
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How nice, Frank! We listen to some Christmas music, too. Usually, we listen to the Charlie Brown Christmas music, but not this year! Still, we had some nice Christmas tunes.
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… and Christmas music comes in SO MANY varieties!
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I know. It’s AMAZING!! Isn’t it?
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It has been awhile since I have had a real tree. Hang on to it as long as you can. In your case you have the whole experience of going as a family to pick it out etc. Those are memories worth more than anything.
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Absolutely, Michelle. I think so, too. One year I thought about going to the lot down the street, but no, that’s just not the same thing! Picking out the tree is one of my favorite things about the holidays. It’s very simple, too. We just go there and roam around, kids get wet, eat cookies. It’s a good time.
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If you have time, here is the story of how I lost my Christmas tree. I have been considering re-posting it. https://silkpurseproductions.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/oh-christmas-tree-or-not/
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I have a Charlie Brown christmas tree this year that I brought at Rite Aid, and I love it. Perfect for an apartment! I do miss the tradition of going with my family and picking out a tree; some years we even cut it down ourselves.
Lovely family photos!
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Do you have the authentic one? The actual Charlie Brown tree? I bought one for my dad last year from Rite Aid, or maybe it was Walgreen’s. He loves it, too! Does it have the red ornament? They even have some that play the Charlie Brown music. We don’t cut down our own tree, but you can at this place. My husband lets them do it! Thanks, Jen!
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I have great memories of going to the tree farm to pick out a Christmas tree every year when I was little. I figured out after I was married that I’m actually allergic to them. No wonder I sniffled through December all those years. We have gone artificial but still go walk around the local tree farm just for fun.
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Oh, sorry to hear you’re allergic. I’m hearing from others as well. That’s too bad! I’m glad you can still enjoy the tree farm and visit. They’re nice, aren’t they. Kind of enchanting. It sounds like something I would do!
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I love visiting the tree farm. We usually end up buying a wreath for outside. That way I still get something “fresh” but can breathe. 🙂
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That’s an excellent compromise!
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This is the first year my wife and I have had a tree.
She finally talked me into it. *sigh*
It just seems like… I don’t know… there’s actual ‘effort’ involved with this sort of thing.
Also (randomly), your family appears to be particularly tall, B.F.
🙂
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Oh, SIG, of course there’s effort, but well worth that effort, right?! I think you’ll grow to love the tree and soon can’t imagine a Christmas without it. You’ll have to get back to me on that. True, my family is on the tall side, except for me. I’m just average, although all my sisters are taller than me! I’m the shrimpy one! 🙂
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I posted yesterday, but my comment didn’t show up. My internet was… not good.
Maybe your tree farm would accept your planted tree after the holidays.
You’re boys are so cute. 😀
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Oh, bummer about your computer! That’s a nice idea. The tree gets so very dry, however. This reminds me…I need to water it. I do love my boys. Thanks! 🙂
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