A st Century Look at Christmas

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays! Like a majority of folks, this is the best part of the year for me. It is in July that I start planning for it. I begin by planning my home-made Christmas cards and then moved on to think about how I will alter my decorations. After my husband and I got married, we would visit the Christmas tree selling farms during the week that followed Thanksgiving so that we could find the most perfect tree.

There was a John Denver cassette tape that I would sing along with while we headed up the hill. The main reason my husband hated the album was due to the song "Daddy, Please Don't Get Drunk This Christmas," but this did not stop me from playing it. This soon became a part of the tradition. We searched for the perfect tree by going from lot to lot. We were looking for one that did not have any large holes, was not too tall, and one that was perfectly round with a trunk that was straight. Usually I would get tired, cold, and cranky by the late afternoon, so I would tell him to cut down the next darn tree he found.

After lugging the tree home, we then had the task of setting it up and making sure it was secure. For a number of years, the tree needed to be secured to the wall using wires to keep it stable and also to avoid getting knocked over by the cat. There were needles all over the carpet by January, even after trying to keep it watered over the holidays. One year, we had the misfortune of buying a tree that a huge family of bugs called home. It was so messy! In addition, the clean-up after the holiday seemed to increase and take more time each year. At last, we wised up and bought an artificial tree.

We had always had a "real" tree, so I didn't expect to be satisfied with an artificial tree. To my amazement, I really liked it a lot! The limbs of the tree have hinges and are already lit. It is easy to set up and we can begin with the decorations rather quickly.

In January, with no mess to clean off the carpet, everything is back to normal in no time. No longer is our home host to a bunch of unwelcome bugs. We used to have an "annual Christmas tree fight" and I miss this old tradition. However, new traditions have taken its place.

Christmas music plays while the tree is decorated, and I bake cookies with previously frozen dough in ready to bake portions. While we're decorating the tree, hot cider is warming on the stove and we are surrounded by the nostalgic scents of Christmas time. I have no idea what happened to my John Denver tape, but it doesn't matter. We have started a new tradition in which we do not need it anymore.

In addition to our lovely tree, the fireplace now has beautiful pre-lit garland draped over the mantle and the front door flaunts a festive new wreath that perfectly matches our tree. I just scatter a few pine scented diffusers around the house and Voila! Our "artificial" tree is better than a "real" tree. Brand new traditions can be introduced to compliment the various benefits that artificial trees can have. Have a wonderful Christmas!.

Marlia Brightston loves to decorate for Christmas, especially since she purchased some artificial christmas trees from classychristmastrees.com. slim artificial christmas trees work great for both her home and her classroom and give her much more time for other important things, like her children.