Christmas Trees
It’s always difficult to find that
perfect Christmas tree. You can look for hours to get one
with just the right shape and size. Then you take one home
and hope it will last through Christmas. We found our tree
at a tree lot or tree farm. Fortunate are those who can
trudge out to the back of their property and lug back a big
tree and arms of holly with berries.
It’s important to keep the tree fresh, filling the house
with that special odor that only a live tree can give. We
have always put our tree in some water to preserve it as
long as possible. I’m not sure that even helps but we feel
better doing it. Some put sugar in the water and I even
knew someone who used Coca-Cola.
I remember when I was a boy, my daddy “fixed” our tree by
cutting off some of the badly spaced limbs and then boring
holes in the tree trunk and sticking them into the holes in
such a way as to give it more balance. We never kept the
tree very long after Christmas so these “transferred” limbs
never wilted.
There are many different kinds of Christmas trees. There
are Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, White Spruce, Red Cedar,
Leland Cypress and varieties of each of these. My wife
likes a full floor-to-ceiling Fraser fir tree. I prefer a
“Charlie Brown” type tree. The lights go on easier and
there’s no problem discarding it after Christmas.
Some like to get a live tree that can be planted in the
yard after Christmas. In doing this each year they have a
collection of living trees that remind them of past
Christmases. Some prefer an artificial tree. They are
available even decorated. I know a lady that at the end of
the season takes it to her basement and takes it out the
following Christmas avoiding the work of decorating it each
year. A widow lady who lives near me leaves her tree up all
year.
When I was an elementary school principal, each classroom
had a Christmas tree that the children decorated with
handmade ornaments. I remember doing this when I was in
school and the activity was a highlight of Christmas. I
guess that’s still permitted. If the word “Christmas” has
become such a serious problem, maybe they could call it
something else but it would be inappropriate not to have a
school tree.
I hope you have a bright and shining tree this Christmas.
I’m not sure Santa Claus will come if you don’t.