My favorite holiday tradition of all time ever, from the beginning of my time, is the begetting of the Christmas tree. I have many Christmas tree stories. Just thinking of the whole process of procuring and decorating a Christmas tree makes me feel happy and blissful. The lights on a tree, light me up.
Every year I look forward to getting a tree. One year, before I had kids and before I was married, my not-yet-husband and I decided not to get a Christmas tree. Worst Christmas decision ever. I’d rather not get or give gifts. My home felt so devoid of Christmas cheer that year. The next year, my not-yet-husband surprised me by getting a huge Christmas tree. It’s possible I fell in love with him even more because of that tree.
For me Christmas is about the bonding that happens between family and friends. It’s about the time we spend together. It’s about love. Somehow a Christmas tree represents all those things to me. The smell of it, the look of it, makes my heart fill with every single Christmas that has come before and with the hope of many more Christmases to come.
I have a friend that I’ve had since I was in junior high, who happens to be Jewish, she has spent many Noche Buenas with me and on the Christmas Eve’s that she hasn’t been able to spend with me, my Christmas tree reminds me of her because it just wouldn’t be Christmas without her. Christmas trees remind me of my mother no matter how close or far she happens to be. They remind me of my brother before all of his problems. They remind me of the time I almost bludgeoned a friend and an ex-boyfriend for the careless over-tinseling of a tree (no tinsel has been allowed on a tree of mine since that unfortunate incident).
Now I get to share my love of Christmas trees with my daughters and I can already tell that for them, like for me, it’s going to be a life-long love affair.
What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I am a Britax Latina Advisory Board Member and Blogger. As always, all opinions, ideas, and stories are my own. You can connect with BRITAX on Twitter and Facebook.
Ah yes! A tree just brings it all together, doesn’t it? Nothing like it. Sweet post.
How I love this post! It makes just makes me happy! Merry Christmas Mami
Just seeing all of the family and eating is my favorite Christmas tradition but your tree post reminded me of when I was an accomplice to a tree nabbing in someone’s FRONT yard. A couple of friends of mine chopped it down and drug it to my car, tied it on the roof and I took it home. Good times………so glad I lived through my ‘stupid’ stage.
I had no idea you were so wild.
Getting drunk. No sorry I couldn’t resist. I’m not heavily into any of it, but I love the fact that my 2 kids aged 14 and 18 still put a sack, mince pie and sherry out for a Father Christmas they don’t believe in. 🙂
Your post reminded me to put Christmas tree on my shopping list! Ay!! Even though we are not religious we still love the warmth that the holidays bring and all it’s euphoric “magic”.
I thought it was only lumberjacks that had tree appeal. I think Christmas music might be my favorite tradition.
Getting the tree is one of our big traditions also. We seem to always have a tree story as well, never a dull moment putting up the tree 🙂
This is so sweet. I hate tinsel too. Every year I look forward to seeing Christmas Trees Around the World at a county museum. Favorite tradition: Making tamales!
I love the decorations! Also we started a new tradition…this will be the 3rd year! Our adult children will decorated Gingerbread Houses. They have a ball! I do love going to a Christmas Eve service and I watch It’s a Wonderful Life when I get home.
I love decorate the tree with my son. Merry Christmas!
Hi, how are you? Big hugs to you and your son!
I share your love of trees, although Christmas trees are a bit spiky for my liking.
Calling by to thankyou for your support of my blogging over the last year, I love to see real candles on the Christmas tree, but it is not something you see very often these days. Meanwhile I wish you a wonderful Christmas season and hope you will have time to call by and listen to the music on News From Italy over the holidays.
Thank you for your support and camaraderie as well. I enjoy reading about your life in Italy and your photographs are always a treat.
Happy Holidays!
Visit me at: http://www.unknownmami.com.
I love the tree but my favorite is singing carols in the car while we drive and look at lights.
🙂
Traci
That’s a good one, but will never be my favorite because I do not sing as well as you do.
Tinsel brings tears to my eyes. Feliz Navidad Mami!
Big hugs and much love to you!
I didn’t get a Christmas tree this year and I was sad but when I put up my tiny purple trees it made it all better. The purple trees remind me of my grandmother who was very 60s. That was her glory era and aluminum trees were all the rage. She was always in style but also very kitschy. The last tree I remember her having was a teal tinged tree.
Do you put up a live or artificial? I didn’t put one up this year as my doctors still don’t want me lifting anything too heavy and my artificial tree is up in a box on a high shelf, and I agree, it just doesn’t feel the same without one up!
Wishing you and your family a very happy, healthy Holidays and a prosperous New Year! Glad I finally got a chance to see the wonderful lady under that bag! LOL 🙂
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly