(no subject)
Inspired by mrdreamjeans, I decided now is as good as any to talk about holiday traditions, particularly decorating a tree. For years, the family Christmas decorating happened either the Saturday after Thanksgiving, or the first Saturday in December if that day Fell within the first 3 days of the month. Most years we had live trees. When I was about 6 years old we had one that was HUGE to fit in the living room of the old Victorian farm house we lived in at the time. It had to be 6' wide at the base and the top brushed the 12 foot ceiling. We made a popcorn garland string to put on the tree, but it did not fare so well as my brother and I kept on eating popcorn off the string.
So the tree would go up, along with the Nativity figures Mom brought from France when she and Dad were first married. Also all outside doors had to have a wreath, the mantle and other surfaces had to be set up with holiday greenery and candles as well. In the early years, mom would have us help but as time marched onward, the task fell more and more to my brother and I. After we all moved out, Mom bought an artificial tree with lights already built in and would have the tree decorated when we would get there for our Christmas visits. Now, the decorating has basically gone to my Jewish sister-in-law who LOVES to decorate since she never really got to do it before marrying into a Gentile family.
Here in Texas at Christmas, I rarely have decorated. For many years, I would be so fully invested in Turtle Creek Chorale rehearsals and programs that I would not have the time, much less the energy, to try to keep traditions alive. Now, even though I am no longer in the TCC, I still do not put up a tree and such as it just does not seem as important anymore. I still love to see the decorations and such in other people's homes, but just do not feel the impetus to put forth the effort to decorate here. I am not sure why, but I suppose if I was building a life with someone as part of a couple, I would be more inclined to want to decorate...
So the tree would go up, along with the Nativity figures Mom brought from France when she and Dad were first married. Also all outside doors had to have a wreath, the mantle and other surfaces had to be set up with holiday greenery and candles as well. In the early years, mom would have us help but as time marched onward, the task fell more and more to my brother and I. After we all moved out, Mom bought an artificial tree with lights already built in and would have the tree decorated when we would get there for our Christmas visits. Now, the decorating has basically gone to my Jewish sister-in-law who LOVES to decorate since she never really got to do it before marrying into a Gentile family.
Here in Texas at Christmas, I rarely have decorated. For many years, I would be so fully invested in Turtle Creek Chorale rehearsals and programs that I would not have the time, much less the energy, to try to keep traditions alive. Now, even though I am no longer in the TCC, I still do not put up a tree and such as it just does not seem as important anymore. I still love to see the decorations and such in other people's homes, but just do not feel the impetus to put forth the effort to decorate here. I am not sure why, but I suppose if I was building a life with someone as part of a couple, I would be more inclined to want to decorate...