The Story Tellers of the Christmas Tree

During my childhood, decorating the tree was a very special family event that kicked off the much anticipated Christmas season. Mom would polish the silver tea set and make hot cocoa to fill the gleaming pitcher. We sat in the living room arranging color-coded metal tree branches as she brought out the engraved platter that was full of delicious treats like chocolate chip cookies and warm banana nut bread.

After the tree was assembled, we dug through the ornament box, drank from our china cups and saucers, and remembered the stories behind each of the clay figurines and handmade bulbs as we put them on the tree.

The Christmas before Phil and I were married, I decided that I wanted an immaculate tree fit for a display at a five-star hotel. So, the next day we hit the mayhem filled stores at 6am to grab lots of ornaments at deeply discounted prices. I suppose we made some memories that day, but it wasn't until this year that I realized I missed the nostalgic tree of my childhood. The one filled with stories and traditions.

So this year, we filled two trees with glittering lights and sparkly ornaments. There was enough room for the glitzy ornaments we bought for our first tree, as well as the heirloom figurines my mom received on her own wedding day. Though there's just the two of us right now, Phil and I managed to make our own memories as we filled the tree with memories of Christmas past. I couldn't be happier.

Comments

[Aubrey]

I know how you feel - my first years away from home, I decorated my own tree with "perfect" lights and ornaments. Everything matched. But last year my sister bought us all the exact ornament that we've coveted of my moms for so many years and there's no way I couldn't include it in the decorations. Your ornaments are so pretty!

[Jenni]

I've always had a soft spot for heirloom ornaments. The glitzy trees look nice, but they just aren't as much fun to put up!

[Heather Anne Brenden]

I had the Rescuer's Down Under ornaments too! But cannot find them anymore. :[

[Emily]

No way - I live in Tasmania waaaay down the bottom of Australia and I have those exact first two ornaments - the santa and the drummer!

[Jillian]

My grand-mother moved into an apartment when I was eight years old, and my mother inherited all of the ornaments that decorated her childhood tree. Some of them are nearly identical to the ones you pictured. We loved those old, somewhat tattered, ornaments so much more than any of the new and shiny ones. I could never have a "designed" or themed tree. To me, it's all about the memories of the Christmases with my brother and sister that those ornaments represent.

[Patty]

Love the blog post. The best Christmas trees were the ones we put up at my family house. My dad had the best ornaments from when he was a kid, old German glass. And every year I bought my dog an ornament. Man one day I want all of those ornaments on my tree, my parents no longer put one up. Maybe if I beg....

[Amanda]

OMG! I have that same rescuer's ornament! I totes need to find it now! thanks!

[tiara]

those rescuers ornaments must have been very popular! I have one on my tiny little table tree as well and its been in my family for many Christmases! this was a lovely post thanks for sharing

[blouse]

we haven't had a christmas at my moms house with her tree in years. i almost forgot about how speciial all the ornaments are. thanks for the reminder. i'm glad you have memories for your tree.

xo~jane

[Amber Blue Bird]

I am actually doing the same thing this year. We kept some of our old "fancy" ornaments but this weekend we are going to make hand made ornaments as well. A tree with memories is better than a glitzy tree any day :)

[Cheryl]

I have that same Rescuers Down Under ornament too. It seems like a lot of us were making good childhood memories at McDonalds. Haha.

[Stephanie]

We did the same thing growing up and this year my boyfriend and I put up our own tree covered in vintage lace snowflakes and ornaments from our childhood. Those are the best kind of trees

[Victoria / Justice Pirate]

awww how awesome!! Sounds so pretty and enchanting with how you would do things. that's really nice.