KALEIDOSCOPE

The Christmas tree stands as a focal point of many people’s decorations.  Set in a prominent place, its lights and decorations create a special, festive mood.

For years, the decorating of the house and tree was a family activity.  After breakfast, we lugged the boxes of decorations out of the basement.   With the surfaces dusted, we carefully packed away all the routine decorations that sat out for ten to eleven months out of the year so there was space for the Christmas decorations.

The mantle was dedicated to Santa’s village and the stockings were hung in wait for Santa.  Tables held figures of trees, Santas, snowmen, nutcrackers, special Christmas books, and anything else that looked Christmasy.

For the first couple of years after I was first married, we went out and purchased a live tree a week and a half to two weeks before Christmas.  One year, however, there had been a shortage of trees and we trudged from tree lot to tree lot only to find them closed.  This was the year we purchased an artificial tree, and even those were in short supply.  The tree stood in front of the front picture window that was lined with lights.  Then, we put the lights on the tree.  Finally, the box of ornaments was opened.  I took the ornaments out one by one and unwrapped them.  After I put a hook on the end, I gave my two boys, alternately, the job of putting the ornaments on the tree.  Some years the ornaments all seemed to be on one side, but I never rearranged them.  Although my youngest is now 22, I was honored that he wanted to help decorate the tree this year.

The decorating was followed by enjoying a glass of eggnog.  We rounded the evening off by snuggling up together on the couch and watching the movie Prancer.  As the movie came to a close, my sleepy boys got ready for bed and we finished the evening off with a Christmas themed story.

My boys are grown now and as I decorated the house this year, I found myself missing those old traditions.