‘Tis the Season
In my family, we traditionally start Holiday decorating the day after Thanksgiving. I don’t know why we start so early, but it may be because I come from one of those families that puts up SO many decorations that we would never get it all done if we didn’t start early. In any case, I’ve decided to keep the tradition alive – we’ve spent Thanksgiving break stringing lights and hanging ornaments. And when I say we, I mean I.
Just look at this picture and note: I am the only one working on the tree. If I look irritable, it’s because it took ALL day to get to this point. The tree took me hours to put together (a fake). By the time I finished, I was irritable. The tree is huge and has billions of branches. The billions of branches are covered by billions of lights, and miles of tinsel.
Here is a picture of the finished tree. It’s a 9-footer – a cast off from my mom from when she lived in an enormous house. Our house is not so enormous, and the tree is perhaps somewhat imposing. Still, it makes me feel like the Queen of Christmas – Bow down to me, oh you pathetic beings with your mere 5-7 foot trees.
We have some new additions this Christmas. The first, a Nativity Scene. Now, Cedric is not really of the Nativity scene sort, and this is the third year I’ve suggested we buy one. The first two times he was opposed, but the third time was a charm, as they say. It just goes to show you – compromise is the foundation of a good marriage. That, or wearing your partner down until they eventually just say ‘whatever you want, dear. A Nativity scene? Good idea!” The weird thing- I don’t think he even remembers that he didn’t want one before.
We’ve also added a Christmas village, or the beginnings of one anyway. This was Cedric’s idea – I was less enthusiastic. I had visions of people who put those electric villages under their Christmas trees in a mess of tangled cords – in a word, tacky. Now that we have it, and I see that it can be tastefully done, I love it. In fact, Cedric only bought one house, and it was I who insisted we go out and buy more, more, more! (we’ve invested millions in this decoration).
Last, but far from least, is Loulou’s little stocking – the most sentimental of the decorations. Somehow, we both agree, having the Baby this year has made this Christmas season much more special. I almost can’t wait to bring him downstairs to open his gifts on his very first Christmas.
Il est superbe, ton sapin avec ses billions of lights, ,ça vaut bien une journée de travail et penses que c’est le premier de Loulou, il faut qu’il en garde le souvenir ! En ce qui concerne la crêche, il y en a toujours eu une à la maison, Alain-Michel avait fabriqué la crèche elle-même en bois avec un toit en chaume (j’avais sacrifié une balayette pour cela, le chaume c’était les poils de la balayette !)et une petite lumière derrière un panneau représentant le ciel pour figurer l’étoile qui avait guidé les rois-mages, mais normalement les rois-mages ne doivent pas être dans la crêche avant Noël, il faut attendre qu’ils soient arrivés après avoir suivi l’étoile. Le Petit village est très mignon aussi, on en voit de plus en plus en France également dans les magasins. Mais le plus beau de tout c’est évidemment Loulou.
Bisous
What a beautiful tree, family traditions are a neat thing to keep up with, how it all started who knows! A child’s first Christmas is a wonderful experience. And as long as they beleive in Santa so is every one there after.
love, mom
Très joli votre arbre de Noël :)
Le petit Jésus, il ne faut pas le mettre tout de suite dans la crèche ! Il n’est pas encore né ! En tout cas, c’est comme cela que nous faisons dans ma famille : nous mettons le petit Jésus dans la crèche au retour de la messe de minuit, la nuit du 24 décembre…
Okay Frenchies, you have been heard! When Loulou is old enough to understand, we’ll put Jesus and the Wise Men in the “creche” on Christmas!
Not one day earlier!
Though the epiphany, technically, is 12 days after Christmas.
I guess as your grandma it is my responsibility to share the day after Thanksgiving tradition. You see it started approximately 40 years ago when my first born would be 1 the day after Christmas. I was so excited her first Christmas to see her eyes light up when she saw her first christmas tree and all the decorations that I wanted to capture those expressions as long as possible. At that time I would keep the tree until New Years Day and as a family we would take it down. Although I was usually a family of 1. However, as time went by and my first born discovered that she was to have her special day on December 26, the decorations must go that day. No Birthday to be shared with Christmas, no presents wrapped in Christmas paper and not a single birthday present purchased early. You see the day after Christmas or the 26th of December starts the traditional after Christmas sales. A shopping we would go to get the birthday goodies. The idea from the birthday girl was that she would get more for her money; and she did. So you see my darling granddaughter, in order to get the most out of Christmas and to be able to enjoy that expression of wonder from your babe, you need to start the day after Thanksgiving. Besides if you leave decorations up after New Years day, you appear to be just down right tacky.
The more decorations, the more the Christmas Spirit is expressed through the eyes of babes.
Now that is how one of the many family traditions got started and will continue for many generations to come. I HOPE.