When I was little and lived in the Czech Republic I believed that the little baby Jesus flew by on a golden string, entered our home through the window, and on December 24, Christmas Eve, deposited a fully decorated Christmas tree into our living room complete with real candles and presents. Only years later did I discover that my parents surreptitiously decorated the tree that day and lit the tiny candles to enable a Christmas miracle. The tree remained in place well into January, but the candles were lit only that one night.
Fast forward to today; in my home I do things a little differently. Unfortunately I no longer believe that the baby Jesus delivers tree and presents on Christmas Eve. I decorate my tree the last weekend of November so that it is fully resplendent in holiday glory for December 1. I love decorating my house and my tree and I want to enjoy it for the entire 'holiday' month. The tree and Christmas decorations all come down on New Year's day because to me, holiday decorations look sad and droopy after Christmas. Decorating the tree involves Christmas music, wine and yelling at the cat to stay away from the ornaments - she traditionally breaks one every year.
Since buying a house with a big red door a few years ago, the tree-decorating weekend always begins with the removal of my fall wreath from my door and the appending of the Christmas wreath. When everything is decorated I light all the candles and I light up the tree, I sit on the floor and happily gaze at the tree for a long time enjoying its sparkle and I reminisce about Christmases past.
Let the month of cheer begin.
56 comments:
Just Beautiful. White Christmas decorations are so magical.
Christmas in the northern hemisphere makes so much sense to me now after all those years of BBQ's in the sun! It's still Christmassy but I think fake snow everywhere and people wearing flip flops will look funny to me this year!
Gorgeous white tree! I loved the story of your childhood beliefs about Jesus on the golden string. Our family had almost no holiday traditions when I was young, so I have been striving to create as many as possible with my own children. We've just been decorating our home as well, and I find that I grow more nostalgic and sentimental with each passing holiday season. Traditions are such beautiful things.
beautiful tree. looks so dreamy.
i love your tree is so lihgting, the ornaments are amazing, delicate and gorgeus,your post let me think our traditions... our childrens adorn it sitting on the table because my tree is a small one... and our lihgt have a christmas music when on... cheer to you!
I like to enjoy our tree and the lights all December too-it's so dark outside and I look forward to switching the lights on and lighting the candles. I enjoyed your photos and love the name of your blog
What wonderful Christmas photos!
You're ahead of me - this weekend is 'clean the house in preparation for decorating' weekend.
I'm a mid December to Jan 6th decorations girl - like to keep the Christmas sparkle as long as possible into January. Love the new banner pic.
I'm usually for traditional green when it comes to Christmas trees, but Raina - this one makes me change my mind - it's so very lovely! One of your other commenters used the word "dreamy" and I think that is exactly the feeling it gave to me, too. More stories, more photos, please!!!! ;o)
Lovely! such pretty delicate ornaments. As we have new kittens a i am unsure as to wether a tree would be a good idea. I have vintage glass baubles which will be a definate no this year. I think Christmas would not be the same without a twinkling tree though to gather round come Christmas morn.
With love for a happy weekend. xx
Absolutely lovely. The first thing that came to my mind when seeing the photo of your tree... white feathers. Love your ornaments. Sparkles indeed.
Oh, it makes me feel the holiday spirit! I love the whites and the coolness of it.
enjoy decorating! i love all the lights everywhere here in the city!
You have nice glass decorations, everybody used to have them in the Czech Republic but lately they have become quite expensive and people buy cheap plastic ones. What a decay! At least they look the same like the glass ones. For my first own Christmas tree two years ago I still could get the prewar ones.
What a beautiful tree and your photos are so dreamy! We tend to do the same with our decorations, though some years I wait until the week before christmas to put up the tree. But it must ALWAYS come down before january 1st!
Beautiful decorations.
I have a friend who lives in Prague - she told me all about the very strong Christmas Eve traditions there.
We will decorate our tree next weekend, so we can have 4 weeks of enjoying the sparkliness before it all comes down again.
x
oh,Raina...such gorgeousness and what a lovely story!
Your Christmas decorating sounds like ours. :-) The first thing we do when we get done is light up the tree and just sit for a while.
Oh, and I really need to get you to give me some photography tips. One day I want to grow up and be able to take pictures like you! lol
That's sure a beautiful tree! I liked hearing about your childhood christmas - it was very similar to my mother's Christmas and I think might be more a European style. Like you, I can't wait and get started decorating for most of the month! Enjoy :)
It's funny how we all begin our own little rituals and traditions. I feel much like you do about the tree after Christmas. I can't rip things down quickly enough. But the weekend after Thanksgiving, I am itching to get everything decorated. Your tree is delightful!
I like the bird! Totally whimsical!
Love the photos, what a fantastic tree!
hey raina! I can't believe it is almost december! I love holiday traditions.
it's begun! i like your new blog banner and i like the white tree (yes, even if i am a scrooge!) :) i'm going to help mom decorate the country club tonight and will probably be home around 6am :( see why i don't like the holidays? haha
beautiful beautiful! Let the Season begin :)
I didn't imagine you having a white tree, it is lovely. The decorations are nice. Have fun!
Beautiful tree!
I also believed the little baby Jesus came on December 24.
we use to put our shoe on kitchen-range, but we are many so the shoes are all over the kitchen... it is a great kitchen in a farm house where all the family are together. The oldest arrived some days before December 24 and begin Christmas decorations - some still from our (my sisters and mine)childhood! Here in town I also make a tree and a few decorations but the real Christmas is there, in the farm and with the noisy Family! (sorry the long comment...)
Your tree is amazing! Wonderful! I so want it! My grandparents always had a white ny andtree when i was tiny and i can't help but love them.
do you have a photo of your front door and wreath?
i love your story of the baby Jesus you never know he might at least drop in by on Christmas eve to view your tree, if not deliver it!
My tree won't go up for a couple of weeks yet but i have begun putting placing one or two little ornament around the place, such simple Joy!
Your tree and ornaments are so whimsical! Love it!!
love that your tree appeared on Chrsitmas eve too!
santa brought the tree and gifts to our home too.
my mom is a little disappointed that i too didn't follow that tradition, but to tell you the truth i can't begin to understand how she did it all!!! there is no way i could get gifts and decorations out the night before!!!
i can only imagine how gorgeous everything in your home looks right now!! those photos are beautiful.
Oh my goodness! Like Magic land;) you know my mom did not see one bit of Christmas decor until chrismas morning either:) we both marvel over how her parents did everything in one night;) and the planning baking and church services before that! the real tree brought in decorated...the house decorated all the gifts wrapped and ready..she says it was a day of pure peace and magic. What a beautiful day to look forward to!
Your white tree is beautiful (and I like your tradition in decorating it)! Growing up it was the same--tree up and decorated shortly after Thanksgiving and then taken down Jan 2. Lights on every night! If I had the flexibility, I'd do it that way too!
Let the tinsel and glitter shine! You white tree is resplendent, Raina...LOVE it! It is so bright and cheerful. And it was fun to learn of your Christmas traditions then and now. The ornament close-ups are so ambient, very dreamy...Since we're going away this Christmas we'll not be putting up a tree. Too depressing to come home to and take down--LOL! But we did a little decorating during the weekend, and lit the first advent light. I was brought up Catholic. But since my 20's have been a practicing Buddhist...But I still like the advent lights, a tradition I came to know more in the house since living here in Norway. It is fun to learn how everyone celebrates. Happy Days basking in the glow... ((HUGS))
love the twinkly sparkliness of your tree. sigh. it reminds me of snow at twilight. :)
I am in total agreement. Now if only I could persuade hubby who beleives that Christmas should last one day and one day only. What a grinch.
What a sparkling tree! Thank you for sharing your memories...and your photos remind me how much I love that time a year!
Your tree looks absolutely gorgeous! it's just so pretty, and you've captured it beautifully in your photographs!
it's beautiful! simply delightful!
What fabulous tree and decorations! Magical.
Mmmmm. Tree is wonderful. Story is sweet. Lighting on the photos is lovely and effective. I love your blog!
Wow... your tree is so beautiful!!!
A white Christmas to you.. full of love and magic moments!
:-)
Ooooh, it's BEAUTIFUL Raina! I love the white tree. When I was little we used to get flocked trees. You'd pick out the tree at the lot and the guy would put it in a booth and spray it all white with flocking.
what beautiful photos :o) a beautifully simple white Christmas...I love it :o)
~simply~
Stopping by to say hey and to thank you for your very sweet compliment of my scarf over at my place.:)
Yes, when I was little, I loved to sit under the tree and daydream and look at all the lovely decorations especially my moms nativity display. I have such good memories from when I was little.
Anyway, stop by again, is always nice to hear from you.:)
~Salina
Glorious white! And the ornaments are wonderful. I agree with you that after Christmas ornaments start to droop.
When you have lost something, you know how to appreciate it, and I hope your Christmas traditions will be especially meaningful this year.
just beautiful Raina! I love the sparkling white sparkly white christmas of it all!
Beautiful tree and decorations,, I love sitting in the room with only the Christmas tree lights on. it feels magical. Jane x
so beautiful - i've never seen a white christmas tree like that before and i'm in awe.
i think my favorite think about the holidays are the traditions that are tweaked as they are passed generation to generation, making it your own little by little. thanks for sharing yours.
that tree looks magical~ i especially love the christmas tradition of yelling at the cat:)
x ashley
I relate a lot to this post. I'll be decorating the tree this next weekend, but instead of yelling at the cat, I have to warn my kids not to play with all the stuff on it. :)
Gorgeous tree! We haven't done ours yet. I usually leave it till much later in the month but Mr Earplugs has decided to do Christmas earlier this year so I guess the tree will be going up soon. I'll be yelling at both the cat and Nipper no doubt!
such a lovely decorating job! the lights everywhere this time of year makes me so happy.
OH I am in love with that white tree. It makes it even more magical!
Looks amazing!!
just love these
I love your christmas pictures so very much!
So sparkly and full of inner light!
Our christmas tree will be decorated tomorrow in the morning. Around here it`s tradition to do the decoration in the morning of december 24th.
Have a wonderful christmas full of joy and peace!
Post a Comment