I am sure by now if you put up a tree for Christmas, it’s up. It seems that most people either go out and find a real tree or put up their fake tree right after Thanksgiving.
The first Christmas we celebrated in our house brought up the epic debate: Real, or Fake? We may have had the discussion at some point before we were married when telling tales of Christmas traditions. Growing up, going out to cut down the perfect tree at the magical tree nursery was a tradition. (Ok, at least until I was a bratty teenager and became too cool for it.)
A tiny little part of me still cringes every time we put up our fake tree. Mr. BKL told me that he was just fine with a real tree. In fact I was more then welcome to go out and find my tree, cut it down, bring it home, place in a stand, and clean up the mess. And water it of course. Sure, sounds like quite the deal doesn’t it. Now before you go and write me off as lazy, the stubborn person in me would go and do all this to prove a point (hauling the tree on top of my Honda Civic would be a feat) but the reason I want to go out and seek the perfect tree is for sentimental reasons, and I would want him to join me.
I have fond memories of wandering – or being pulled in a sled - around the tree nursery while bundled up beyond belief, helping my Dad find our tree. The forest of tress was a maze of Norway and Scotch pines; some better then others. Dad even brought his own hand saw that I never saw him use any other time except for the Christmas tree. Once we cut it down, (we is a loose term) and dragged it back to the parking lot to pay and of course put it through the shaker machine (that think kind of scared me), we were on our way.
See? Look how much fun we are having!
The rest of this story that includes putting on the ornaments, lights, and garland could be told with a fake tree. There was just something about that journey to the nursery, the free candy canes for us kids, the music, and the atmosphere at the tree farm that made it special.
But, at the end of the day, it’s the traditions you create with your family that matter. Of course I have those memories but we are now making our own. Real or fake, tree or no tree, Christmas or Hanukkah, it’s about finding your own traditions.
So, is it real or fake? Or no tree at all?
Real tree all the way. I'm in FL, so I'm not sure if there are any places to cut down our own tree. I'm going to say no, but I really don't know. When I was a kid we always bought our tree from the local Methodist church tree lot. My step-sisters attended there and they money went towards the youth group.
ReplyDeleteSince I've been with my husband we bought our trees at a local feed store and this year we bought from a local church's tree lot. I could not imagine having a fake tree. One of my sisters' husband is allergic to real trees, how sad.
What an adorable tree!
ReplyDeleteI was raised in a fake-tree house and if nothing else, the predictability of the tree was marvelous.
Maybe if you drag Mr. BKL on the hunt, he'll get hooked by the experience?
What a sweet picture! We are a real tree couple, and hopefully we'll go cut our own this year. It seems like every time we plan to go get a tree the weather is snowy, like this weekend, so we're still waiting. Maybe next year you can confine your H that getting a tree TOGETHER is part of the fun of real tree:-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great memory/tradition with your family Bree. We grew up with some years real, some fake. Right now, we have a fake tree. I just can't imagine what our cat would do to a real one.
ReplyDeleteWe always get a real tree. As kids, we used to get the ones that are pre-cut and sold in a parking lot, but as teenagers, my parents started bringing us to a place where we can cut our own. Now, we pay twice as much to do the work ourselves! I wouldn't change it for anything, though - this year, we brought my 20-month old niece, and it was such a wonderful experience!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story!
ReplyDeleteMy family always had a fake tree because I'm super alergic to trees. (Debbie Downer, I know.) Chris and I have a fake tree also, but we haven't put it up in a few years. Hopefully next year.
I feel like I'm totally lacking Christmas spirit.