Thursday, December 6, 2012

MAMA KAT'S WRITING CHALLENGE

OH CHRISTMAS TREE




Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
Thy candles shine so brightly

Each bough doth hold its tiny light
That makes each toy to sparkle bright

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
Thy candles shine so brightly.


Thank goodness we don't use candles on our trees any more. The set of lights my mother used did not look much better than candles with the old woven cloth covered wires and rickety sockets strung on a natural dry tree.  Fires caused by Christmas trees were fairly common in those days. Though the smell of a fresh tree is very nice, after the tree has dried out the magic falls off along with thousands of dry needles.  An artificial tree has served me quite well for the past several years.

Another standard Christmas item of the past is tinsel icicles. For those of you who have no knowledge of tinsel icicles, these were strands of tissue thin silver metal or plastic that shimmered like liquid silver.  When hung individually and carefully, requiring several hours of tedious work, they were really lovely giving the tree the appearance of a shimmering waterfall on each branch reflecting and twinkling with reflections of colored lights.

But Christmas comes to an end and all the magic must be put away.
The process of removing this shimmering concoction was almost as bad.  Wealthy people would just throw tree and icicles away. The crowning majesty of the season reduced to a sad, silvery lump of trash. But not my Scotch bred mother.  She would commandeer her reluctant daughter and we would take the icicles off one by one and painstakingly put them away for another year. By the third Christmas, they would be no more than a lump of dull cinkled silver. The only thing to do was just throw them on by the hand fulls.  Those lovely shimmery strands are not missed.

Oh look, there I am in that little silver ball right next to Santa.



So with the kids grown up, living far away and with extended family to visit, we have a little fake tree which I place on a table.  I prefer the tiny lights to the big old fashioned ones. I guess you can tell I am not very nostalgic.  But I have always loved the shimmery shine of glass Christmas tree balls. My earliest memory of Christmas is what seemed to me, being a small child, a big, deep red Christmas ball like a giant ruby. Over time I have collected enough glassy ornaments to fill our little tree with bright and sparkling color. 

  I am pleased, and so is Pearl.
                 "Not a creature was stirring..."

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8 comments:

  1. Ah yes, I remember being given the task of taking the tinsel off the tree when I was young, too! This year, I found three unopened packages of red, gold and silver tinsel at the thrift shop and bought it (I must have been feeling nostalgic). I used about a quarter of the red package and gave up - guess they'll be re-thrifted! Your tree looks beautiful ... and no needles! :D

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  2. I like your Santa! :-) My mom used artificial trees, which she recycled, too. I remember wishing we had a real tree, although I don't think they grow in tropical places.

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  3. I think many of us have strong childhood Christmas memories, there is something very evocative about the sights, sounds, smells and traditions of this time of year. I adored our tree decorations as a kid, and have certain favourites among the ones I have now as an adult.
    Gorgeous tree and pretty sleepy kitty! xxx

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  4. Gracie, first, thank for visiting my recent art journaling page and leaving such an thoughtful comment. Next, I had to laugh when I thought of the lyrics of "Oh, Christmas Tree!" When my sister and are were given the task of decorating our first "plastic" Christmas tree, we sang, "Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how lovey are you POLYVINYLCHLORIDE branches!" Thanks for sharing a bit of your Christmas with your followers!

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  5. This is beautiful! Love the colors and that Santa!
    I like how the kitty ornament is hanging above your kitty. :)
    I remember saving those icicles too. I have to think they couldn't have been that expensive but we nevertheless saved them too.

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  6. I loved this post and your photos it brings back many lovely icicle christmas tree memories...thanks!

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  7. Gorgeous Christmas bling! Love it! Thank you for sharing on Weekly Top Shot #61!

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  8. Love the soft pastel colours in your tree! I remember lights that looked like icicles and bubbled when they got warm. I still have a small yellow duck that walks across my table, it is my oldest ornament, as old as I am!It was a present for my first Christmas, and I treasure it!
    Have a wonderful Christmas!!!

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Thanks! Hope to hear from you again.

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