Dec. 5, 2007 - Christmas Tree Day Traditions
On Saturday night we went to get our Christmas tree! For the past several years we’ve gotten one from the Young Life tree lot nearby, and that’s what we did this year too.
Have you ever picked out a tree by the way it smells? Dad said he thought the
When my sisters and I were younger, our family used to designate the day after Thanksgiving as “Christmas Tree Day.” On that day, we would go with our grandparents, aunt, and whoever else had spent Thanksgiving with us that year to a tree farm to cut down a tree. Often we would pack a picnic lunch of turkey sandwiches (made with leftover Thanksgiving turkey, of course) and other snacks like black olives, apples, crackers with the famous cheese dip, and … when I was very young, my favorite of cheeseballs. :-)
Over the years the places we went to find trees changed. One farm we started going to had a smoky outdoor fire pit and a barn filled with picnic tables to eat at. That prompted us to start bringing hotdogs to roast and all the fixings for s’mores. Mmm. Since those days of burning, er, I mean, ROASTing marshmallows and ashdogs, er, HOTdogs over that smoky fire, now I always associate the smell of smoke from our fireplace with Christmas Tree Day.
These days, as I said, we usually go to a Christmas tree lot to pick out a tree instead of cutting one down ourselves. Have you ever had a Christmas tradition in your family that has changed over the years? I’ve found it’s not always wise to count on traditions of the past, because if they change or they’re not exactly like they were the year before, sometimes we feel disappointed. You know what? It’s okay to do things differently. After all, no Christmas will be exactly like it was the year before. We still have the memories of those Christmases that we can enjoy remembering whenever we like.
A lot can change in just one year – people change, kids grow up, relatives move, Christmas tree farms close. We can’t expect things to be the same as they were in the past. Yes traditions are important and good, I’m not saying they’re not, but let’s try to remember this year that nothing in this life is lasting. God is the only one who never changes. We should find the MOST joy and the MOST comfort and peace in that thought.
What are some of your Christmas traditions? Have any of yours changed over the years?
Comments
Dec. 5, 2007 - a note from Rose
Posted by Rose
Hello Mandy,
Thank you for the comment.
Oh yes, I love Christmas! We always cut our own Christmas tree. I love it.
Your traditions sound very fun...the Douglas firs do smell best. =)
Merry Christmas,
Rebekah Rose
Dec. 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by fiddlesticks
I love getting our Christmas tree! That's probably one of my favorite days in the Christmas season. We go out to the country in the morning- bundle up and go tromping through the farm looking for the perfect tree... Of course, there's always some debate over that point... :-) But I do love the clear mornings.
You are right about traditions changing. Its good to remember that things won't always be the same every year.
One of our traditions has been changing over the years. My mom's family would always gather at my Grandma's house on Christmas Eve, but once my grandparents moved to a smaller house, our big (and growing) family didn't fit. We've been having Christmas Eve at different family members houses, and many years, there are new cousins-once-removed, or people absent due to longer distances.
-That's funny about the gas stations! Before we went on a drive cross-country last year, I didn't know there were self-serve ones! :)
~Hadley
Dec. 6, 2007 - Hey Mandy!
Posted by Gratitude
Hey Mandy!
Oh, we did have fun getting our Christmas tree!!
That is soo cool about your family traditions!
Its also sad that some things just have to change.
Yeah, 28 degrees it pretty cold! And I am surely not used to it!!
Well I gotta run!
God Bless,
~*Mandie*~
Dec. 9, 2007 - Great post!
Posted by PinkFlamingo
Hi Amanda!
I really enjoyed that post. Neat traditions. For the past several years, we have bought our tree from this guys who would literally "set up camp" on the side of the road and sells trees. He would stay in little bitty camper, cook his dinner over a campfire, and sell trees and wreaths. He looked like Santa Claus, too. :-) But he's not in business this year, so we had to buy our tree elsewhere.
You're right about traditions. That's a good thought - not to depend on them from year to year because they DO change. Thanks for the reminder. :-)
Have a great week and enjoy the Christmas season!
Love, Ashley
PS: how are you feeling? I read your entry a couple of weeks ago that you had a ct scan or something? I'll be praying for you!
