Ornament Nostalgia
I really wanted to decorate for Christmas today, but when Daniel picked up our decorations from my parents’ basement the other day, he sort of… forgot the tree. I have all the other decorations and a box of ornaments, but no tree. I think this is the latest I’ll have put up Christmas decorations in a looong time – I almost always do it the day after Thanksgiving.
I find decorating the Christmas tree very special, primarily because nearly all the ornaments on it hold some meaning for me. I mentioned when my grandma passed away that when I was growing up, she made me and my cousins an ornament every year so that when we moved out and started our own trees, we’d have an ornament collection to trim it with. Every time I pull out those ornaments, I can remember my grandma and how much she loved crafting. Or I can find the ornaments I made myself, or the ones Daniel got from his family, or the ones I bought because they were so ridiculous (silver glitter French Horn? CHECK.) and remember why I made them, or who gave them to Daniel, or why I wanted to get that particular ornament.
I know that a lot of people choose a theme for their tree each year (“this year we will do neons and white!” or “this year will be purple and gold”), but good grief. That is a lot of buying and re-buying ornaments every year! Those trees look AMAZING, don’t get me wrong, but I love my hodge-podge of weirdo ornaments.
File Under: Family
4 Comments
I love Hodge-lodge decorated trees. They look so much more … real? Less like something staged for a magazine. Ours will be too. My mom gave me all her old ornaments when I moved out so I always have my childhood decorations. She has a tiny tree now. My parents come to our place for Christmas anyway. I plan to do the same for the kids ar have; start a collection when they’re born so they have something when they move out.
Growing up we only ever used our personal collection of ornaments – not color themes and designed ornament packs. I also appreciate those professional looking trees, but in my home I’d want my family tree to be just that: my family. Your tree is adorable!
I do a mix of both. I do a different theme every year, but I still put up all of our personal ornaments as well. I love decorating for Christmas!
I’m with you! I find there’s such an appealing whimsy to trees that are loaded with a mix of ornaments. We buy an ornament every year, and unpacking them all and remembering why we picked them is quite possibly my favourite tradition.