A Living Tree & Christmas Magic

Ornaments and Memories

Fond memories of childhood Christmases, family, and friends—these I    am holding onto exactly because of all the trouble in the world right now. They center love. 

I put up a live tree again this year, the second one in my adorable Victorian. For my entire childhood and most of my adulthood, there was a live tree for the Christmas season, a light pine scent infusing the living room, warmed by twinkling lights.

Christmas Tree, 2024, alight with memories.

Then, when I was living in Maine, there was a transition from a live tree to an artificial one. It made more sense, especially when a chunk of the holiday week was spent in Pennsylvania visiting family. It was then that I began to notice that friends and family in middle age were also making the switch to an artificial tree. It was the practical thing to do, the easier thing to do.

Now, though, I find that if I pick a tree that’s not too big—no more than, say, six feet tall—I can manage it quite easily. Getting it in and out of the car and setting it up in the stand is all very doable. I put on some holiday music—thanks, Alexa!—and dig into my ornaments, all of which remind me of people and eras of my life.

Below is a thin wooden ornament, painted during my childhood at the kitchen table in my childhood home. As I recall—this is one of those memories in the way back machine of my brain—Mom had set up the plain wooden ornaments and paints, and some or all of my five brothers and sisters set about painting them according to a pattern that must have been embossed on them already. I want to think that I actually painted this one—that I remember painting this one—but I can’t say for sure. All I know is that Mom gave me a small box about 10 years ago with a collection of a half-dozen ornaments from those years and this was in there. My mom has produced treasures like this a few times over the years; I’m grateful she held onto these things!

Wooden ornamen, probably from early 1970s.

For at least twenty-five years—is that really possible??—my sister-in-law has been making an ornament for each family member. Here are a couple below. I used to be able to put them all up, but with a smaller tree, I have to now be aesthetically strategic. Maybe one day I will get a second tree that will be called “Megan’s Tree.” :-)

An early handmade ornament from my sister-in-law.

Handmade ornament by my sister-in-law using image from the holiday card I had sent out the year before, featuring a barn door in Maine. This one was quite a surprise!

Over the years, here and there, I have received a few Swedish folded paper stars from my very talented friend, Suzanne. I love finding just the right spot for each one of them.

Intricately folded Swedish star by Suz.

Fond memories of childhood Christmases, family, and friends—these I am holding onto exactly because of all the trouble in the world. They center love. I am wishing you and your loved ones a warm, festive, and restorative holiday season, however you choose to observe or not. Take care of yourselves and, if you are able, take care of a few others, too. Peace.