In a year filled with unforeseen life changes, it feels comforting to have one tradition that remains the same. Below is a story I originally wrote about in 2016 after downsizing a home of many years. I have since updated and added a picture of the original tree, with the star on top, which I was very happy to recently find. And, if you read to the end and you’re wondering, the two small trees are still up and decorated all year long. 🙂

~

The story of the two Christmas trees began when my son was about three. He asked if we could leave the tree up until his Birthday at the end of February so the kids coming to the party could put his Birthday presents underneath the tree. I loved our artificial tree and all our ornaments, so I said yes. I mean, what a great idea, and why not?!

Little did I know at the time, this would become our tradition for many years. We would put our tree up just before Thanksgiving and take it down at the end of February after his Birthday party. The kids attending the party loved putting the presents underneath the tree; however, their parents thought it was a bit strange that we still had our Christmas tree up and decorated.

Over the years, we received many funny looks from visitors entering our home and seeing the Christmas tree up and fully decorated in our front window. This especially happened as we found ourselves naturally moving into keeping the tree up all year long. We knew it was very unusual, but it was our tradition, and we were happy with it.

As my son grew up, no longer having Birthday parties where kids brought presents, it was never a consideration to take the tree down. It had become a very normal part of our home that we loved. In addition, our tradition of keeping the tree up all year long, took some stress out of the holiday season. Because, as anyone who has put up and taken down a tree knows, it can be very time consuming!

The tree was filled with so many memories – family ornaments that had been passed down from earlier generations, handmade kid’s ornaments, and newer ones that were occasionally added. It wasn’t until we prepared to move and stage our home to sell that we took the tree down. The event was surprisingly anti-climatic. I did find it nice that my son, who had asked to keep the tree up for his Birthday many years before, was there to help.

I now believe the tree, and all the ornaments, are making many people just as happy as they did for our family. Because part of selling our home was downsizing and simplifying our lives, which meant passing the tree and the majority of the ornaments onto other families. My favorite ornaments were saved and are now what decorate the two small trees pictured. These trees are now displayed in our apartment home, and of course are both up all year long, because that’s our tradition!

Enjoy the holiday season, your tree(s) and whatever unique traditions you and your family have.

Until next time, Laura Li Lifestyle