I love these trips down memory lane ... even if my memory isn't always up to remembering all the little details. And I love knowing that DD gets some glimpses into my childhood with these questions. If you're interested in playing along, just click on the button above. ;-)
When you were growing up, when did your family put up and decorate the Christmas tree? Was it real or artificial? Who usually decorated it? Were there special decorations?
We always had a tree at Christmas. Our tree was a real one ... you see, back in the dark ages, a real tree was just about your only options. Although I do remember that my grandma had an artificial tree, which even as a child, I thought it was awful. ;-) Her tree was a shiny aluminum one (yes, aluminum!) with a colored light wheel that shone on it, providing some Christmas color.
Thankfully our tree was real, even if most of our trees had a striking resemblance to the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. We all decorated it. I remember my sister K and I singing "O Christmas Tree" as we'd decorate. We'd "fight" over who got to put up what ornaments ... the snowman was the favorite.
We had a green bell ornament that was also a favorite ... a runner up if you didn't get to put up the snowman. Most of the ornaments were decorated balls, so the very few unusual ornaments were the highly-coveted ones.
We also put on icicles (aka tinsel). We would start putting it on one strand at a time until we got bored toward the end ... and would put on large clumps, forcing my mom to have us go back and thin out those clumps. ha!
What was on the top?
We had a star that we topped the tree with ... I wish I knew where that was ... I wonder what my mom did with all the ornaments that she didn't give to us girls ... as her health failed, she gave up decorating for Christmas ... knowing my mom (she definitely was NOT a saver), they were all probably pitched. :-(
White lights or colored, blinking or steady?
We had the standard large-bulb Christmas lights.
My aunt had some bubbling lights ... I remember my sister K and I begged my mom to get some, but naturally she wouldn't since we had perfectly good lights already ... my mom was frugal if nothing else.
How much did your family decorate for the holiday other than the tree (wreaths, dishes, snowglobes, miniature villages, etc.)? Did y'all do outdoor lights? White or colored, blinking or not? Are there special memories associated with decorating for Christmas?
We didn't do much other decorating for Christmas ... just the tree. No outdoor decorations or lighting. I do remember one year my sister K and I performed a "show" in tribute to our tree. We were quite proud of our "production", although I'm sure it consisted mostly of awful renditions of "O Christmas Tree". No doubt it was my sister's idea ... she always did (does) have a flair for the drama. ;-)
Those were the days, weren't they? I remember those silver trees from my teenaged years. Some folks put them in their picture windows--with the reflectors.
ReplyDeleteThose shiny glass ornaments were very pretty, back in the day. I still scatter a few on my tree each year, to remind me of the good old days--and every year, one usually gets broken!
I had intended to mention that my aunt and uncle had one of those aluminum trees with the color wheel. It fascinated me, and I also thought it was weird!
ReplyDeleteFun memories!
My sister and I used to do "shows" all the time too! :) Great memories!
ReplyDeleteMy husband growing up had one of those aluminum trees with the color wheels! He described it to me but I had never seen one. I enjoyed reading your memories, a lot was the same with how we would decorate when I was growing up. I had forgot the tinsel untl you mentioned it. I remember how much fun (not) it was to take it off the tree when it was time to take the tree down.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the weekend :)
betty
Loved those bubble lights! Had forgotten all about them till you mentioned them. I could watch them for hours and hours. Loved your memories and as you say, your children are learning about you in the process of telling all of us. Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely memories! I enjoyed seeing all of the pics!
ReplyDeleteMicki
thanks for stopping by today! I always hang the wreath on the outside of the door! try it :)
ReplyDeleteI remember it well. I have several of those plastic ornaments (snowman) from my husbands grandmother. Wish I had time to join in but I am way behind from being gone for 4 days.
ReplyDeleteLove the Bublle Lights. My Aunt had them on her tree and I always wanted them on mine. I even tried to talk my better half into some this year for around the windows. He just rolled his eyes at me.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun memories! Actually I would love to have one of those old tinsel trees and color wheels.
ReplyDeleteuntill next time... nel
Oh, I forgot about the bubble lights, we had those too. And, my brother and I would also put on shows and record them on the old reel to reel recorders. Oh, my, I'm really "digging up some bones." :o)
ReplyDeleteThis was such fun and wishing for you a wonderful Christmas season.
Oh my husband and I were *just* talking about those aluminum trees with the lights! And I had forgotten about the bubble lights and just ran in to tell him. What sweet memories.
ReplyDeleteOh I completely forgot about those bubbly light things! We never had them (but I wanted them!) We also had the glass bulbs, traditional round ones and the occasional one shaped like a snowman or santa. Once the paint started to scrape off the santa he just became "creepy looking".
ReplyDeleteThere was no way my mother was having a real tree in her house, so we had that aluminum one with the wheel. Kind of wish I still had it--do you know how much those things go for on eBay!
ReplyDeleteThere was no way my mother was having a real tree in her house, so we had that aluminum one with the wheel. Kind of wish I still had it--do you know how much those things go for on eBay!
ReplyDeleteOh I completely forgot about those bubbly light things! We never had them (but I wanted them!) We also had the glass bulbs, traditional round ones and the occasional one shaped like a snowman or santa. Once the paint started to scrape off the santa he just became "creepy looking".
ReplyDeleteOh my husband and I were *just* talking about those aluminum trees with the lights! And I had forgotten about the bubble lights and just ran in to tell him. What sweet memories.
ReplyDeleteI remember it well. I have several of those plastic ornaments (snowman) from my husbands grandmother. Wish I had time to join in but I am way behind from being gone for 4 days.
ReplyDeleteLove the Bublle Lights. My Aunt had them on her tree and I always wanted them on mine. I even tried to talk my better half into some this year for around the windows. He just rolled his eyes at me.
ReplyDeleteLoved those bubble lights! Had forgotten all about them till you mentioned them. I could watch them for hours and hours. Loved your memories and as you say, your children are learning about you in the process of telling all of us. Thank you for that.
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping by today! I always hang the wreath on the outside of the door! try it :)
ReplyDelete