OK, so I’ve never really come up with a good, non-religious name for the good old fashioned Christmas tree. “Holiday Tree” just doesn’t have much pizzazz.
Did you realize that Christmas Trees are really not all that old? The first known one in England was Queen Victoria’s. In fact, that whole Dickensian Christmas thing was a cynical ploy to try to stop poor people from rioting at Christmas time.
The New York City Police Department was established because of such Christmas riots. (It really sucked to be poor during the Industrial Revolution.)
There’s a fascinating documentary on the History of Christmas that comes on the History Channel (or one of those) every year about this time that really puts the whole thing in perspective. It’s odd how dispelling all those Christmas myths actually puts me in the holiday mood.
In any case, he we all are with our holiday festive season tree, completely unadorned as we just brought it home today.
It’s for the kids, really, and it is a live tree.
In our back yard, we have two other surviving holiday trees. Irene’s and my first tree, and Michelle’s holiday tree.
The tree on the table behind us is James’ first holiday tree.
You know, looking at this picture, I realize I should have had everyone stand on boxes. (Actually, Michelle is on a chair.)