The ritual rarely changes in our house.
The tree goes up within days after Thanksgiving. The decorations go up within minutes of the tree being declared "stable" and we only use white lights.
I love my tree. Each ornament has some meaning behind it.
36 Christmas's ago my mother started a rather "short" tradition. She would hand paint ceramic ornaments and sign each "Love Mommy" with the year. I have all 6 of the ornaments she made me. Some are starting to show their age but each year they find their branch at the top of the tree (out of reach from little hands).
This is a tradition that I continued. Each year for the past 11 years my kids have all gotten personalized ornaments handmade by me. And each year I carefully unwrap each ornament and separate them into their own piles so they each put up their own ornament. They are extra careful with these and never has one been broken. Sure, ornaments have been broken but never the "special" ones.
This year it was interesting to hear the kids. The boys showed the girls the ornaments they got "before they were alive" (quoted from our 10 year old). The girls asked about my old ornaments and about all the other ornaments that were put at the top of the tree (still considered the "safe" spot even though our oldest is taller than I am). E. even asked if she could have two specific ornaments that were my grandmothers when she grew up and when I told her yes she quickly got a pen and paper and made me sign a "contract".
It was a great way to start the Christmas season.
As for the white lights...well, its all I like and I won't apologize for it! Colored lights and tinsel have no place here. White with plenty of sentimental ornaments are welcome!
