For years, my mother worked during the autumn months to make a Christmas ornament for every man, woman, and child who would attend Thanksgiving dinner at her house. She made boutique and felt ornaments from kits and crocheted snowflakes and coverings for Styrofoam balls. Mother worked quickly and the results were always beautiful. (By contrast, I work slowly and nothing is ever right.) She loved making these ornaments, and I know she thought of her handwork as her legacy. She imagined that we would all eventually have old-fashioned Christmas trees just like hers.
Well, it didn’t happen for me. First, we opted for an artificial tree. Then we downsized, and while we had no room for a tree in the town house, we had some nice country Christmases at the farmhouse with a smallish artificial tree. Then cold snaps began to come early and we had to winterize the house before the holidays. (During the excessive heat of summer, it’s hard to imagine that the excessive cold of winter.) I finally declared that going treeless at the town house was unacceptable and made it work with a slim “pencil” tree, but I certainly can’t use many ornaments. And besides, like everyone else, I have individualized my tree according to my own interests, including a few keepsakes.
My take-away is that we can’t dictate our children’s customs and we shouldn’t try. Life changes. As time went on, Mother’s ornaments, including those she made and shared, began to come my way. Mother passed on; a sister downsized; a sister passed on, and each time, more ornaments showed up on my doorstep. As the youngest child, I knew a lot about Mother’s ornaments – where they came from, why she bought or made them, etc. The vintage ornaments mean a lot to me, but on the other hand, the time has come to say, “I enjoyed this; now it’s your turn.”
So, during the hot “Christmas in July” days, I sorted my collection of tree ornaments. I was overwhelmed until I realized I didn’t have to part with any that still speak to me. As it is, I’m handing over two large ornament storage bins to a family member who will share them with her grandchildren. Mother would be pleased. KW
[The photo is of the Christmas tree at the family home some year in the early '70s. The year doesn't really matter. The tree looked much the same every year.]
I remember being in awe of your tree every single year!
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful. And though I miss it -- and complain about it -- I don't think I could do it in today's busy world. And Hallie has remarked that she likes a tree with less on it. it's easier to see the individual ornaments.
ReplyDeleteI love all my handmade ornaments! And they still hang on my tree. In fact that's mostly all that is on it. I also kept the ones I liked that Mom had. And I'm now letting the grandchildren pick 1 each year from what Mom had that I didn't keep. Some haven't survived the years but most have.
ReplyDeleteI was always in awe of Grandma and Grandpa's tree.