Some families look for the perfect tree.. we were able to by pass that expectation of perfection.. We would go into the woods and forgive trees for not having enough light to have bushy bottoms.. for having a better side and a bad side.. for having a spindly top piece as it tried so hard to reach for the light. These were the days before tree farms with groomed trees were prevalent in our area.. ( tho there must have been some farms as we did buy trees off the boy scout lot or the church fund raising lots some years )
We could take the less than ideal tree home to have it doctored. A trick Ted learned from Grandpa (Claude). For years and years he had improved our trees on Hampshire Road and Lulie Street, by taking branches from the bottom ( or from a neighbouring tree), placing them strategically in holes he had drilled in the trunk to fill in sparse places… both generations ""always"" ended up with a perfect tree.! The tree was always admired and the lights mesmerized little admirers.. while they left a magical glow to the room when the rest of the rooms lighting was turned off..
We learned to give a good drink to the tree.. to help it to stay green and dry longer and not to be a fire hazard.. In days gone by tree stands were just two crossed boards nailed into the bottom of the tree.. but soon water tree stands were available..
Note Jill efforts to fill while Ted lay on the floor to steady the tube.
The next trick that we learned from Grandpa to tie the tree to the curtain rod ! Saved repeat of the fall of the tree from excited climbing cats.. or babies trying to pull themselves into a standing position.. Christmas time at our house had its good share of toddlers. And cats. And birds.. for that matter..
Decorating the tree was most anticipated.. the younger ones could hardly wait.. and for most.. it never seemed to go up early enough.. I rarely was able to ''keep up with the Jones's calendar."" When Elder John and Elder Sparky were in France , 14 years apart, they made sure that they had their humble Christmas trees..
Until volunteers were old enough, the lights were done by mum… with an over anxious audience waiting as patiently as they could..to be told ..ok.. go ahead.!
While they waited they had other decorations to place in their traditional places. The village.. was a favourite…to display.. I don't think anyone was saddened when I would come by later and make it more to my liking… however, it was often changed back, or changed around.. so I would do my thing, the next night.. and again and again, another night.. I was slow to learn that it was destined to be an interactive village..
Protected from the very little ones as it was up high until they became aware of the proximity of chairs ! !
Tree decorating also included the first night that the Christmas- themed and iced sugar cookies were ''ready' to eat.. and even the shortbread.. of course eggnog was required.. Always good to the last drop ! ! see Ted taking care of that ! Later years, Evie was added to the musical part of decorating traditions..
Photo is link to a slideshow of Trees from the past.
Santa (until much later years) left his gifts exposed and always knew where they were to go.. Wooden name plates were placed out Christmas eve on the chair or couch or corner chosen by each child.. (sometimes Santa needed to rearrange the plaques. !
As for the gifts and gift wrapping.. that morphased over the years.. One lean or overwhelmed year the gifts were simply bagged for each child ! not very attractive were they ! ! nor did they offer as much anticipation in unwrapping..
With many children, it became a massive display.. .With each family member having wrapped a gift to each other member.. that meant 10 X 9 or 90 gifts before we even started with gifts from others or from Santa.. It was quite a challenge to no have a look of over indulgence.. and also a challenge to help everyone have a gift for each other.. it was 90 gifts that we had to make or think of.. I remember each year I had a full page graph of names across the top and down the side.. ! so that no one was missed by someone.
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