Life, People & Places, Talk
Farewell, Fake Christmas
For eight years, our family tradition was to haul out our 9-foot artificial Christmas tree and decorate it with more than a thousand lights and color-coordinated ornaments. Fully adorned, our tree looked like it belonged on the cover of a magazine detailing the lives of the rich and glittery.
Often featured on our holiday card, our tree was displayed in our front window, so passers by could behold its majesty.
To achieve this glamorous look, I, my husband and our two teenagers had to toil all day. Last year, the kids complained the whole time. Even worse was when it came time to take the tree down. No one wanted to help me, and an argument ensued.
This year, our lives are different. We still live in our giant suburban New Jersey house, but we no longer live our faux luxury lifestyle, financed by home equity and credit cards. Our artificial tree is part of that life, which seems like the distant past.
Today, we live in our home only because it’s unlikely we could find a buyer. Reality forced us to scale back, and we are better for it, not that we have much time to contemplate the reasons why. My husband, Tony, and I work our tails off to keep up payments on the house and pay our expenses. Tony is a busy photographer. He used to have employees, but he let them go and now gets help from me and the kids, especially our 17-year-old son, Anthony. I sell mattresses and have a home-based business. Katie, 15, sometimes works at her uncle’s pretzel stand at the mall.
When we do have a few minutes to relax at home, hoisting the fake Christmas tree does not sound fun. It’s not just because we’re exhausted. For us, like so many others, over-the-top living has lost its appeal. Fake is out, and real is in.
So, this year, I suggested we not even venture up to the attic, where the fake tree resides, along with boxes upon boxes of ornaments. Instead, I proposed a small, real tree. The idea went over well, and soon we had a cute 5-footer adorned with lights that cost $7.50. I pulled out some construction paper, glitter and glue and set about making ornaments. I lured the kids over to make a few. We made an old-fashioned paper chain and strung tinsel, which can make even the scrawniest of trees festive.
Instead of putting our tree in the seldom-used living room so neighbors could see it from the street, we put it in the kitchen so we could enjoy it. Each morning, whoever gets up first plugs it in. We admire our tree and are amazed at how much peace it brings us. Its simple beauty makes us feel good in a way our artificial tree never did.
Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, my parents loathed the idea of a fake tree. We took pride in having a large, fragrant tree, decorated with big, colored lights, not the small white lights that are fashionable nowadays. Most of our ornaments were handmade at school or church, carefully wrapped at the end of the holiday season so they would last forever. My older sister, Susan, still has those ornaments, including an enigmatic one made of an unknown substance – maybe paper mâché? – featuring an elephant’s butt, with a ribbon tied around its tail.
Many were made with construction paper, glue and glitter. Back then we strung popcorn and made paper chains. We didn’t complain about putting up the tree, though I don’t remember us ever helping my mother take it down.
Our tree, like our lifestyle, was authentic.
Here in New Jersey, our real tree is so much smaller than what we’re used to, we call it our little Charlie Brown tree. We don’t mean that as an insult. We plan to make this our new holiday tradition: small, simple, real. Katie and I are already thinking ahead to next year. Maybe we will add to our decorations from this year some natural ornaments made from pine cones, berries and twigs. When we take the tree down, a thought that no longer fills me with dread, some of the ornaments can become bird feeders.
It’s hard to believe I ever associated a gigantic, artificial tree with the Christmas spirit. Today, Christmas for me is making the most with what we are fortunate enough to have and stealing as many quiet moments as we can to take it all in.
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Kim Herald says: Thank you for sharing your story. One of best trees we had at my parents was a small cedar tree that my mom cut herself after my dad had forgotten to drive a nail in the bottom of the tree they had purchased earlier in the week so it would “drink” the water to keep it from drying out so fast. I am thankful each year for all those “real” trees, their smells and the memories as a kid laying under the tree looking up at those bright lights.
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Bonnie Williams says: I am an expat from North Florida living in the highlands of Panama. Although “real” trees are sold here, they’re pitiful specimens and don’t last long in the tropical clime, so we opted for a big artificial one. I hauled my boxes and boxes of ornaments down with me because many of them are family heirlooms from years past. Sure it’s a chore putting the tree up and taking it down, but every ornament reminds me of something sweet in my history. Opening up those ornament boxes are better than opening Christmas gifts! There are charms in a simple tree with recently handmade ornaments, but there are also charms in the remembrances of things past that the traditional tree provides.
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Beth Nelson says: I loved your article. So many people this year have decided to get out of the Christmas rat race. I know much of it is due to the economy. But I also think we have learned some lessons in recent years. Excess and extravagance are not what makes us happy. I hope we will remember this when the econmy improves. This Christmas I am planning on doing just the things that bring happiness and peace.
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A real Christmas tree has a wonderful piney aroma. Does a fake tree perfume the house with “New Car Smell”? Just curious.
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Meg Gerrish says: Fake tree in our South Florida home trimmed with ornaments collected through the years. Boughs of pine from the local Christmas tree sellers made into bouquets tied with big ribbons and placed in terra cotta pots on either side of the fireplace (the pots trimmed with fairy lights), the aroma delighting the senses. Bread baking in oven. Yum!
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Mary Civille says: Due to sister’s allergies and other concerns, found a floor model tree at Pike’s several years ago — fully lit, 7′ tall, etc., etc. — for under $20 (after Christmas with no tree). Since then I’ve put it up mid-December with all the ornaments from years past; taken it down after Three Kings (Epiphany). All trees are beautiful this time of year, and, if you do your shopping at the right time of year, eminently affordable.
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Terri Evans says: Julie, I really enjoyed your story and especially the headline. I also appreciate your brave reference to a “faux luxury lifestyle,” that will likely resonate with many Americans this year. Kudos to you and your family and happy holidays.
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It is nice to see another person choose a real Christmas tree rather than faking it. We grow Christmas trees on our farm. Families come out to cut one in the field, ride the hayride and drink hot chocolate while warming themselves at the barrel fire. It is all about having fun with your kids on a real farm. It is tough to do that with a fake tree. I’ve had more people tell me this year they were throwing out the fake tree than any year previous. I hope you all really enjoy the holidays this year and “Merry Christmas”!
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I love your little Charlie Brown tree and the sentiment behind it. This economic downturn has been a life-changer for so many. “Fake is out, real is in” as it relates to trees and everything else, might be the only good truth about it. Thanks for this story.
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Clevis says: Julie, Also keep in mind how much better a real tree is for the enviroment. Your tree not only put money in the pockets of farmers but can also be recylced into mulch. hope you keep the wonderful tradition of setting up a real tree. Thanks to your article I and Clevis Jr. will enjoy our tree a little more this year.
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Donna Moriarty says: I love your story Julie……the tree in the kitchen completely delights me! That is where my tree will reside
next Christmas.
Peace to you and your family.
Donna Moriarty (Seattle)
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