Every year on Christmas morning I find in the toe of my red velvet Christmas stocking a beautifully wrapped package containing a Christmas decoration to hang on the tree. These are not your run of the mill baubles, but special ornaments like a Swarovski Crystal star, or an antique Czechoslovakian glass Santa. Each is exquisite; each is unique. I love every one.
Over the years I've built up quite a collection of these special decorations, but even the run-of-the-mill ornaments are precious to me. There is the little terracotta gingerbread man that Jemimah's big sister found in her Christmas cracker when she was the age that Jemimah is now. There are the two plastic snowflakes that we had even earlier. There is the fluffy feathery white bauble that my sister-in-law posted over from England, and the Japanese temari one from my hubby's dad. These are as much heirlooms to me as my crystal stars, and each one is packed full of wonderful memories.
On the weekend closest to December 1st we open the boxes to adorn the tree. This annual ritual is a highlight of our year, and the date is marked on the calendars in ink. Our Trimming the Tree party is layer upon layer of tradition. We always drink warmed spicy Glögg from the Stuart crystal brandy balloons, Jemimah's non-alcoholic version tasting quite as sublime as that of her parents with lashings of sultanas and almonds hiding in its depths. We munch on loads of shortbread, and often gingerbread as well. There are always bowls of new-season's cherries and pepparkakskola - gingerbread toffee. (Apparently, eating gingerbread at Christmas makes you kind, and we can never have too much kindness now, can we?) Christmas music plays on the stereo for the first time for the season, and scented candles burn on the mantelpiece.My especially favouritest part of the evening is the opening of the Basket of Delights. This is it back in 2008 - it has overflowed into two baskets now as we add new favourites to those of years past. We read the first book of the season snuggled by the tree. Ah, such nostalgic goodness.
This annual ritual brings with it so many memories of Christmases past, and sets the scene for the present one. For me is as almost as good as Christmas Day itself. If only I could discover a way to make dismantling the tree on the twelfth day as much fun...
So many memories and always new ones to be made!
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling even 12th Day is fun at your home :)
Divine indeed! xxx
ReplyDeleteChristmas is not peaceful any more in this house. We run all month with Star's performances & already I look like someone has taken to me with a baseball bat. I think I would like to come crawl under your Christmas tree & listen to the basket of delights instead. I just need a replacement chaffeaur [can't spell that rotten word but you know what I mean, right?!]
ReplyDeleteLOVELY. We have our tree up today and the basket of delights will be out tomorrow :) very fun.
ReplyDeleteamy in peru
I'm sure I'd LOVE your beautiful ornament collection. We have cats. End of discussion of beautiful hand-blown glass ornaments. Can you hear the sickening "plink" as they hit the floor and break? lol.... Nice post--like the look of that basket of good books, too!
ReplyDeleteThere is something totally magical in reading the first sentence of a post that starts this way: "Every year on Christmas morning I find in the toe of my red velvet Christmas stocking a beautifully wrapped package containing a Christmas decoration to hang on the tree."
ReplyDeleteI read on entranced, and shared a little of your Christmas, and then... I found out something the kids next door would describe as "awesome": Gingerbread will make me kind.
I am off to eat some immediately!
Cool! Your christmas tree sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteAnd so does your basket of delights!
sounds like a great tradition! love your basket!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful traditions. I always love hearing what other families do because it is never too late to start a new tradition.
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas posts are the ones I most look forward to. And here you are again. *happy sigh*
ReplyDeleteYou homes wonderful at Christmas time, such a special place.
ReplyDeleteJeanne, that sounds so lovely! We have a box of treasured ornaments, and many are just for sentiment sake, like the green ball with my name on it in silver glitter, which I made in the fourth grade, and the pastel glass candy canes from my parents' first Christmas tree.
ReplyDeleteI love traditions, don't you?