To tree or not to tree…
November 26, 2007 by Kerri Aldrich
Filed under Relationships
So, it’s still November and our Christmas tree is up. It’s not lit or decorated or anything, yet (I’ll let Bald Man fill you in on that fiasco if he wishes), but it’s up. And the fact that it is is a very strange feeling for me.
Bald Man came from a fairly consistent “holiday schedule” kind of household. The weekend after Thanksgiving was reserved for decorating the house and (artificial) tree for Christmas. The following weekend was saved for making Christmas cookies. The holidays around my childhood home were a bit less predictable. We made cookies sometime before Christmas. And the tree? Well, it was more like, “Hmmmm….it’s almost Christmas. We should probably get a tree up sometime soon. Let’s hope there are some good ones left!” We always had a real tree, so putting it up too early wasn’t a good thing. I don’t think we would ever have thought to get one up in November!
So, we usually try to combine traditions when we can, or at least trade off if we can’t. And now it’s November, and our tree is mostly up. And it is just too weird. Did I mention I already have my photo cards printed and am ready to start addressing them? I don’t know who I am anymore!!!!! 
How about at your house? Have one of the two of your traditions taken over your home, or are both childhood traditions evident?
photo credit: krisdecurtis
We’re so far away from our families that I have to do almost everything earlier so that it will get to them in time.
Still, here in Germany, everything turns into a Christmas wonderland on the first weekend in Advent, so it is hard not to think about Christmas all the time. We generally start with the Christmas markets and the kids and I make crafty decorations and bake when we have time on the weekends. We try to cram in as much Christmas as we can when we can, but the tree doesn’t go up until a few days before the big day.
I better be getting one of those photo cards….
I ordered a bigger (5′) artificial tree over Thanksgiving weekend and it was delivered today! I didn’t have any Xmas traditions growing up and it still doesn’t mean much to me but I know the kiddies love it. We put up the tree right away today and hung up the cheap
decorations I have. So much excitement!
We put our (artificial) tree up after Thanksgiving too. Not so much out of tradition, but out of boredom. Thursday – eat. Friday – shop. Saturday – DECORATE! Sunday – Sleep. That’s our routine.
Kate: So, procrastination is not an option! Might not be a bad thing for me to be forced to get things done earlier! We spent a few years of my childhood stationed in Germany, and still carry some of those traditions with us. I wonder if that’s when we started with the later tree. Though I suspect that has more to do with my family not being particularly ahead of the game!
Hsien: Yay! A tree! How’s S? Excited for it? Can’t wait to see the photos!
M101: I think my ideal tradition for the weekend would be Thur: eat, Fri: play games ALL DAY, Sat: sleep, Sun: sleep.
We didn’t have a tree in my house growing up. So I get really ridiculously excited about putting the tree up. There’s been years when it went up November 1st.
Wow your cards are ready to be addressed! Where did my friend Kerri go? Love ya!
Holly: So I’m guessing the tree is up already?
I’m glad you get a tree now and can really enjoy it! 
Annie: I know! It’s crazy, isn’t it!?!