The Pink Tree Dilemma
By Christa TerryIn the grand tradition of big box stores that start pumping out Christmas music just after Halloween, I thought I’d think about my least favorite season early this year so it didn’t sneak up on me unawares. It’s not difficult when stores like Domestications are starting to preview their holiday wares. Growing up, we always had live fir trees ready for post-Christmas planting adorned with real candles, but in recent years I haven’t done much of anything to mark the season.
Naturally all that beautiful real tree, real fire ambiance was lost on school-age me, and I dreamed of having a pretty pink tree like this one.
While grown-up me dreams of having the candles of yesteryear, she doesn’t particularly relish the thought of her house burning down when one of the cats decides to catch one of the flickering orange sprites that have landed all over the tree. And while real trees are wonderful, I always feel a little guilty for killing a tree just to spruce up (rimshot) the house a little. Last year, I almost convinced The Beard that we needed a red tree of all things, but maybe pink really is the way to go.
Would this be vintage 50s cool or so horribly tacky as to be classified a crime against nature? You tell me:
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:56 am
Your decision is entirely your own and I wouldn’t dream of attempting to tell you what it should be, but in my home it will ALWAYS be fresh Douglas Fir.
For me the smell of Christmas is just as important as the look, and the smell includes: cookies and/or bread baking, spices in the air, and Douglas Fir. So long as I have those scents, a little bit of good holiday music, and my family around me, Christmas is good. Watching any of the following is the whipped cream on top (I don’t like cherries): A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (the proper animated one, not the live action version with Jim Carrey), The Nightmare Before Christmas, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, The Lion in Winter.
Presents and whatnot are great, but not I can also live without them…and have once or twice. What I need is Mr. Twistie and some good smells of childhood.
It just wouldn’t be the same with a pink tree that doesn’t smell like anything.
And don’t even get me started on those ‘pine scent’ sprays.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:32 am
A buddy of mine has a vintage silver tree that came with the thingamajig that turns and shines different-colored lights on it. The thingamajig broke, so her husband hacked an old stoplight they had to work as the tree-color-er.
Brilliant.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
If you are starting from the beginning and are really kitschy, rock it! I’ve been collecting ornaments since I was 15 and have a very eclectic mix that would look stupid on a shiny tree.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Twistie: Don’t get m wrong — I looove real trees. They smell lovely and really call up the holiday spirit! the downsides for me are the expense, the sap/needles, and the maintenance. Then again, I would rather someone else do the decorating!
Jo: Ooh, that sounds awesome!
Jennie: We’re not exactly starting from scratch, but we have never done any tree other than a very small live tree, and our collection of ornaments is incredibly varied. We may be buying all new ones because of the incoming baby and the five cat…we’re thinking no glass and lots of tin.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
That tree is TOO cute! Go for it!
November 22nd, 2010 at 12:22 pm
We love having a Christmas tree up the entire month of December! The holiday season is so much fun.