the christmas tree - a long-time passion
When I wrote this article it was June - but for those of us with the bug, our Christmas Tree is a year round passion.
Mine started as a child, when the Woolworth's plastic tree with matching baubles my Mother used to put up every year did not match the pictures in my books, i.e. trees laden with candles, glowing in the corner of the room, intricate ornaments dripping from every limb. A clash of images I never forgot.
Left: "The Christmas Tree" by E. Osborn.
When it was time for me to create my own tree, it had of course to be a reflection of my childhood image of what a tree should be. So the purchase of the tree involves trips out into the countryside, looking at many and various options, perfection never quite achieved, but this never stops me trying again each year and surprising my wife with the size of tree you can get into the back of a Ford Ka!
Then, returning the tree to the house, removing the bottom few inches to allow it to draw water up to keep it looking good for the entire holiday, trying different tree bases to ensure needle drop is kept to a minimum.
At last, the ornaments. There are many and over the years we have put together an eclectic mix. From designers like Georg Jensen (who issues a gold decoration each year with a modern Scandinavian style) and Swarovski (who alternate each year between a star and a snowflake which, being crystal catch the light and reflect it around the room), to theDisney ornaments with characters from the various films - these always raise a smile.
Left: Colourful metal decorations, a specialty of Mexico
Special ornaments can be bought from places like the White House; as a charity it produces an ornament each year to raise funds, each one celebrating a different US President. Or you can enjoy everyone's favourite Christmas film, It's a Wonderful Life, with a collection of ornaments from Kathryn Grimes, the actress who plays the daughter of James Stewart in the film. She produces decorations with scenes from the film which she signs on the reverse; an unusual and collectable way to enhance your tree.
Ornaments vary - from famous manufacturers such as Wedgewood, Spode, Coalport, Faberge, to fun ones like Matchbox and Disney, or the more unusual Harley Davidson Motorbikes, who produce a range in the shape of motorbike fuel tanks. So from the weird to the wonderful, there are ornaments that help everyone to reflect their personalities through their Christmas tree.
Right: A tree in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY.
Lights, too, vary enormously, from vintage milk glass where each bulb is a different shape, or very special ones from Waterford crystal, through to modern LED versions. With your own selection of ornaments finished off with garlands, you can create a very personal Christmas tree. For some it is all carefully colour coordinated, or, more like my own, a real mixture that provides a different view each time you look at it. The choice is yours - have fun!
It's never too early to start planning! My tree decoration evening involves a bottle of a nice red wine, maybe a decent Barolo, homemade Christmas cookies filling the house with the smells of cinnamon and baking and the usual difference of opinions as to which ornaments go where.
Until the moment when all other lights are put out, glasses are topped up and the plugs switched on to reveal The Tree in all its glory - still not quite perfect but there is always next year!
Left: cartoon by Peter Brookes
Contributed by Martyn
(Published 17th Sep 2014)
