Trimming the Tree

There are universal traditions of Christmas and customs that are generally honored. There are others, no less im­portant, that have grown up through the years in indi­vidual homes and families. These traditions and customs may determine when the tree is to be set up and deco­rated, who is to do it, and how it is to be done. The suggestions in this chapter are made in the hope of increasing these joyous time-honored, family traditions.

The more technical details of selecting a Christmas tree were discussed in Chapter 2. It may be added here that the tree should be chosen with some regard for the size of the room which it is to adorn. I have seen oversized trees with their tops taken off standing in low-ceilinged rooms like sliding poles in a city firehouse. A small tree may look better on a low table than on the floor. A thin or badly proportioned tree can be much improved by wiring extra branches into the bad spots.

In my opinion, nothing has ever surpassed the beauty of the traditional Christmas tree, sparkling with old-fashioned balls and ornaments, for the most part im­ported from countries where their making was an ancient art. Perhaps there are many people who have never seen what I call a traditional tree. This may be why so many substitutes for the old-fashioned ornaments have come into use—paper rings, small toys, rope tinsel, fruits, icicles and fancy lights.

There is no law against using any of these, but when the effect is shoddy, as it so often is, I find myself with a feeling of nostalgia wishing for a tree with ornaments bright and beautiful and a total effect simple and really artistic.

Some people regret that candles no longer decorate trees. They were a serious fire hazard, of course, but their flickering lights and even the smoke and smell of the candles seemed appropriate to Christmas. When trees are trimmed with balls and ornaments, the smaller should be at the top with an imperceptible gradation toward the larger ones at the bottom. This gives an impression of stability and balance.

Next- Trimming the Tree part2

1   2   3   4