Christmas tree

American Christmas traditions are as varied in culture as the American people but in my and my Husband’s families there is a tradition of the memory Christmas tree.

When you grow up and move out of your parents house or get married and form your own family you are given a box of Christmas ornaments from your family tree that represent your childhood memories. This is so you can begin to build your own Christmas ornament collection and start your new holiday traditions.

For many of my European friends where the tradition to decorate a small tree simply and leave it up for only a few days each year; our American tradition of a massive tree, with every nook and cranny filled with decorations, can be quite a shock. My own mother would take a week to decorate her tree and its beauty could be enjoyed for a month or more.

My favorite holiday memories were to help my grandmother decorate her tree all in clear crystal glass ornaments. We would put on some of her old vinyl records of 1950’s show tunes, sip hot cocoa and tenderly unwrap each beautiful memory and my Grandmother would share each beautiful family story.