Readers celebrate memories, not themes
All right. All right. All right already.
So my column a few weeks ago about Christmas tree mistakes went over with many of you like a lead ornament.
Boy did I hear from readers. Even my husband says I stepped in reindeer doo.
“A Christmas tree is not supposed to impress those on the outside,” he says. “It’s to impress those on the inside, and that means hanging a little ornamental sentiment.”
Fifty lashes with a wet candy cane for me.
Here I was simply trying to get people to give their boring old trees a refresh if they hadn’t changed them up in a decade, when the cast from “Fiddler on the Roof” burst out singing “Tradition! Tradition!”
Here’s a sampling from This crown ornament, which Marni Jameson and her husband got in London, forms the foundation for their tree.
my mailbag, which, in sum, says: Marni, you can keep your concept designer tree, thank you.
“I just read your article on Christmas tree decorating mistakes and was really taken aback by the comments on ‘haphazard’ and ‘lone ranger’ trees. Why is it considered a decorating mistake to have a tree that reflects your family history or memories? In my home, decorating the Christmas tree is a wonderful family
tradition. Hanging the different ornaments we’ve acquired over the years, including a few that our kids made in grade school (they’re in their 20s now), always sparks happy conversation and fond memories. I have no problem with anyone who wants to have a themed Christmas tree. But please don’t call it a mistake if you don’t have a ‘concept’ for your Christmas tree or it doesn’t match your home e c t d kin e g p o s it