How a Fake Christmas Tree Became Real
Our Old Tree…
Came in a box. It was made in China from plastic and steel by people who may or may not have known what Christmas was about. It was shiny and new, with 600 pre-lit lights! But it wasn’t real. Still, all trees die in time. Even the fake ones.
For 25 Years…
It was a member of our family. And every year it held more and more memories (we humans called them “ornaments“). In its presence, we loved each other and loved the one whose birth we celebrated.
But It Was Eventually Rubbed Bare
Half its lights and more than half of its needles were gone. So it was time to put it in a box forever. Its work was done. After all, it was a fake tree. But by the end, it had become real. Because, to paraphrase the Velveteen Rabbit, When you’re around love for a long, long time, not just pretend-love but real love, all of your fake needles get loved away…
And you become Real.
We got tired of packing and unpacking the tree, so we put it outside next to the house. It looks like part of the landscaping and we no longer have to go through the process and can still see our Christmas tree outside of our window.
Great idea, Kathy.
For me I always love having a real Christmas tree, I simply love the smell
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I can relate to your emotions about the tree. It may have been only plastic but it accompanied you all for so long and is connected with so many memories.
Indeed, it witnessed a lot of love, Erika.
I love this, especially because we parted with our “fake” after Christmas this year after many years ofvuse. My husband’s allergies don’t allow us have a real tree, but it’s what is on tree, what’s under it, and who surrounds it that makes any Christmas tree special. As Garfield says, “it’s not the giving, it’s not the getting, it’s the loving.” That’s what makes a tree a Christmas tree, real or fake.
Exactly, Lynn❣
it had a good run! 🙂
It did indeed, Lynne!
Interesting analogy. It reminds me of the Taekwondo form called Dan Gun. I think it was a bear to human transformation story.
My son and daughter in law were teaching in China about 10 years ago. The administration at the school had a sort of nativity scene assembled in an effort to honour the Christian staff members at Christmas. It apparently consisted of a collection of donkeys, sheep and other farm animals and a cheery Santa sitting and welcoming them as they gathered around in homage. Ecumenism in action!
Indeed!
God bless Margery Williams. Her Velveteen Rabbit, like Saint-Exupery’s Little Prince, is a timeless teacher –and kids like it too!😉 We’re hanging in there with a 5′ tall fake tree that is stored standing & keeps everything but ornaments on it from year to year (under an ever attractive contractor bag). Someone else will part with the tree someday!
Sensible! ;>)
Thanks for sharing such a sweet and heartfelt story.
My pleasure, Julie.
awww
Anita and I have had our current tree for 11 years, and every time we set it up and put it back, I comment, “How long can this last?” There always appear to be more needles on the floor (some of which we will find in September) than on the tree, but it still looks good. We buy “specialty” ornaments every year, and now have so many from the places we’ve traveled and sights we’ve seen that there isn’t any room for “ordinary bulbs” anymore, so Anita places what we have left of them at the bottom of the tree.
You can see some of the tree’s pictures if you enter Christmas Tree in my search window. If you’re ever down Lexington way between Thanxgiving and March 1st, stop in and you can see it in person! Yeah, there’s so much to taking it down, we procrastinate!!
Now my brother bought one in a box this year that took all of 48 seconds to set up, complete with lights and ornaments!!! I asked him, “How can THAT be a Christmas tree??”😂
❤️&🙏, c.a.
December on the Enterprise: Replicator, one complete Christmas tree, please. ;>)
Is really beautiful 🎁🤍🌈💙
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This post reminded me of a movie I once viewed. Having to do with a mannequin that came to life at nights. It’s a comedy.
Getting back to your post verifies with some of us. When we are tired of pretending we push aside our fears and become real. Loved by some, hated by many. Because the world love actors.
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Touching story. And the quote from The Velveteen Rabbit was icing on the cake.
Thanks, Kate.
My pleasure. 🙂
All my pleasure, Mitch. 🙂
Love your story, Mitch. I had a 7′ tree for years and because it seemed like too much trouble to take it down and try to find a place to store it every year, I decided to leave it up and put fake birds on it instead of ornaments. That worked for a long time. Then I got a 4′ tree complete with lights. That one is easy to store, so it got put away each year. But a couple of years ago it got permanently put away as I have been alone at Christmas and decided it was just too much work to do the whole decorating/undecorating thing when no one else would see it. And it was just as good a Christmas without it. When you get to 80 years, things that were so very important for so long don’t seem quite as necessary any more. My Christmas dinner tasted just as good without the tree and village.
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Beautiful story, Mitch, though I’m sure it was difficult to box it up that last time.
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How lovely.. and I love the Velveteen rabbit, have read it several times. I have a teddy bear that’s real.. thank you ❤️
My pleasure, Fiona❣
I LOVE The Velveteen Rabbit. Thanks for the reminder–have to buy a gift this week. God bless, Mitch!
And God bless you, Nancy. Good to hear from you!
Aw, what a sweet thought, Mitch.
… Dang, now I feel guilty about sticking it in a corner of the cold basement for most of the year, poor thing. :/
;>)
Remember Charlie Brown’s tree. It’s the love that counts.
Exactly, Russell.
Velveteen, Mitch…
Thanks, my friend.
Love this! Happy afternoon!
Thank you, you too, mystery friend!
Lovely message in there
😊