Back when I was a kid one of the family traditions, we had was decorating the Christmas tree on December 18th. Ok some years it might have been a day or two before the 18th but the 18 was the day on most years. That was the day my mother’s family had handed down to her through her parents family. I am not sure of what my dad’s tree decoration tradition was as I do not recall him saying much about it. Of course putting the tree they meant that you first had to go and get a tree. So that was a trip to where trees were sold. At that time there were always many locations where one could buy a Christmas tree (a real one that is) So we would go to several tree lots and look over the tree selection trying to find the prefect tree. So, we would and look over the trees for shape and lack of bare spots. It could not be too short nor too tall. Has to have a some what straight trunk and when shook not drop too many needles. Once we picked out our tree we would take it home and as most were bundled up my dad would cut a inch or two off the bottom of the trunk and maybe a few low branches from the bottom. He would then put the tree in the tree stand and let it stand in the garage for a day or two. My mom would clear out a spot near the front window to place the tree. Then we would bring the tree in and place a white sheet on the floor (to make it look like snow?) and then we would bring out the lights and unravel them and then test them to make sure they still worked. Remember back then they were not the little lights we have now but they were big lights that got real hot. Some sets were wired so that if one light burned out the whole set would not work. Then there were the ones that would work even with some of the lights burned out. After testing and replacing the lights that needed it then the lights were placed on the tree. Then the other ornaments were place on the tree. Some of the ornaments were from my grandmother my mom kept very good care of them. I still have many of my moms old Christmas ornaments of course the tree lights are now of the newer type. The tree once place would stay up until a day or two after New Years Day.
While there were artificial trees when I was young they were mostly of the aluminum kind and you could not put lights on them so they had a thing that changed colors that would shine on to the tree. My dad did not like that kind of tree and he let everyone know it. Of course now I have a artificial tree that we put up and it must be around 20 years old or so. I had thought of replacing the tree this year but when I checked the prices, I did not know I was going to buy a used car. So we once again have the old tree up and might look for a new one after Christmas when the prices should come down.
Currently the chances of a white Christmas are not all that good. And there is a good chance that this will be the 3rd green Christmas in the last 4 years and the 6th green Christmas in the last 10 years. (last year there was just 1” reported) So it can be said that we have had a kind of snow drought for Christmas recently.
The updated CPC long range guess for the rest of the winter is now leaning toward a warmer/wetter weather pattern. Here is the December guess
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/lead14/index.php
And the JFM guess
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/seasonal.php?lead=1
Slim
Slim,
Thanks for sharing your history with us. Your big bulb thing reminds me of a story (Michael you need to get it for your wife)… It is called Twas the Night before the Night before Christmas!!! It is good for a giggle and we read it every year!!!
Over a inch of snow on the ground out in my hood looks very pretty outside…InDY
Current conditions = Cold and SNOW! Incredible!
There is less than a half inch of snow on the ground here. The roofs and grassy areas have some snow on them but the road and driveway are just wet. The current temperature here at my house is 30 with light snow falling. The little snow that falls today will not last until Christmas here.
Slim
About an inch here. My wife washed her car yesterday, so I blame her. 😬
That’s a really nice story. Thanks for sharing, Slim. We used a sheet under the tree when I was young. Mom said it kinda looked like snow, but also was helpful in catching the needles. We have always had real trees…until last year. We were all so sick with Covid that we were unable to get out to get a tree. Some friends of ours got wind of our plight and brought us an artificial tree that they didn’t use anymore. It is the perfect size and shape for our living room. It is a beautiful tree. We are grateful… Read more »
You know I thought that we would be over COVID by now but that is not the case. About a week before Thanksgiving my brother-in-law came down with COVID and he got so sick that we was put in the hospital for a week. He had blood clots in his lungs and he is still not feeling good he is scheduled to go back to work after Christmas. He still is not sure if he will feel like it even then. His daughter also got it and was sick for several weeks and now the grand kids have it.
Slim
Me too. It affects everyone differently. Our healthcare system is in trouble. The Covid numbers in hospitals is unsustainable. I feel for the healthcare providers. Educators too.
It is very nasty!! That is why my wife and I are double vaxxed and boostered! Also, we both got our flu vaccine, don’t forget that! We are not messing around, especially with my wife working in healthcare!
👍
That is the best comment I have ever seen you post! Great job getting vaccinated and boosted? Why in the World people would not get vaccinated to protect against a deadly disease is brain dead!
Were they vaccinated and boosted? If not, why not?
I remember the aluminum trees, they had a rotating disc which changed the tree colors. We use an artificial tree now, don’t like all the needles all over the floor.
We have 30 degrees with freezing rain now, looks to be a quarter-inch of snow on the ground.
This is our Weather Centers precipitation depiction – red is freezing rain, the blue is snow