By Vladimir Brezina
We always get our Christmas tree only a day or two before Christmas, barely hours before the Christmas-tree vendors in the streets pack up for their migration back north. We do this not just because we procrastinate (we do), but because Johna follows an older tradition. According to Wikipedia,
Traditionally, Christmas trees were not brought in and decorated until Christmas Eve (24 December) or, in the traditions celebrating Christmas Eve rather than on the first of day of Christmas, 23 December, and then removed the day after Twelfth Night (5 January); to have a tree up before or after these dates was even considered bad luck.
So, even as our neighbors’ Christmas trees are already out in the street for removal, our tree is only now reaching the peak of its transient glory—
Vladimir Brezina (RIP) 
Johna Till Johnson
Wind Against Current 
Love the real candles and glass ornaments. Merry Christmas
LikeLike
And a Happy New Year!!
LikeLike
Lovely
LikeLike
Thanks!!
LikeLike
You have a passions in photography in there.:)
LikeLike
Yes, I think so… :-)
LikeLike
Wow, real candles! Oh, so romantic…adds an old world charm. Enjoy your beautiful tree :)
LikeLike
The candles really make the tree! (We wrote about that last year, so I didn’t want to repeat.)
LikeLike
Beautiful photos! You’re brave to use real candles. My mom said when she was little (1920s) they would go to bed on Christmas Eve, without a sign of Christmas in the house. In the morning they would wake up to a tree in the parlor and presents, and any other Christmas decorations that Santa saw fit to set out.
LikeLike
That’s a lot of work for Santa overnight! I think most places he compromises—lets others put up the Christmas tree and decorations ahead of time, then just brings the presents during the final night…. division of labor :-)
LikeLike
Ahhhhh.
LikeLike
the candles are a really special touch, though wow, i think of how fast the tree could go up in flames! it’s lovely, and i love your respect to the old traditions.
happy new year!
z
LikeLike
Well, we have one of these ready
but haven’t had to use it yet.
A very happy New Year to you, Z!!
LikeLike
jajajaJA! you’re smart to have one of those, and i’m glad you’ve not had to use it!!! z
LikeLike
Just as well we haven’t had to use it—I’ve had it for years, and after all this time it might well be empty ;-)
LikeLike
Beautiful! Love tthe candles, I probably wouldn’t try though… Happy 2013!
LikeLike
Happy 2013 to you too, Amy!
LikeLike
What a beautiful, traditional tree — love it! Cheers to a wonderful 2013! ~ Kat
LikeLike
And a wonderful new year to you, Kat!!
LikeLike
Brilliant tree, candles and all. Familiar tradition :-). Have a fabulous year.
LikeLike
You too—have a wonderful 2013!
LikeLike
I have been looking forward to seeing another beautiful tree from the both of you – simply gorgeous! Growing up, we always put the tree up on Christmas Eve; my favorite memory was to stop by the tree for a quiet moment, inhaling the fragrance, before leaving for Christmas Eve services. Thanks for sharing this!
LikeLike
A wonderful memory, Lynn :-) Thanks!!
I still haven’t figured out how to photograph satisfactorily a Christmas tree lit only by candles, though—might have to put up another tree next year to try again ;-)
LikeLike
Did I spot a pickle? Great tree…
LikeLike
Pickle? I don’t think so… but there’s so much on that tree it could well have slipped by :-)
LikeLike
Perhaps it’s a slice of watermelon… Went back for a second look!
LikeLike
Yes, it’s watermelon! One of the prettiest ornaments–the red and green are festive, yet it’s an unusual concept. Thanks for reading (and noticing)!
LikeLike
Beautiful- indeed..looks scarily like my tree..I will post when I stop spinning. Happy New Year!
LikeLike
All happy trees are alike… :-)
LikeLike
Thank you.
LikeLike
I think yours is the most beautiful tree I have seen (next to ours, of course! ;-) I love the glow of real candlelight, just like the ones I saw in old Christmas cards.
Merry Christmas and the best of the new year to you.
LikeLike
I am sure yours is the most beautiful tree (next to ours, of course)!! :-)
Merry Christmas to you, Imelda (a bit late with this wish!) and a very happy New Year!!
LikeLike
Real candles. You clearly don’t have cats. ;) Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and health and love and joy to you and Johna.
LikeLike
No cats right now. But when we had some, they mostly ignored the tree. I guess we were lucky?
Best wishes to you too—have a wonderful 2013!!
LikeLike
My current cat ignores the tree. But I’ve (literally, really) come home to a tree at a 45-degree angle and kittehs poking their heads out! Suffice to say, me and the cats didn’t get along very well that day. And then, as fate had planned it, I had them neutered. They never touched the tree again.
True story.
LikeLike
I think it’s a matter of focusing their attention. At one point we had a nice armchair, which they took a liking to and, over time, literally ripped to shreds. But they touched nothing else in the meantime. I guess the armchair made the supreme sacrifice so that the rest might live…
LikeLike
Beautiful photos, but how brave of you to put candles on the tree!
LikeLike
We’ve had no trouble yet… (famous last words!). Happy New Year, Carissa!!
LikeLike
Same to you!
LikeLike
Your tree is beautiful! I heard that in Germany they had the candles on the tree (probably still is a tradition), but they had a bucket of water right next to the tree. I like the fire extinguisher better!
LikeLike
Although a bucket of water is more sure to work ;-) And yes, candles on the tree are a must!
LikeLike
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination | Wind Against Current
Beautiful!!!!!
I would not be able to have real candles…I guess I would be the whole night just sitting in front of the tree!!! But it looks like a magic tree of a magic Christmas tale…And this is what Christmas should be about…Magic, peace, light and love…Thanks for sharing it!
LikeLike
“…magic tree of a magic Christmas tale…” That’s what we were trying to achieve :-)
LikeLike
looks absolutely beautiful! but i would be scared of real candles :p
LikeLike
Actually experience shows that it’s safer than one might think. Yesterday we lit the candles one more time, preparing to take the tree down. And it’s now bone-dry, the branches are completely stiff. But nothing caught fire even when the candles burnt down to the branches… well, there were a few singed needles, but the fire didn’t spread ;-)
LikeLike
Pingback: Travel Theme: Fragrant | Wind Against Current
Pingback: Christmas Twinkle | Wind Against Current