Tag Archives: Christmas Tree Candles

By Vladimir Brezina

Yes, we’re late, as usual.

According to Wikipedia,

Both setting up and taking down a Christmas tree are associated with specific dates. Traditionally, Christmas trees were not brought in and decorated until Christmas Eve (24 December) or, in the traditions celebrating Christmas Eve rather than the first 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.

We did manage to get our Christmas tree decorated in time for Christmas, albeit at the last possible moment. However, we missed the 6th January date for taking it down—but only by a few days, so we hope the bad luck will let us off this year with just a warning. We lit the tree for the last time a couple of days ago—

Click on any photo to start slideshow:

Rich with ornaments

Pools of darkness 1

Candle-lit star

Blue ball 1

Large sun

Golden cat

Pine cone

Golden star

Small sun

Yellow ball

Horse

Pools of darkness 2

Blue ball 2

Wooden tiger

A kayak, of course!

Glass tiger

Enameled ball

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—