Although nothing beats a fresh Christmas tree, with its fragrant pine-needle scent, there are several reasons an artificial Christmas tree makes sense in certain situations. Some artificial Christmas trees are so realistic, you’d have to get quite close to tell the difference. If you’re a veteran decorator (and “un-decorator”) of Christmas trees, you know some of the disadvantages of the real thing, beautiful and fragrant as it may be.

Let’s look at some of the reasons you might favor an artificial tree. If you live in the city and have an apartment or condo on the third floor, it requires considerable effort to purchase, transport and install the tree before you ever start decorating. Grandma and Grandpa may just not have the energy for the running around and muscling the tree in place.

Getting the tree in your home and setting it up can be hard work. Even if you’re physically up to it, you may simply not have the time. Sometimes an artificial Christmas tree just makes good sense in your situation.

It’s fun to let children have their own small Christmas tree in their room – they love gazing at the lights at night, with dreams of sugarplums in their heads. On the other hand, many parents worry about fire danger from a tree that’s too dry. An artificial Christmas tree resolves this worry. Perhaps you want a white Christmas tree, to suit your taste or color scheme. Fresh trees do not come in white. Artificial Christmas trees do!

Unlike a fresh tree, an artificial Christmas tree is perfectly symmetrical, and this is an important point for some decorators. An artificial Christmas tree lasts for many years and may simply be stored away out of season, in a relatively small space. Most come in sections, easily and quickly fitted together when you’re ready to decorate.

To make up for the lack of that fresh tree fragrance, try using bowls of potpourri in strategic locations. You can even purchase spray scents that simulate fresh pine. A simmering pot of apple cider on the stove with cloves and sticks of cinnamon creates a heavenly fragrance all around the house.

If you’ve got your heart set on genuine fresh pine scent, gather or purchase pine branches to make into a garland for the fireplace or stair railing. Probably one of the strongest points for an artificial tree is cleanup after New Year’s. After becoming entangled in lights, pierced by dry needles and decked with sap in your hair, you may go for the artificial Christmas tree next year! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Christmas is always a time to look forward to in any household. But what makes it all the more exciting in our household is the fact that the entire family comes together to put up the Christmas decorations. This has been a time honored tradition in our family from the past several years. In fact, I still can’t recall how or when it started, but it all probably came into being the day my grandfather walked into the house with a mysterious gift box wrapped under his arm.

I was just a kid then, but naturally I was curious. So as he came into the house and proceeded to recline on his couch, we all (namely, my sister, brothers and assorted cousins) gathered around him to see what he had brought home. We were all secretly hoping that it was some candy, for grandfather had a knack for sourcing the most amazing candy!

But then, he was a man full of surprises and one could never be sure what he had come home with. Grandfather saw the twinkle in all our eyes and slowly (almost laboriously) opened the box to reveal – you would never guess – an antique Christmas decoration! What attraction an antique Christmas decoration could hold for a ten year old is beyond my comprehension even today, but to be honest, I was enthralled.

Just seeing that antique Christmas decoration (don’t ask me how I knew that it was an antique Christmas decoration; my grandfather told me!) made my little face light up with joy. Grandfather then slowly proceeded to explain the story behind the antique Christmas decoration. He told us how a humble pheasant in rural Russia had lovingly carved up a piece of walnut wood to make the shape of the antique Christmas decoration.

He then imaginatively led us through the various things the pheasant must have done to create each of the unique features of the decoration till it took its beautiful shape and size. He also narrated to us how the antique Christmas decoration must have lain in some musty old attic till it was discovered by some shrewd relative or junk collector, who, having recognized its true value, must have sold it to the antique dealer from whence my grandfather bought it. Even today, as we all gather around Christmas time to decorate the tree in our living room, we take great pride in the first of all antique Christmas decorations our grandfather procured for us.

Ever since we could afford it, one or the other of us has taken turns to buy some or the other antique Christmas decoration for the tree. But even now, the pride of place, the top belongs to the antique Christmas decoration – a beautiful walnut star – that grandfather bought.

Christmas is always a time to look forward to in any household. But what makes it all the more exciting in our household is the fact that the entire family comes together to put up the Christmas decorations. This has been a time honored tradition in our family from the past several years. In fact, I still can’t recall how or when it started, but it all probably came into being the day my grandfather walked into the house with a mysterious gift box wrapped under his arm.

I was just a kid then, but naturally I was curious. So as he came into the house and proceeded to recline on his couch, we all (namely, my sister, brothers and assorted cousins) gathered around him to see what he had brought home. We were all secretly hoping that it was some candy, for grandfather had a knack for sourcing the most amazing candy!

But then, he was a man full of surprises and one could never be sure what he had come home with. Grandfather saw the twinkle in all our eyes and slowly (almost laboriously) opened the box to reveal – you would never guess – an antique Christmas decoration! What attraction an antique Christmas decoration could hold for a ten year old is beyond my comprehension even today, but to be honest, I was enthralled.

Just seeing that antique Christmas decoration (don’t ask me how I knew that it was an antique Christmas decoration; my grandfather told me!) made my little face light up with joy. Grandfather then slowly proceeded to explain the story behind the antique Christmas decoration. He told us how a humble pheasant in rural Russia had lovingly carved up a piece of walnut wood to make the shape of the antique Christmas decoration.

He then imaginatively led us through the various things the pheasant must have done to create each of the unique features of the decoration till it took its beautiful shape and size. He also narrated to us how the antique Christmas decoration must have lain in some musty old attic till it was discovered by some shrewd relative or junk collector, who, having recognized its true value, must have sold it to the antique dealer from whence my grandfather bought it. Even today, as we all gather around Christmas time to decorate the tree in our living room, we take great pride in the first of all antique Christmas decorations our grandfather procured for us.

Ever since we could afford it, one or the other of us has taken turns to buy some or the other antique Christmas decoration for the tree. But even now, the pride of place, the top belongs to the antique Christmas decoration – a beautiful walnut star – that grandfather bought.

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to touch your life in a very special way? They are the people that from the first time you meet them you know that you have just made a friend. I was blessed with this kind of relationship with one of my dearest friends.

She is very giving and caring. It is no great surprise that one of her hobbies is making and also collecting angels. The first year I knew her she gave me an angel Christmas decoration that she had made. It was made with wooden beads and buttons and had a very sweet cherub face.

She had made several of the beautiful decorations for a craft sale fund raiser we had at church. It was helping at this fund raiser that I found out that she collects angels. As I was helping set out the donated craft items for display I mentioned to another church member that my friend had given me an angel Christmas decoration. This other women mentioned that my friend makes a different angel Christmas ornaments each year.

These ornaments are usually the first things sold at the craft sale because several people in our parish collect them. The craft sale went very well. We made money that is used for various parish functions throughout the year. My friend donates two full days for running this bake and craft sale.

A few days after the craft sale I went Christmas shopping. I came upon a kiosk that was selling crystal ornaments. They had a beautiful angel Christmas decoration. The angel was clear with gold edging along the wings and halo.

She was holding a candle. The flame of the candle was also edged in gold. The crystal sparkled and refracted whatever color was near it. I decided that I would buy the angel Christmas decoration for my friend from church.

It would be a nice thank you gift for the amount of time she donated to our fund raiser. The worker at the kiosk wrapped the ornament beautifully in gold gift wrap and embellished it with sparkly ribbon that had starts on it. The name of the shop was gifts from heaven, which I thought was very fitting for this wonderful friend of mine.

I stopped at her house on my way home from shopping to give her the angel Christmas decoration so she could put it on her tree for the season. She cried when opened it and put it on a display hook among her angel collection. I left her house feel warm and happy about the gift I had presented her.