USVI-On-Line

Everyone's decorations are so pretty! Here is my tree:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/5284328262/" title="tree 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/528 ... baae73.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="tree 2"></a>

There are some vintage ornaments on there that belonged to my grandmother, but most of the ornaments are ones John and I have given each other at Christmas. Our very first Christmas together, we ended up giving each other the same ornament as a gift by coincidence, this one:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/5284327702/" title="lion by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/528 ... 26dac4.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="lion"></a>

The ornament is by Christopher Radko, and it started a tradition of exchanging Radko ornaments at Christmas. Now we have a tree full!

Gorgeous! Thanks everyone for sharing.

Is that the Cowardly Lion, Becky?

No, it is just a regular lion. At the time we had a running joke between us involving lions (17 years later, I can't remember what it was!), so we were both inspired to buy a lion ornament for the other for Christmas. We were so amazed that we picked the exact same thing that we decided to start a tradition of buying each other ornaments from that maker every year. We have not picked the same ornament for each other again, but there is always a little suspense when we open the packages to see if we did!

that's fun!

Thank you, Linne, for continuing this thread this year and for sharing your culture through your personal celebration.
Your decorations are lovely and express much warmth and caring.

All the other pics posted here are a joy to see, as well!
Beautiful!

Thank you all and Merry Christmas!

Thank you for the pics. I enjoy to see all the decorations. I can also see some stars instead of angels in the top of the trees. So the traditions are not the same all over- remember it from old pictures too.

We celebrate Christmas Eve tonight. Often people here do not decorate the tree before the day before Christmas Eve. Is that the same in USA?

Linne

linne wrote:Thank you for the pics. I enjoy to see all the decorations. I can also see some stars instead of angels in the top of the trees. So the traditions are not the same all over- remember it from old pictures too.

We celebrate Christmas Eve tonight. Often people here do not decorate the tree before the day before Christmas Eve. Is that the same in USA?

Linne

I know one family that decorates their Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Everyone else does theirs about 3 weeks before Christmas.

my sister in law does it on Christmas Eve. not quite sure if that is intentional or not. she's a bit of a last minute Annie!

PA Girl wrote:

linne wrote:Thank you for the pics. I enjoy to see all the decorations. I can also see some stars instead of angels in the top of the trees. So the traditions are not the same all over- remember it from old pictures too.

We celebrate Christmas Eve tonight. Often people here do not decorate the tree before the day before Christmas Eve. Is that the same in USA?

Linne

I know one family that decorates their Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Everyone else does theirs about 3 weeks before Christmas.

A neighbor family had the tradition that Santa brought the tree so they would decorate after the kids went to sleep on xmas eve.

Little wooden Santas over the opening between kitchen and family room.
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... sDNG"><img src="http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/45500 ... 425Q85.jpg" alt="santas 2"></a>

The tree in our front room (the 'homework room') is artificial; it's decorated with all bird ornaments plus one cat.
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... LBCP"><img src="http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/46956 ... 425Q85.jpg" alt="front room tree"></a>

The tree in our family room is real and decorated with all the assorted family ornaments, new and old, etc.
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... sDUR"><img src="http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/45621 ... 425Q85.jpg" alt="Family room tree 2"></a>

My favorite part is hanging up the Christmas cards we get. I love seeing everyone's pictures. Hard to get a good picture of it, but they really do brighten up the room.
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... HSaU"><img src="http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/44564 ... 425Q85.jpg" alt="cards 1"></a>

<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... VVlH"><img src="http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/42164 ... 425Q85.jpg" alt="cards 2"></a>