USVI-On-Line

In the topic ”Real or fake” there is some pictures of Christmas trees. I think it’s so interesting to see them, and I would like to see more shots. Also some Christmas decorations. Too example pics of these “ornaments” you are writing about. I don’t really know, what it is.

As a start I will show you some of my own “Christmas things”. I’m of course not sure, if it’s interesting for you, and I doubt that you like my way of doing it. But perhaps you find it funny to see them nevertheless.

At the same time I want to wish everyone in VIOL a

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, or as we say:

Glædelig jul og Godt nytår !

I have never believed that I, after we have returned from our journey, still would find it interesting to read and write in VIOL, but I do!

Linne




I cannot show you our Christmas tree, because it will not be put up before Christmas Eve’s day.
In Christmas Eve we walk around the tree singing Christmas songs, and afterwards we have our presents. But here is my “December” tree, which we enjoy to have the lights switched on every day. Afterwards it will be planted out.



<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Jul ... 2674"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R2GP3ETWD ... 9.JPG"></a>



The pics, I have seen, show that on some of the trees there is a bow in the top. We don’t use that,
I think everyone in Denmark has a star in the top of the Christmas tree. It can for example be a star like this:



<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Jul ... 1682"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/R2GPi0TWD ... 3.JPG"></a>



We also have the tradition to have an Advent wreath with four candle lights on. You burn one light down every Advent Sunday. I don’t know if you have the same tradition in USA????

My Advent wreath is a little” alternative”. Many of our friends have bigger and more beautiful wreaths. But we like it so.




<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Jul ... 5586"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/R2GPIkTWD ... 8.JPG"></a>



Another tradition for us is that every year I make a Christmas decoration on a Juniper root, we found for about 40 years ago. It’s decorated with things from the nature and from our garden and it’s different from year to year.



<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Jul ... 8466"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R2GRSETWD ... 6.JPG"></a>





Some other decorations in our house:



<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Jul ... 6018"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/R2GQa0TWD ... 6.JPG"></a>




<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Jul ... 7314"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/R2GQokTWD ... 4.JPG"></a>



<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Jul ... 5410"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/R2GOzUTWC ... 3.JPG"></a>


Enjoy the Christmas everyone!!!


Linne

Linne, I LOVE your Advent wreath. We have one as well that my Sister in law made but (don't tell her) I don't like it much. It's made of fake greens which are against my better judgement - but I use it in the spirit of things. Is yours made of natural greens? I love your alternate version.

I too always had a star on my tree but it has broken and I had not found a suitable one to replace it so the bow has been my alternate until I find something else I like. I'm not thrilled with it but it must do for now!

excuse my bad photos but I just took these real quick a few minutes ago.

this is the top of our TV cabinet. some greens, candles and assorted snow men and Santa's



And this built in, in my kitchen, houses my Santa collection Off season it holds teapots that I have collected over the years

Here is our tree


My tablescape before food

I like your table. What is that tall cylinder?

It is a tall glass vase filled with ornaments and glitter. Here is a better pic.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20193753@N08/2109161997/" title="tree by littlelamashur, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2032/210 ... 8011_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="tree"></a>

Our Christmas Tree
Jamestown

California Girl wrote:
By the way, Mary Beth... nice Spode

thanks, love my Spode! Tea pot one of my favorite things!

Thank you for the pictures, like to study them. Nice collection you have Mary Beth. Now I know that MB has an Advent wreath, but is it common in USA? And yes, mine is real, I have made it of fir and box tree and in the middle there are “fungi” which you can find on old tree trunks (not sure if it’s the right word, I have found). So funny to read about your calendar California Girl. I think every child in Denmark have such a calendar. Sometimes more. But the big door is on the 24th! Isn’t it so in USA? Another question. Why do you have a sort of sash beneath the Christmas tree? Is it to hide the presents?

Linne

Thanks for sharing your photos, Linne. It's so interesting to see how others decorate, and especially in other parts of the world.

Mary Beth, that's a great Santa collection. Reminds me of my grandmothers- we'd have to clear out an entire room so she could put out her Santas. About ten years ago, she counted and had over 300. Who knows what it is now.

Oh, and Linne the thing you're talking about under the tree is usually called a Tree Skirt. It's mostly for decoration, but also to hide the stand that the tree sits in. That's it's modern story, anyway. I'm not sure if there's more history behind it.

Linne, we always had an advent wreath when I was growing up. It was made from real pine branches and pine cones, and had four candles..three were purple and one was pink. (Or else it was the other way around). The candle colors had some religious significance but I have to confess I have forgotten what it meant--I was raised Catholic but left the church many years ago.

We also had an advent calendar like California Girl describes. I loved that thing when I was a child! I bought something similar for my niece and nephew...they are wooden boxes with 25 little doors. Inside each cubby I put something small--just change or a matchbox car or similar. Every day they can open a new door and see the little gift. They each have one to prevent fights.

The skirt you see at the bottom of everyone's trees is not to hide presents, it is to conceal the tree stand!

some history on the Advent Wreath. Linne, not everyone here would have them since we are not all of the same faith.

The origins of the Advent wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who, during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light.

Christians kept these popular traditions alive, and by the 16th century Catholics and Protestants throughout Germany used these symbols to celebrate their Advent hope in Christ, the everlasting Light. From Germany the use of the Advent wreath spread to other parts of the Christian world.

Traditionally, the wreath is made of four candles in a circle of evergreens. Three candles are violet and the fourth is rose, but four white candles or four violet candles can also be used. Each day at home, the candles are lighted, perhaps before the evening meal-- one candle the first week, and then another each succeeding week until December 25th. A short prayer may accompany the lighting.