Haul out the holly
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again
Fill up the stocking
I may be rushing things but deck the halls again now. –from “We Need a Little Christmas”
In 1966, this tune was written by Jerry Herman for the Broadway musical Mame. It was performed after Mame had lost her fortune in the Wall Street crash of 1929, and decides she and her family “need a little Christmas now” to cheer them up.
Here we are 54 years later and I can’t think of a better time to hall out the holly and all the other holiday trappings because we ALL need some Christmas cheer right now. I know several families who began their decorating right after Halloween this year for that very reason, which works if you are decking your halls with an artificial tree and garland. I’ve listened to the discussions regarding the overlap of holidays and giving each its due. But this is 2020, at least this year, do what makes you happy!
It all starts with the tree. There are artificial trees, cut trees, and live trees that can be replanted in your yard. The first person to bring a Christmas tree into a house, in the way we know it today, may have been the 16th century German preacher Martin Luther. A story is told that, one night before Christmas, he was walking through the forest and looked up to see the stars shining through the tree branches. It was so beautiful, that he went home and told his children that it reminded him of Jesus, who left the stars of heaven to come to earth at Christmas.
I have used a cut tree as long as I can remember. Growing up in Tennessee, we used to cut a cedar tree on my parents farm as our family Christmas tree. I will never forget that scent. Today, my tree is a frasier fir that I put up right after Thanksgiving. The ceiling in my living room slants up to 11′ at it’s highest point so our tree is about 10′ tall. It is a lot of work to string the lights and decorate using three different heights of ladders. There may come a time when I opt for an artificial tree. I have to say it does look beautiful when it’s finished and it almost makes me forget the effort involved…almost. And yes, my husband teases me every year about the lights making our power meter spin out of control, à la Clark’s illumination engineering in Christmas Vacation.
One of my artificial garlands features the nutcracker, toy soldier, and musical ornaments I have collected over the past 30 years. I actually have a houseful of nutcracker ornaments and full-sized nutcrackers. According to German folklore, nutcrackers bring good luck to your family and protect your home. A nutcracker is said to represent power and strength, serving somewhat like a watchdog guarding your family against danger. A nutcracker bares its teeth to evil spirits and serves as a messenger of good luck and goodwill.
I use holly in outdoor displays. I cut some stems about 8″ to 10″ long, with and without berries, which I put in a pot next to a nutcracker made from terra cotta pots. I also save the lower branches cut from the bottom of my Christmas tree. I cut those back, wedge them into matching urns on either side of my side patio walls. Holly adds the perfect finishing touch. I water them well and try and keep them at least misted once a week and they always stay fresh.
The prickly leaves of holly represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. The berries are the drops of blood that were shed by Jesus because of the thorns. In pagan times, it was thought to be unlucky to bring holly into a house before Christmas Eve.
I have artificial wreaths on my front courtyard gates, but fresh ones are also available or, for the adventurous, you can make your own out of pine, holly, magnolia leaves, or other greenery. There are thousands of easy instructions for constructing both fresh and fake wreaths and they are all beautiful!
The tradition of wreaths is said to have begun in the 1500s in Germany. The idea possibly stems from the use of wreaths in Ancient Greek and Roman times, that were used to crown those with significant achievements or community rank, or placed on their door. Today’s wreaths represent everlasting life brought through Jesus and the circular shape of the wreath represents God, with no beginning and no end.
I use white and red poinsettias, both large and small, orchids, and amaryllis scattered throughout my house. Even after the tree is taken down and the ornaments put away, they make for a reminder of the warm memories of the season. And if my thumb is very green, I can nurture them along and get them all to rebloom.
A couple of things to keep in mind as Christmas and December 2020 wind down. What ever little Christmas cheer you’ve spread throughout your home, take some time to relax, enjoy it, and count your blessings. Christmas is much more than all of the trappings and the tinsel, regardless of how we choose to celebrate it. The true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.
Grown a little sadder, grown a little older
And I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder
Need a little Christmas now!
Need a little singing ringing through the rafter
And we need a little snappy, happy ever after
We need a little Christmas now!
