O Christmas Tree!

Since my early childhood, Christmas has been magical to me.  Much of the magic was in mum's delicious cooking. I can still smell the clove and cinnamon in mum's kitchen , the delicious dishes she'd prepare for the family using her imagination and creative talent in cooking. But what really excited me most was the Christmas Tree.

Mum's Edible Christmas tree!!!

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, we weren't allowed to cut down Christmas trees because there were few in Cyprus and they should stand in their natural habitat. So we usually had a cypress or pine tree for Christmas as artificial trees were scarce in those days. Nowadays, many natural Christmas trees are cut down and sold at soaring prices! This is why I prefer artificial to natural Christmas trees.

 

My brother and me - Christmas 1961

 

 

Christmas 1992 at home

 

Christmas 2012

Economically, artificial trees can be easier on your wallet. For the cost of a single large natural tree, you can purchase an artificial tree that looks the same but will last for several holiday seasons. I believe that all living creatures should live in their natural habitat, including trees. So if they look the same, cost less, can be used year after year, and can prevent natural trees from being chopped down, we should all  be lining up to purchase an artificial tree this year.

 

What's your choice? Artificial or natural Christmas tree?

Comments

[walid]

Habebti.
Hello.
Since i was young we always waited to put our Christmas tree.We put it on the 15th of December till the 6th of January.
It was always a branch of a pine tree,never a tree we are not aloud to cut a tree.By the family law.We use to hang on it some season fruits plus the bulbs and most decoration.
The cave the status of Christ in the barn Merry and st Joseph the three kings some animals .
Use to plant in saucers some check peas lintels and wheat month be for to put them as we still do that believing that the growth of the real season will be better result.We never forget the arch made of asparagus on the front of the cave this comes from the believe asparagus repel bad spirits .WE still have them planted on both sides of any old house entrance including ours.
When I was 14 I had a try it was the first in the aria where we live to Decorate a pine tree we have in our home garden.It was a great idea which now a days most people do. The pine tree is big now this year I decorate an olive tree.A Carob tree both are still young.
In fact my brother sell Natural Trees imported from Italy every year .
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year in advance.God Bless.

[Stefania]

Your mother's edible Christmas tree looks great! I'm sure it was just as delicious. I prefer natural trees for all their great smell all over the place in the holiday season.

[Christina]

Definetely an artificial Christmas tree because it's more economical if you live in the city and a good quality Christmas tree these days looks real and lasts a long time. For example, your Christmas tree 2012 looks very real in the photo and it's so beautifully decorated! My grandma, though, who lives in Ipiros, cuts down her tree every Christmas from the nearby forest.

[Jean-Paul Bouvier]

Chez moi, c'est le sapin naturel. Le coté pratique et économique du sapin de noël artificiel a tout de même du mal à faire oublier le coté authentique du sapin naturel. Le plastique et autre matières synthétiques ne remplaceront jamais le naturel, les parfums et sensations au toucher. Et si l’on rajoute l’aspect environnemental, la balance penche définitivement du coté du sapin naturel.

[Lakis Ioannou]

I am the one to put up the lights in the trees standing in the garden but in the house we'd rather have an artificial tree.It's practical, costs less and looks really lovely.

[Anastasia]

My dear Walid, thank you for sharing your family's Christmas traditions. When I was a child, my family used to put up a natural Christmas tree which was always a pine tree. We all decorated it together on Christmas Eve - a childhood memory that I always cherish.
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[Anastasia]

I will never forget my mum's Christmas tree dessert! It was such a sweet Christmas surprise! There was hardly any left by the end of the day.
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[Anastasia]

I am a city dweller, yet I've always envied people like your grandma who live in the country or the mountains and can cut down their own Christmas tree. I can only imagine the joy of decorating a natural tree that has been chosen amongst many in a forest!
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[Alexia M]

I really love your Christmas trees, Anastasia, and that amazing creation of your mother! If you ask me, there's nothing like a natural fir tree for Christmas! Oh how I love that smell!

[Jeff]

Unlike plastic trees which aren't biodegradable, real Christmas trees are environmentally friendly as they absorb carbon dioxide and emit fresh oxygen which helps prevent the greenhouse effect. In the USA, right after the holiday season, real Christmas trees are chopped up for landscaping or placed in ponds and lakes for smaller fish to survive. What's more, for every Christmas tree harvested 2-3 seedings are planted in its place. For all these reasons, I've always put up a fine, real fir tree for the holiday season.

[Anastasia]

Je pense que le sapin artificiel peui être aussi beau que le sapin naturel et ça dure des années.

[Anastasia]

I couldn't agree more. Good quality artificial Christmas trees look more real than the natural ones.

[Anastasia]

Long ago, while still a student in Switzerland, I brought home from Geneva a small, natural fir tree which travelled in a big suitcase. Fir trees are scarce in Cyprus and my parents were so excited! Fortunately enough, the swiss fir tree survived the weather in Cyprus. We even decorated it with real candles - something you can't do with artificial trees.

[Anastasia]

Nowadays, biodegradable products are finding wider use in arts and crafts, even artificial Christmas trees can be made from biodegradable material.

[A Twitter User]

That's really a very lovely Christmas tree you have there. I remember we used to have a Christmas tree that my mother made and she had a different theme each year. She made Christmas trees made from crochet thread and cotton, and a Christmas tree made of chicken-wire and Japanese paper. She was so creative because we could not afford a Christmas tree bought from the store. Nice to share your old photos here.
Again, Merry Christmas!

[Lisa A]

Your mother is an artist! What a wonderfull Christ mas tree dessert!!! I like real Christmas trees and I like artifificial ones. What is matter most for me as an artist is how you decorate your tree. Your tree this year is so lovely and elegant. Art is creation with both the natural materials and artificials ones. Buon Natale!

[Anastasia]

Thank you, Lisa. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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[Christina]

My choice is my good old artificial tree. I've had it for almost 20 years. It's small and old-fashion but it's proved to be great quality and I love it as it always brings back happy Christmas memories.

[Anastasia]

Thank you so much. The truth is I love decorating Christmas trees. I think your mother was both creative and inventive. I'm sure her handmade Christmas tree was the best for you because she made it, and that's what matters most. Wishing you Happy Christmas and a great holiday season.
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[Anastasia]

I've had mine for only 5 years and can'tr imagine getting a new tree - natural or artificial. Hope your Christmas is merry and bright.
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