Teasing Traditions
It's my job, along with putting on the lights
Still on the Christmas tree theme here, I seem to have a lot of drawings on the subject. That’s probably because I enjoy teasing traditions. It’s the cartoonists’ job to poke at the things we do, often things we do without even knowing we are doing them.
For example, if you grew up buying a cut tree of a very specific kind every December and then putting it in your living room, stringing little lights and hanging things on it, it may seem like a normal thing to do. But when you think about it, it is a little odd. Not to make fun of anyone’s religion, that’s not something I do. But I don’t think Christmas Trees are particularly religious, am I right? What is the origin? Correct me if I’m wrong.
We do the tree thing every December, as I have done since I was a little girl with my family. Luckily, now we don’t have to purchase our tree in the city— I know how expensive they are becoming. This weekend is our planned family outing to get together to find a perfect tree, put it in our living room, make sure it’s straight and secure, then put a string of lights on it (always my job for some reason, but everyone chimes in), then hang little funny/sweet/pretty toys on it. Oh, and drink egg nog. Really looking forward to it.
That’s really what it’s all about. Together time.
Happy Monday! I feel very lucky.
Hanging the ornaments is always a journey through our forty-five years of marriage. Handmade ornaments from the first Christmas, others recall: trips taken, schools attended, places we've lived, friends, and pets. There are even a few from our childhood trees.
The tree origin is pagan, but I forget the details. Have to look it up again.