| Christmas tree traditions are fun and allow you to | | | | and many more. You can have just about any |
| show off your creativity, but it can also be a | | | | kind of tree you desire as long as you are willing |
| bone of contention for many families. It seems | | | | to pay for it. How much do want to pay? |
| that people have very strong and varied opinions | | | | Then there is the question of HOW to decorate |
| on the topic of Christmas trees and certain | | | | your tree? Will you use a new theme each |
| questions come up. | | | | Christmas, the same treasured ornaments every |
| Such as: | | | | year or no theme at all? |
| - When is the right time to put up your tree? | | | | Possible Themes: |
| - What type of tree do you use? | | | | - Old-fashioned theme - a tree with old-fashioned |
| - How will you choose to decorate it? | | | | ornaments and popcorn strings |
| Many families put up their Christmas tree the | | | | - Candy theme - a tree with nothing but candy |
| weekend after Thanksgiving or earlier while a few | | | | decorations |
| will wait until as late as Christmas Eve. Some | | | | - Goodies theme - a tree with candies and baked |
| choose the one-time purchase, pine needle-free | | | | goods |
| convenience of a life-like artificial tree, but for | | | | - Chocolate theme - a tree with nothing but |
| others only a fragrant, fresh-cut live tree will do. | | | | chocolate decorations |
| My family never puts up a Christmas tree any | | | | Although, I admire themed Christmas trees, it is |
| earlier than the 1st weekend of December and | | | | tradition for my family to hang our favorite old |
| we always get a fresh cut tree. There is | | | | decorations on our tree each Christmas and |
| something about the smell of a fresh tree that | | | | fondly reminisce over each one. |
| you just can't beat. It's even worth picking up the | | | | I often refer to our Christmas tree as a 'junk |
| pine needles. | | | | tree' because of its hodge-podge of ornaments, |
| But, what kind of Christmas tree do you want? | | | | some dating back to my first Christmas as a |
| Do you want a short tree or tall tree? Do you | | | | newlywed and many made by my seven children |
| want a full tree or one with spaces? There are so | | | | over the past 27 years, each one a precious |
| many different types to choose from: Ponderosa | | | | memory on a wire hook. |
| pine, Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble Fir, Balsam Fir | | | | |