This will be our 4th Christmas here in Mexico, and it’s the first time that I’ve insisted on decorating. We haven’t for a few reasons, like the permanent state of brokehood we’re in here, or because Christmas is the busiest time of year for locals. Mostly, I think, it’s because the weather is so vastly different from what we grew up with that it just doesn’t FEEL like Christmas. Whatever the reasons, I vowed to at least half-heartedly decorate this year, and we did so yesterday.
Getting a real tree here would be idiotic, the stupid needles would be off the tree by the time we got it home, so we went looking for an artificial tree. There are two choices here in artificial trees: expensive/kind of crappy quality and super cheap/REALLY crappy quality. We opted for the latter.
Here is our Christmas tree. Hey, what do you expect for a tree that cost 89 pesos?
I actually really like the ornaments we bought, since they are retro and remind me of the vintage ornaments we had on my tree when I was a kid. Plus, they were ultra cheap, like 13 pesos for a box of 6. Woohoo!
I did bring a few of the “special” ornaments I had growing up. My Auntie Judi made this one for me when I was eleven:
This hideous thing is an elf that my mom had on the tree FOREVER, before I was born even. I’ve always LOVED it. The color is faded, I think it’s missing an arm, and the fabric is actually stiff now, but I wouldn’t have a Christmas tree without it. Even when it gets down to just a face, I’ll still put it on my tree.
Allegedly, this ornament was made by my father when he was little. It looks pretty good, though, so I’m thinking the teacher helped him, or I’ve been lied to for years. Anyway, I treasure it. It reminds me of the gingerbread man ornament I made in kindergarten that weighed about 5 lbs and broke every tree branch my mom tried to hang it on. I think my sister, Becky, ate a few bites of it later in its life.
Oh, this ornament. When I was little I gnawed off the little plastic sprinkles on his left leg, convinced it was sugar. I was bitterly disappointed. Looks like I’ve always had an appetite.
That’s it! Pretty brokeass, I know, but poco a poco as they say.
love the snowflake ribbon garland! and all the sentimental ornaments. my mom still has all our ornaments from childhood.. never gave me any!
By: charity on December 10, 2007
at 12:56 pm
Feliz Navidad desde Inglaterra !
By: Roads on December 10, 2007
at 1:32 pm
Heather, I would not put up a tree without the ornaments that the kids made when they were little. It’s all about what makes your tree special to you and I think your tree is beautiful. I have the same welcome sign. Bill (Pop) bought it for me for St. Nick. Maybe it’s a little different – maybe mines a Santa. Well, kind of the same.
By: Nan on December 10, 2007
at 5:49 pm
Hey I still have your obnoxious Santa collection here, I will send it to you at the first opportunity!!
By: donna on December 10, 2007
at 9:22 pm
I think it is a lovely tree. Isn’t it nice turning out the rest of the lights and just looking at it? I never decorate as I am soltera, and now that I have the kits, let’s face it, a tree just isn’t happening. Plus I don’t like to vacuum.
Merry Christmas!
By: Joyce on December 10, 2007
at 11:14 pm
H.,
We had a whole SET of those weird elf things that I inherited from my Mom.
Is that what Christmas was like in the late 60′s? A sort of surrealist-Christmas-creepy vibe?
Alas, they were all destryed when our house burned a few years ago. I have mixed feelings, there.
By: James on December 11, 2007
at 5:04 pm
We can’t get a real tree here either so I got the fakest one ever. IT’s all lights and wires. I really want Linda’s big huge silver tree soo bad. I miss those ornaments. We all had a gingerbread guy. Mom always had some weird ornaments.
Christmas here is weird. We’re almost the only ones on our block w/lights up. But I love decorating. We haven’t put up trees this year though for fear that our dogs will destroy them and we won’t be here for christmas anyway.
By: teetl on December 11, 2007
at 7:56 pm
I had one of those elves, too. I think my mom still hangs it on her tree. I even gave mine a name: Jamie.
By: Melissa on December 11, 2007
at 9:44 pm
That is so special, Heather. It’s all about the traditions and memories. I have no ornaments from my childhood, only my children’s ornaments. I think I may need to do some pilfering next time I’m at my mom’s for the holidays. Now THERE’S the spirit!!
By: charmarie221 on December 13, 2007
at 10:17 am
Heather,
You have a perfect tree. I like ones like yours instead of one that looks like it came with an ornament map so it can be decorated. Too sterile. Your tree has beautiful memories on it. That is how trees should be…says the woman who didn’t put one up this year.LOL
By: Alicia on December 15, 2007
at 1:14 pm
How cute! I hope you guys have a great Christmas! Miss you!
By: SarahB on December 15, 2007
at 3:50 pm