One thing I remember about our Christmas trees is that we always put them up on two orange crates covered with a white sheet. I guess that was to make room for the presents under the tree. My sister still has a couple of those old orange crates even though they are no longer used for the Christmas tree.
There were a number of my relatives that were total heathens in respect to the "real" Christmas tree idea. My mother's parents for some years had a tree that I believe was a very early forerunner of today's fiber optic tree. The catch was that this tree had to have a revolving color wheel to supply the ever-changing colors. I'm sure that anyone my age remembers these!
I don't remember how many years my grandparents had this type of tree, but I do remember being told by my parents not to get to close - they were always afraid we were going to knock it over.
In later years I remember my grandparents having a little (artificial) tree that they just set up on a table - which still seemed so WRONG to me as a child. As an adult I have a little more sympathy for the ease of the artificial tree. I will even admit to having a fiber optic tree in my house - but it's only the secondary tree down in the lower level. The upstairs still gets a BIG tree!
We always had a real tree too Diana and I felt the same way about those artificial trees...ick! Still buy a real tree and always will. Or I just won't have a tree at all!
ReplyDeleteAnother photo of the old aluminum tree. How I remember those....although we never had one.
ReplyDeleteWell, I learned something new today. I've never seen the color wheel thingy. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete@Amy, would you believe they still sell those color wheel things? @lindalee I remember when it was all the rage to have the aluminum trees. We never had one, preferring to go out back and harvest our own. My dad was a carpenter and he would make a wooden "holder" out of two by fours. We had to leave our tree outside until about a week before Christmas to keep it fresh in a bucket of water. Oh, the lovely smell of fir in the house though when it finally was up and decorated.
ReplyDeleteThat color wheel looks familiar - I am wondering whether my mother might not have had one of those with her artificial tree; I seem to remember changing colors.
ReplyDeleteDiane, that color wheel brings back so many memories. I thought I had a picture that showed it with the tree, but I couldn't find it.
ReplyDeleteOh...I remember those color wheels! I have to agree with you about the silver tree on the table. It is like our fiber optic tree :)
ReplyDeleteThis year we are back to a real tree. Loved your photos.
Hi all - thanks so much for stopping by!! I have to make one comment on the color wheel - not only do they still sell them, but I actually found that picture on Amazon!
ReplyDeleteHa Ha!!!! I was wondering if someone was going to post about the tree with the revolving color wheel. Yes - I DO remember those. Our neighbors had one when I was not quite 10-years old. My sister and I use to stand on their front porch and watch the wheel going around making the aluminum tree change colors. What a hoot. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
ReplyDeletemy cousins had a white tree one Christmas with a blue light shining on it. they said it was because you couldn't put lights on the metal tree or you'd get electricuted.
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