A Sad Christmas Recollection

I so agree about the smell of Christmas. I remember touching the lights and finding them rather warm!

Happy Christmas 2021 and hope 2022 is better than the last one.

Interesting blog, Loosestrife. Thank you for the memories too. You can’t beat that wonderful pine smell from a real tree….I had a friend who I trained with - she would always say she could smell Christmas coming in November.
Best wishes to you and good health for the New Year x

Its true, the tree used to smell lovely. But you can still get real trees, even if they don't have the same kind of lights. And once I went to a gathering of our madrigal group at a member's house and the tree there had actual candles - how's that for nostalgia?
Thank you for your post, it stirred many memories!

I remember the big lights, I've still got the colourful shades that were on them.
I don't remember that smell though, we always had an artificial tree even back in the 50s.

Thank you all! Would you believe it... the valentines days items are already stocked on the store shelves already. I have always been tempted to set up a tree with candles but never did due to my fear of a mishap which would cause a fire. Next Christmas I will set up a second tree outdoors with candles lighted on a calm night with my grandchildren and great grandchildren to light them and to sing a few Christmas songs if I can get them away from their playing with their iPads long enough to do so. Im sorry that I did not think of doing that long ago. My father always bought the tree the night before Christmas because the remaining ones were by then inexpensive not so attractive leftovers. It was great fun to decorate the tree that Christmas Eve night so heavily especially with tinsel and garland to cover over any defects. The tree and the smell of Christmas lasted all week long to a few days after New Years. The tree being gone.... After that, on most nights, the smell of either boiled cabbage, garlic or worst of all, cooked kidneys with onions became the smell of home upon my return from a day at school.🤭

I find it frustrating, having Christmas stuff on the shelves in September!!! I like to think of Halloween, Guy Fawkes and my birthday before then!!!
I think your plan to have a Christmas tree outside with the candles all lit up sounds just perfect…a really feel good traditional sight. Your family will love it.
I have to agree, Loosestrife - the smell of Christmas tree pine definitely trumps cooked kidneys or boiled cabbage! 😉

Boiled cabbage is reminiscent of school corridors. Burning pine is definitely much better!

Best wishes for the New Year Loosestrife!
It would be a much better idea to have the christmas tree outdoors with candles, unless of course the wind blew them out!
Thanks for the memories!