Artificial or authentic Christmas
Growing up, Christmas was always a very special time of the year. One of my fondest memories was going with my grandfather, along with my uncle, to find a nice full cedar tree to cut down. We would measure from the top to the point it would fit into the house, top the tree as we called it, and drag it out of the woods. We would place the tree on top of the car, which was a sight to behold. When we got home, we trimmed it up and placed it in a stand with water. Then the decorations were brought out, including tinsel made of thin strips of foil, multi-colored lights and the real work began.
We always had a real tree in our home until my mother bought an artificial tree, that was white and had a wheel that cast various colors onto the tree. Later after I married, my wife and I used both real and artificial trees for Christmas. Real trees were used primarily because my oldest son thought a real tree was more authentic than an artificial tree. Apparently, the television special called A Charlie Brown Christmas impressed my son that a real tree was better than the “fake ones.” Apparently after the show first aired, artificial trees became associated with a commercialized Christmas and sales plummeted. However, in our home, real trees sometimes were too authentic. One year, when a real tree warmed up in our house, a bunch of small black bugs came off the tree and invaded our house. Another year, a real tree was too heavy on one side, and when too many ornaments were put on the wrong side, it fell over, destroying a bunch of decorations made by our children over many years.
I don’t believe real trees make Christmas any more authentic than artificial trees make it less so. The same is true with any decorations. Some go all out on decorations, and others do very little decorating, yet their Christmas can be just as authentic, if not more so. What makes Christmas authentic rather than artificial? Recognizing and celebrating the true meaning of what Christmas is all about. Linus had it right in A Charlie Brown Christmas, When he was asked the true meaning of Christmas, he quoted, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Have a blessed and authentic Christmas this year.
