Inspired by Witless Protection Program......https://evanescein08.blogspot.com/2025/12/im-christmas-minimalist.html
So Evan is correct in thinking I am one of those people who look forward and think about Christmas all year long. However- I would LOVE to be a Christmas Minimalist!!
When I was young I did many of the same things as Evan when he was a child at home. The EXPERIENCES and anticipation of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were EVERYTHING Magical- thanks to my parents who made the magic happen for us.
We weren't rich...straight and pure Middle class through and through.
The week before Christmas everything was decorated up- A Big tree (Cut down in our woods on our property) with simple electric candles in the windows and a wreath on the door were the extent of it.
But with 5 kids there was always a pile of presents under the tree - one big thing and a couple of little ones and of course, our stocking with a chocolate candy, a candy cane(a Large one) an apple, an orange, and some nuts and a small gift in it too.
Christmas Eve we visited Grandmother and Grandaddy M- Christmas Day we visited Granny and Pa-pa C.
Grandmother & Grandaddy always had a real cut Cedar tree with loads of those big bulb lights that was popular at the time and the main cause of fires during the Christmas season- they had a few twinkles as they became more popular and less a fire hazard later on... And Grandmother always made us pjs and each one of us got at some point a special quilt and a Crotchet throw. Granddaddy was a quiet man who took care of things in the background.
Granny and Pa-pa rarely gave out gifts(I have a LOTTTTT of cousins because Granny and Pa-pa had 18 kids) but THEY had a Holly Tree Christmas Tree for most years. No Lights, No Ornaments, maybe a few strings of silver tinsel thrown on a few of the branches, but mostly Just the bare Minimum. And those trees were naturally beautiful! I loved visiting each set of Grandparents equally as much- but for totally different reasons.
I have soooo many Christmas stories to tell, but that will be for another time.....
The point is- that's how Evan and I both grew up.
Then we got into adulthood and we had to create that magic for our own littles- and for myself- now for my Grands(14 now and possibly one more on the way) and great-grands(5 now and one on the way).
I've never had much money to spend on the kids gifts and still don't ,but we had the 3 gift rule(-Baby Jesus only got 3 gifts himself)....., But when it comes to Christmas Spirit/Magic- we got plenty of it.
My son, Clay, left us in an MVA in 2007...my last conversation with him he told me that I had to stop using a "Christmas Stick"6' Slim Tree) instead of a full sized real tree..... he said" Mama-You've always made Christmas so special for us- the lights, the smells, the music we played and the songs we sang together when we went to McAdenville to go Light peeping!!! The little treats like a milkshake with extra drizzle on it and Sprinkles, the queso at Chili's we all shared. The cookies we baked together, ....Now Me and Kathy are having a baby, I want him/her to have all that while he's growing up, too." I promised him I wouldn't use the Christmas stick again- and I haven't- but I haven't got a live cut tree either yet- someday I will tho. But for now, it's artificial trees and some natural branches added to the garland the week before Christmas so it smells like he remembered. Yes its messy, and it's a bit more work to find the branches and fit them in the garland, but in the end- it makes Christmas so much more special............ Two days later, Clay was gone.
I think my reasoning for the EXTRA at Christmas is- you don't notice how little gifts you get if you're so wrapped up in the sparkle and glitter of making the real Christmas Magic... and what better place to make it than home? Its not what or how much you get- it's who you are spending time and making memories with for me. Nothing in this world is more precious to me.
I really do wish I could do a Minimal Christmas tho...A Nearly Naked Tree- lights only. No Baubles & No Ribbon! a Vignette with a handful of special ornaments on the top of the coffee table- or better yet- IN a display top coffee table with the top free of anything else. A Wreath for the front door that sets the tone for the tree- Natural with only a small string of lights and a big red bow on the bottom ...... a single electric or battery powered candle in each window (I'm going to research and see if they make solar powered ones- that would be the best thing ever!!!) A Mantle with a Nearly Naked Garland. Maybe a Nearly Naked Garland across my headboard in my bedroom... Perfection.
That's It...... That sounds like a decor even Evan would approve of!!!
Hmmm....You know- I haven't done my bedroom and I think I'll do it exactly in the Minimalist style.
It's my private space- no kids allowed. Why Not.
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