O Christmas Tree
“O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
They are green when summer days are bright,
They are green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!” …
Confucius Say… “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
A “Weeping Alaskan Cedar” is definitely not a typical Christmas tree, with its unevenly spaced, drooping, soft and wispy, blue-green, flat needled branches, possessing an odor that some might find distasteful—but that is my Christmas tree this year. Its starless top, rising to about 12 feet, brushes my living room ceiling, having completed its transformation from mere tree to Christmas tree, by the adornment of colorful lights and every red Christmas ornament I own. It goes without saying, but, by far, this is my most unique Christmas tree ever.
Over the years, I have become a “rescuer” (of sorts) of evergreen trees I use for Christmas, as these various trees had to be cut down, for one reason or the other, and were destined for either my burn pit or fireplace. It has given me the opportunity to do something worthwhile for these poor trees, in that at least their final purpose was one of symbolic significance, as they were able to magnificently display their unique beauty in my home throughout the Christmas season. In other words, they got a spectacular and meaningful send-off as a beautiful Christmas tree!
The Swamp Monster
Those who have seen my Christmas tree this year have said I need to stand guard, as it looks as though I am going to be attacked by “The Swamp Monster” (the name given my tree), or by something huge that is hidden underneath swamp camouflage. The tree really does look as they have described and having been told “Charlie Brown” style Christmas trees are very much in “vogue” these days, I suppose my tree fits right in…although I still see my tree as one with its own special kind of whimsical beauty, and not as a pitiful Charlie Brown one.
A Christmas Star
Just needing a star to crown its lacy top, I am waiting for the real “Christmas Star” to appear in the heavens on the very night of the Winter Solstice, December 21st, in which a rare event will be seen that has not occurred for almost 800 years—the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn—causing a “Christmas Star” to form. I have imagined this “Christmas Star” will figuratively rest on my Christmas tree’s top, as a true symbol of hope. The once plain old Weeping Alaskan Cedar, now transformed into a majestic Christmas tree, topped with the glimmering starlight of hope from above, will add its own special beauty to the wonder and magic of the Christmas season.
Take a look around during this Christmas season, and be delightfully surprised when finding beauty in the most unusual and unsuspecting places—much like the delightful surprise I am experiencing this year with my “Swamp Monster Christmas Tree!”
… “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You bear a joyful message:
That faith and hope shall ever bloom
To bring us light in winter’s gloom.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You bear a joyful message”
Wishing you a very “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” too!
Katrina Cheema