Breaking News
Life

Putting up, decorating trees a traditional part of the holidays

By Steve Schulwitz 3 min read

ALPENA -- Christmas trees come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are freshly cut from the forest, while others are artificial.

They all share one important trait however: they all warm the hearts of the people who display them during the Christmas season.

For many families, putting up and decorating the Christmas tree is a longstanding tradition and is one that strengthens bonds with one another.

The Chroninger family seeks out their tree at a Christmas tree farm, cuts it, and eventually decorates it together. Staci Chroninger said it has been a family tradition since her and her husband's daughters, Taylor and Rachel, were young.

Chroninger said the tree doesn't really have a color scheme or a theme, but is covered in family mementos and heirlooms.

"There are ornaments that we have received as gifts and sentimental ones like the kids' first Christmas," Staci said. "We have ornaments remembering family members that are no longer with us, and it is a blend of old, new, and the future."

PRATTScape owner Doug Pratt has about 50 fully decorated trees in his store in Alpena and has helped his customers customize Christmas trees for their homes and businesses.

He said the perfect Christmas tree is in the eye of the beholder. Pratt said the most basic tree is beautiful, and the most elegant the same. He said decorating a Christmas tree is a type of art, and a bare tree is an empty canvas. Once decorated, the final outcome usually has a hint of the personality of the person or people who hung the lights, bulbs, and ribbons,

"Art is a personal expression so there really isn't any right or wrong way to decorate your tree," Pratt said. "There really is no wrong way to do it. "

Cindy Cebula has nine Christmas trees in her home. She said they vary in size and the amount of decorations on them. She said they are all artificial and loves the ambiance they give her home, as well as the reaction her grandchildren have to the trees.

Margie Haaxma said Christmas is a special time of year for her and her family because it celebrates the birth of her savior Jesus Christ. One of her trees features gold crowns and crosses, with red lights that softly reflect off of the ornaments. Haaxma said there is no such thing as an ugly Christmas tree and all are special.

"All Christmas trees are perfect because they have the heart of whoever decorated them," she said. "A Christmas tree is a reminder for me that Jesus died for us. He was born as a savior on Christmas and died on the cross so we may have eternal life. That is what is special about Christmas trees and the holiday for me."

Starting at /week.