My Grand Christmas Heritage

The first year we were married, we had an enormous Christmas tree. Nephi's grandparents grew Christmas trees in their backyard, and they invited us to cut one down. It didn't look too big outside, but you know how that goes; it took up a third of our tiny living room. I loved it, and it smelled so good. I have such happy memories of that Christmas, especially of decorating our tree with ornaments that my mother gave me from my family's extras. I knew our ornaments were a little original, not just boring pretty balls or standard snowflakes, but when our home teacher visited he was completely enthralled by the tree. "You guys have the craziest ornaments I've ever seen!" he kept saying as he chuckled to himself. It was a little unsettling, to be honest, but this summer I understood better that this is part of my family heritage.

Several years ago my mothers' parents passed away, and my mother and aunt still own their home. They've been slowly sorting out the attic and this summer they went through my grandma's Christmas decorations for her grandchildren and great grandchildren to take home with them. My grandmother never went for anything ordinary in her life, including Christmas decorations. In most every way she had exciting, thoughtful, classy taste, but not, apparently, when it came to Christmas decorations. As my cousins and I perused the ornaments, many were bizarre and some were downright scary. Although there were a few lovely ones from her travels to Scandinavia, most were not. I took just a few pictures of some highlights.

How about this trio of menacing elves? Have a Merry Christmas, or we'll break your kneecaps! (Incidentally, Caleb chose these to bring home, which I had totally forgotten until I opened our boxes last month to this festive, cheery group.)

  

"Merry Christmas, little girl. Do you want some candy or a balloon?" says the creepy man with the scary mask.

And we all know nothing says Christmas like a bear with a toothache????

Anyhow, this all made me think about the Christmas decorations my mother has given me as gifts over the years, and how they all strike Nephi as a little more bizarre than me. I've had generations of affinity for strange Christmas decorations baked into me! One of my favorites is the cross dressing present-bearing Christmas fish. In retrospect I'm not sure why I've always assumed it was a male fish, but I did. I really like it! So do my kids. This year as I was unpacking they all asked, "Where is the fish?!" It stands on our bathroom counter wishing us all happy holidays as we brush our teeth during the month of December in its bizarre, non sequitur way. "Merry Christmas!" it says. "I am a cross dressing fish with arms and legs!" 

Given this rich Christmas decoration heritage, I am already thinking hard about what Christmas decorations I can bestow upon future daughters-in-laws. I know it is kind of wicked, but also very funny, to imagine their anxiety as they wonder where to put the bizarre decorations their mother-in-law gives them that they find embarrassing  but not wanting to offend us when we come to visit. "Where is the rollerskating honey badger wearing a Santa hat that I gave you last year?" I'll casually ask.