A year ago we were wandering through breezy rice fields in beautiful Bali, Indonesia. At the time we mentioned how “a year from now, we’ll be talking about our trip”.  Sure enough, it’s hard to believe we ever truly had those tropical vacations in the South Pacific. What a dream!

Ah, but I’ll write more ‘one year later’ reflections in another entry.

In all those years overseas, I never had the chance to really get into the holiday by celebrating with the decorations and preparations that add so much to the spirit of the season. There’s just something about moving to a new place every year or two that keeps you from collecting a stash of seasonal decorations.

But Mmmmm…. the warm lights and shiny decorations combined with the smell of a fresh Balsam Spruce — it is so warming and magical!

When I was young, our piano teacher – Miss Bailey – had a huge tree every year. One cold evening in December, after our lessons, my sister and I would be invited into the family living room to have a look.  We walked around the tree, wide-eyed and amazed at all the little ornaments. She had so many ’special’ ornaments on the tree. Tiny books that opened, musical instruments that played, puppets with strings  – it was a wonderland!

Sometimes I wonder what kind of  ’special’ tree I’d like to have. Something different, not the generic shiny balls and glittery garlands, but a kind of tradition I could build on over the years.

And a couple of years ago, it came to me! Of course I would collect little ornaments from my travels!

Every culture has little trinkets and decorations – who cares if they’re not meant for a Christmas tree!

This is a little handmade ribbon decoration – I got two from a student while I was in Korea.

This one is a handpainted little paper mache ball with beads – from Turkey.

A gold print of an aspen leaf from a dear friend in the States.

And this one – you guessed it – from Japan!

Here’s my favourite! Also from Japan, this is a little woman in a kimono – made out of a clam shell! It’s painted and covered with the layers of silk. Isn’t it just perfect?

And look – her sister!

I only have a few, but I will definitely be working on collecting more little decorations over the years.

This whole decorating thing is quite new for Mehmet.  Last December we came to Canada just in time to help Dad and Carol decorate theirs, but this is our very first tree of our own. Special times! I’m so glad he loves the decorating and is not ambivelant about it. He enjoys the process and the coziness as much as me. :)

There are so many cultural tidbits of life in Canada – and sometimes I forget they are new tidbits for Mehmet.  After we had hung up the ornaments,  I took out this little package of tiny candy canes I had picked up at the dollar store. We unwrapped them one by one, and I explained to him they were called ‘candy canes’… like a cane, you know, I said as I gestured a walking cane.  We hung ten on the tree, then I handed one to him, and took one for myself. I put it in mouth and took a bite. Crunch.

What are you doing?! he cried.

And suddenly I realized that he didn’t even know they really were candy – he thought they were plastic decorations!

It’s fun sharing all these experiences with him – in the evenings we are doing advent readings and I’m teaching him Christmas carols.

And it’s still green in Toronto – fine by me!