Christmas Tree Tradition

Thar she blows! Our Christmas Tree

Happy December! I am starting to feel the excitement of the holiday season. We cut down our Christmas Tree this weekend, we always cut it down on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The day we get our tree marks the official beginning of the holiday season which to me and my family means unprecedented time with each other and friends – and lots of celebrations. Cutting down our own tree is a tradition that started the year our son was born and we have done it rain or shine and in t-shirts and parkas. It’s one of my favorite memories that I get to experience again and again. The temperatures in Connecticut are not predictable on Thanksgiving weekend, but we were lucky to get a gorgeous day. The weather got delightfully cool which sets the stage for a white Christmas (I hope). It also means that I could finally wear a seasonal outfit – Hunter boots included. There’s something so classic about a warm plaid scarf paired with cords that feels quintessentially winter.

There are several tree farms in Connecticut, we have been going to Maple Row Farm for years. It is very expansive and offers many different varieties of trees to choose from. They even provide a tractor piled with hay that will give you and your party a ride to different tree lots on the farm. At each stop is a shed that houses hand saws, a map, a tag for your tree and a barrel of burning wood to warm your hands. Maple Row does a great job with making sure that you have everything you need to make the experience wonderful! I love walking through the farm scrutinizing all the trees until we find the perfect one we all agree upon. As soon as my husband and our son have cut it down, we tag it and take it to the shed where it is picked up and taken to the tree wrapping area to be bound for the car ride home.