Catholics! Keep Your Trees Up!

Catholic Answers ^ | December 30, 2014 | Christopher Check

[HiTech RedNeck]

Horrid in its day, now dearly retro.

[Ditter]

No Christmas trees here anymore either, I got tired of the hassle. I have a beautiful hand carved Nativity that I leave up until Easter every year.

I have lots of little Santas sitting around and I have already started putting them up. I do a few every day and it is not a lot of work.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It's one thing to differ.

It's another thing to elaborately rage.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I do not argue against the spirit of the time, but if your tree is browning, it does represent a fire hazard, so please dispose of it. You might consider putting up a small artificial tree in its place, to help keep the mood of the season.

[HiTech RedNeck]

C’mon, fundamentalist rednecks leave Christmas lights up ALL YEAR

[cloudmountain]

Yes, I’m thinking about an artificial one. Today, they are beautiful! When I was a kid, we only had the worst looking fake tree so when I had my own home I insisted on a real one. They’re a lot of trouble but so beautiful. And, yes, my cat has destroyed myriad ornaments over the years.

They sure do make beautiful artificial trees. We finally bought one years ago and it was a green one, LIKE a real tree. Now, I just put up a NATIVITY scene for the season.

I always thought that the Christmas trees were for the kiddies and kitties anyway. They get such pleasure from them.

True story.
My mother came to visit us in Saudi Arabia one Christmas. I asked her to bring me a small, green, artificial tree but to DISGUISE the box since Christmas trees were forbidden to bring into the Kingdom.

So she did. I got to meet her INSIDE the baggage claim...telling the Saudi guards that it was my MOTHER. They let me in.

Unfortunately, my mother's idea of "disguising" the box with the Christmas tree was to LAMELY change the "Christmas" to "Ohristmas."
My tree was confiscated and dumped on the HUGE pile of other confiscated artificial trees.

So...I got to customs and made a scene with the guards. They then called for a superior. HE validated the previous guards.

I went up the level of authority until FINALLY an old, old Saudi, wearing the white thobe and red/white checked gutra, came out to settle things.
He let me have my tree and I walked out HAPPILY with my artificial Christmas tree.

My poor husband, was waiting outside, thought that we had been taken to the pokey!!

I still have that tree.

[trisham]

Happy New Year to you too, miss marmelstein!

[cloudmountain]

1. No Christmas trees here anymore either, I got tired of the hassle. I have a beautiful hand carved Nativity that I leave up until Easter every year.
2. I have lots of little Santas sitting around and I have already started putting them up. I do a few every day and it is not a lot of work.

======================================

1. You can buy beautiful, carved Christmas nativity scenes made in Italy, of course, from the wood of olive trees grown there in the Holy Land. Nobody does the carving better than the Italians.

2. Great idea. Hohoho!

[cloudmountain]

From Christmas Even through the Epiphany. Catholics keep thinking and doing Christmas things while the rest of the world has moved on.

Everyone stops thinking of Christmas AFTER the sales. THEN they move on.

I take everything down and put it away on JANUARY 7TH.

[Salvation]

I think leaving your lights on all year demeans Christmas; just my opinion.

[Fiji Hill]

The cat that lived at my parents house, had a knack for drinking all the water out of the tree stand. Surprised the house never burnt down.

Cats and Christmas trees don't always get along. However, Allie, the big old gray tabby that hung out an my mother's nursing home loved to sleep beneath the tree in the lobby.

[NYer]

We’re leaving ours up until June. :)

Lol! That reminds me of a family I once knew. They had an artificial tree, fully decorated, in the corner of their dining room, covered with plastic. At Christmas, the plastic cover was removed.

[VermiciousKnid]

I don’t know, HiTech...I’ve had cats all my life and the only time they ever bothered the (live) tree was if they were too young to go outside — true kittens.

Once they are old enough to go out, if they bothered the Christmas tree, out they went. We’ve never had a lasting problem.

That said, I do make one concession — I no longer put tinsel on the tree. Pussycats and tinsel are a very bad mix.

THAT said, more than one of my cats have always enjoyed sleeping under the tree next to the manger. I think it must be nice and warm under all those lights, and it offers a nice opportunity for a cute picture.

Regards,

PS: Our tree will stay up at least until January 6, and if it’s not TOO much of a fire hazard, even longer than that.

[trisham]

LOL! Ours is artificial as well. Mr. trisham loves it. :)

[defconw]

My now deceased Tabby liked to sleep under mine. But only if it was on. He would whine until I turned it on. I miss that old rascal. Good cat.

[miss marmelstein]

What a story! I was worried about you while I was reading your words. Thank God for happy endings. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you.

[Grateful2God]

OK, folks, I think I have you beat on this one: my Mom and I waited until the Feast of the Purification of Mary, Feb 2! And we had a Nativity set underneath, as well!

[FourtySeven]

Thanks. It does seem to be a point I missed growing up. Chalk it up to that old saw “poor catechesis”!

[FourtySeven]

But if a Christmas tree offends you (the rhetorical you), by reminding you of something evil, by all means do not use it.

Sounds reasonable to me.

[FourtySeven]

Ahhh, 47, sweet common sense here. “Is it reasonable to believe no one ever thought of this point before?” is right on the mark.

I like to think so thanks. And usually I'm so poor I don't even have common sense (get it? Common sense/cents..hehe I amuse myself on the smallest things)