Our Green Christmas Tree Solution
Every day, I bike by at least one Christmas tree stand in Berlin. They have enormous stacks of wrapped up trees and displays of fresh wreaths and little bundles of pine branches. It’s all very beautiful, and it smells so lovely. But I do not stop. We aren’t putting a real tree in our 450 square foot apartment.
We go to the hardware store to buy LED Christmas lights and plumbing parts for the sink. I wonder to the Christmas section to look around. There are no fake trees for sale. In fact, I haven’t seen fake trees for sale anywhere. But that’s okay; we’re not wanting a fake tree either.
Martin and I just don’t have room. And when our guests come to stay with us over Christmas, we really won’t have room.
Those of you who have read my ebook, A Green Christmas, know our tight-space solution as we discuss the green Christmas tree solutions.
Living abroad, I have learned that you can’t skip things that were important to your life back home. We have to do something fun on Halloween then have a nice dinner and go to an English movie on Thanksgiving or something. Every expat needs to do this when her new country celebrates differently (or not at all).
And I believe that everyone who doesn’t have room for a tree or won’t be home much for the holiday needs to bring a little something into her home. We picked out this tree:
It’s small. It’s easy to store after the holiday. It’s also sentimental.
We bought it at a little locally owned shop in the German town where Martin used to live. (Remember how our guest on Making This Home yesterday talked about picking meaningful items instead of just stuff for our homes? I think this might be it.)
We light the candles at dinner or when friends come over since it’s totally dark by 3:30 or 4:00 in the afternoon in Germany right now.
Candles and Christmas are magical together, don’t you think? Do you remember candles at Christmas time from childhood? I sure do.
We’re still adding more holiday touches in our house (like some of the tutorials for handmade ornament from repurposed materials that are in my ebook, A Green Christmas). It’s kind of nice to slowly transform our house for the holiday as we pick up new pieces instead of doing it all in one day. I especially like little touches like this berry branch that a farmer on the edge of the city gave me. Add a little ribbon, and the entire space begins feeling festive.
And interestingly, very few Germans have even put up their trees yet.
How do you slowly savor the season? Do you have some solutions for slowing things down and embracing the moments? Sipping hot chocolate perhaps or watching a favorite holiday film? It’s time for the weekend after all, so maybe we can inspire each other.
December 11th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Awww what a sweet little tree you have Katie! And I remember that duckie, don’t I? You got it this summer, right? Anthropologie?! Or am I totally off base. Regardless, I love how you are slowly decorating your tiny space! I actually collect small Christmas trees – but only have a few of them up around our house this year. We make sure to watch holiday films and have on Christmas music all the time…it makes it seem more festive!
December 11th, 2009 at 7:33 am
As a florist, I have to schedule MY holiday stuff BEFORE the work comes in and fills up the calendar – a shopping trip with a friend, a holiday show or concert, tree cutting, etc. – otherwise the holidays become all about the work.
And coming from a small family, in order to make Christmas Day last and feel special, we open gifts slowly in stages. First the stockings while in jammies. Then we stop for a big breakfast/ brunch. Then everyone gets dressed. Then gift opening, one person one gift at a time, so it really lasts.
December 11th, 2009 at 7:52 am
This year I have a beautiful, real Christmas Tree. My Dad, husband, and I cut it down in the mountains were the trees this size are overpopulated. By cutting down this tree, we are able to enjoy it throughout the holiday season and the trees that grew around it will be able to grow stronger. The tree is very small, only about 3 1/2 feet. It sits on top of our coffee table with a beautiful Christmas quilt.
I order to enjoy the holiday season to the fullest, I read a passage from an advent book every day. I have started giving my husband little gifts each day. These gifts are all very small, and often times handmade or free. I have given him a blinky light for his bike when he rides at night (free) and a bag of coffee because he recently ran out. And today I gave him his favorite brand of pencil, which is a fancy mechanical pencil that I found on the ground at a school that I was observing. These gifts are very small, but I make sure that they are all useful.
When I was little, I enjoyed celebrating the 12 days of Christmas with my sister! I wish she and I were living in the same place so we could do that again! :)
December 11th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I think your tree is wonderful! No fuss, no muss to boot! Enjoy a wonderful holiday season!
December 11th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Now that’s my kind of tree…small…no mess…and so adorable!
December 11th, 2009 at 11:43 am
A tree is still a tree. You made it personal and that is all that matters. We have two fake trees set up and I will say, it does take a lot of storage and time to set them up. But I do love them.
December 11th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I love your beautiful tree. Those candles are just perfect!!
December 11th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Being a Norwegian living in the US I agree with what you are saying about keeping your traditions even though no one else around you celebrate the way you do. As for putting up the Christmas tree, that is usually done either the 22nd or the 23rd at least in Norway and I assume as well in Germany as we inherited that tradition from Germany. Many of my friends here and also family here find me strange for not having my tree up yet and even stranger when I don’t take it down until Jan. 6th. But that is my tradition as I celebrate Advent right now. Merry Christmas to you.
December 12th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Great tree!
Despite my saying, “No! Please don’t!” my Mom is sending me a fake tree from the States. I wonder if the Germans will think it’s really weird!
December 12th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I think you said it in your post, to get in the spirit you have to get around the crowds take in the atmosphere, the sounds the smell. That is what gets you in the mood and spirit. My son helps too. He is so excited, reminds me so much of myself and brings the kid back out in me
December 12th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
What an adorable tree! Great find! I love sitting around our tree at night and taking in the lights. They won’t be there for long so I try to get as much enjoyment from them as possible.
December 13th, 2009 at 1:54 am
That’s very cute tree. Love it.
For about the past ten years we’ve had a fake tree (available everywhere in all different sizes) for inside and a real one for outside which I decorate with snacks for the birds.
Germans traditionally put up and decorate their trees on the 24th. That’s why you’re not seeing many right now.
December 13th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I love your thoughts as to the holidays..and I love your beautiful tree. And the little berry branch looks like it just belongs in that space..and it stands so tall and proud to have been chosen for such a place of honor. I’ve so enjoyed my visit here..and I will definately be back to see more.
December 15th, 2009 at 5:06 am
I discovered your blog today and have to say I like it a lot!
Now I feel like I have to correct one of your statements in this entry: I live in Hamburg, Germany and when my fiance and I had the Christmas tree debate last week, we originally wanted a fake tree and looked at several options because contrarily to what you said, fake trees are widely available in Germany now! They can mostly be found at DIY, hardware and building supplies stores. I think we found the cheapest options at Max Bahr. I know you said you don’t want a fake tree, I just wanted to let you know, just in case you’re considering it next year!
However, in the end we decided to get a small potted blue spruce which we can plant in the garden after Christmas. Happy holidays!
December 15th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Good eye, Christy. That little bird has been flying everywhere with us lately. I think he’s ready to call Berlin home and just sit in the window and get fat on sugar. (since he is a sugar bowl afterall!)
Thanks for the encouragement on our tree. It’s pretty weird to experience.
Stephanie, how interesting that you’ve seen fake trees in Hamburg. We still haven’t seen a single one.
Marianne and christina, thanks for the tip on when our neighbors tend to put up their trees. Good to know!
Katie
December 15th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
One of the best tips I got for how to decorate for Christmas in a small space was to decorate with colors that you use in your regular decor. I love white walls with bright accessories, mostly turquoise and grass green. So I got glass balls in those shades of blue and green and popped those around, and a rosemary bush trimmed to a Christmas tree shape with a few more blue/green decorations. I was surprised at how much of a Christmas feel those few decorations added to the apartment, and the blue and green in the regular decor all the sudden seemed like special Christmas decor.