I was reminded of something the other day. A friend and I were talking at the Dr. office, and she told of her Swiss tradition of having lit candles on the Christmas tree. She said that her family always had candles on the tree as far back as she can remember. Her sister does to this day. My friend puts them on the tree, but she doesn't light them. I had another friend who put their tree up on Christmas Eve and lit the candles for just a few minutes. I can remember, back when I was growing up, Dad made a tree stand out of two pieces of wood nailed in a cross like fashion and the trunk of the tree was nailed to that. At that time, we didn't leave the tree up long and it wasn't watered. The only thing that flickered on our tree was the string of bubble lights. I believe that we got these in the 50's. It was my job to get them working. They all had to stand straight up and down and had to be tapped to coax them to bubble. This string of lights was one of my favorite things on the tree. We used the old fashioned tinsel...put on one strand at a time. That tinsel was so much better than the plastic tinsel today. As I was loading a branch with tinsel, if I started getting sloppy. Mom said, and I can still hear her, "If you can't do a good job...don't do it at all!" She spent hours putting the tinsel on. When it was finished, we had such a pretty tree...with the tinsel shimmering from the bubble lights. There was only one string of these lights and I don't think that they were ever replaced...Imagine my surprise, when I married Joe and that first Christmas together, he went down to the basement and brought up his candelabra with 5 bubble lights. He placed it on the old fashioned radio in the living room. These are his favorite decorations for the house. He checks each year for replacements for this old decoration. This year he ordered one...an off white plastic one, to have when this one wears out. The candle holders are getting loose and the lights have to be tapped to work. So, the bubble lights have gone from my tree to this candelabra. It's a piece of the past in our living room.
Balisha
8 comments:
I remember bubble lights on our tree too. Always loved those things. I think all children start putting icicles on one at a time but tire rather easily. Those lights lasted...and the ones now...no way. Glad you have saved them!
I have bubble lights on the tree.
they are reproductions but they look great.
Cathy
Hi Balisha! I remember when we had a real tree with a wooden stand my dad made and I remember bubble lights, too. I had to check out that recipe for Butter cookies below and your screens are so pretty. You are just so talented. I love my prize you did and I won. It is hanging in my house now since I had it outside during the summer. I want to see that movie Warhorse, too. I put the cookie thingy you sent me about the calories in Christmas cookies on my Facebook page and it was a big hit. Thanks for sending that. I loved it. I hope you and your entire family have a wonderful Christmas holiday. Love and hugs to you both.
I am back! I forgot to tell you I am going to be a grandmother again and it is another boy. Tater Tot is going to have a little brother and he does not seem to be at all happy about the situation! He will be 5 when this one comes and his parents will be in their 40s! I'm just glad it is another boy. lol. I thought they were a little old but guess they didn't! Anyway, Merry Christmas!
How I remember the Bubble lights on our Christmas tree when I was small. I would lay and watch them for the longest times before I went to sleep.
Balisha, I love bubble lights and used to watch my aunt's for hours. I bought some a few years ago, still expensive, but they just don't seem the same.
Eileen
We never had bubble lights, but I remember the tinsel. I also had the task of putting it on and I would spend a lot time getting it just right.
Wow, those lights have lasted a long time! Things really were made better in the old days.
Thank you for visiting my blog - sorry I am late in visiting yours -
you have beautiful memories of the holidays and traditions that carry on, I love that. I have one ornament my Grandma made when I was young, I always remember it being on the tree. I love it beyond all the rest.
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