Our Christmas season begins by attending the Hanging of the Greens service at our community church.  It’s our signal to begin decking our halls with native greenery, poinsettias and collections of Christmas decorations that span our 48-year marriage.

Cedar was the traditional Christmas tree for my grandparents because it was readily available and affordable – i.e. free.  We choose two cedars – one tall and one short - from the many that line our fence rows.   In addition to providing decorations for our home, we also eliminate two from the fire hazards cedars create in western Oklahoma.

Our trees are usually less than perfect – much like we are.  Gaping spaces among the branches become perfect nooks to display the three discarded bird’s nests I’ve collected through the years: a hummingbird’s delicate weaving, an oriole’s pouch lined with wisps of cotton, and a nest from an anonymous species artistically adorned with ribbon, fabric scraps and feathers.

According to tradition, a bird’s nest in your tree is a sign of good luck for the coming year.  Three nests triple our odds!  One nest contains three craft eggs I sprayed gold to represent the health, wealth and happiness I wish for my family.

A collage of ornaments and trinkets decorate our tree.  Each one represents part of our family’s history.  Simple gold bells and blue glass balls remind us of our early-marriage Christmases.  They were the first ornaments we could afford on our lean budget; most have lasted as long as our 48-year marriage.  Near the top of the tree, we hang red heart ornaments, one for each family member.  Also close to the top are dog tags from our beloved pets who shared many Christmases with us.

Felt snowmen and small Santas and elves that I crafted from yarn were the first ornaments our sons knew.  Soft and safe for their small hands, they could decorate, rearrange and play with them on the tree as they learned the traditions of the season.  Now as adults, they enjoy finding them on the tree.

Clothespin reindeer peek out from the branches – mementoes of the boys’ grade school and Scout craft projects.  Fragile paper stars decorated with glitter and child-printed Bible verses hang near the top.  Soccer and golf ornaments mark their sports interests.

Some ornaments are so fragile they have earned a place of honor away from the Christmas tree.  Antique glass balls from my grandmothers’ collections nestle safely in a silver bowl we received as a wedding present.  A few are tucked in the lush greenery of my asparagus ferns.

We place the smaller cedar on the second floor landing and decorate it with woven and braided wheat ornaments that honor our family’s 100-plus years as Oklahoma wheat farmers.  Delicate, hand-cut, white paper ornaments adorn the tree with the talents of long-time, long-distance friends, who enclose an ornament in their annual Christmas greetings.  Toys from our childhood nestle under the tree inviting the children of today to play with them. 

Once the house is decorated, a parade of siblings, cousins and their children and friends visit.  Each adds to and enjoys the sweets and treats in the kitchen, many created from the tasty recipes of our grandmothers and mothers.   Weather permitting, our church caravans through town hayride style on trailers pulled by pickups as we sing carols of the season, bundled up in hats, scarfs, coats and gloves.  Hot chocolate and cookies warm us up after our grand excursion. 

On Christmas Eve, we attend services at our church and return to fill stockings hung from the mantel created from beams from the old wash house.  We place an orange among the simple gifts in each stocking to honor the family lore about my grandfather who received only an orange one Christmas in a time when life was simple and hard.  The orange reminds us of the abundance of blessings we enjoy because of our ancestors.

Through the years, we have stepped away from the chaos and confusion of the malls and the commercialization and merchandising of Christmas in favor of simplicity and serenity.  We try to give experiences that create memories instead of things in hopes that younger generations will appreciate the simple ways of simpler days.

We awake on Christmas morning to share gifts around the  tree, followed by a hearty brunch, long country walks, board and card games, photos, conversations and making memories for the future.  A cold winter evening with hot chocolate on the deck invites stargazing and trips of imagination - and ends a perfect prairie Christmas.  

Merry Christmas from the prairie!