December is one of my favourite months. The biting cold can definitely start in November here and by December we generally (although not always) have snow on the ground. December usually brings the first snowmen and snowball fights in our yard, the first sled rides down the hill, the first snow day for my children, cozy fires and apple cider… But it also comes with mad Christmas shopping, children’s music recitals, work parties, and all the hustle and bustle of the season. For the free December pattern this year, I wanted to choose something that symbolized the beauty and peacefulness of the season for me.
When I was a child we lived in rural Ontario, Canada. Money was rather scarce for my parents although this was not at all obvious to my young eyes. Each Christmas my Dad would head out with all 5 of his children to hunt down the perfect Christmas tree. We would search for hours. In my mind, we spent all day hiking through the snowy woods looking for that splendid specimen. When we finally managed to find just the right tree, my Dad would cut it down and home we would head, usually arriving after dark. Now if any of you have ever tried to use a pine tree just growing wild in the woods as a Christmas tree, you will know that they are not picture-perfect at all. Often misshapen and awkward, and generally way too large for our living room, it would be pulled into the house, trimmed and tied up ready for decorating. That was an event in itself. Out would come all the beautiful treasures my Mom had carefully collected over the years, including the red finger knit string I had made when I was 6, and the popsicle stick reindeer my brother had created in school. No one would ever have confused our Christmas tree with one of the designer-decorated ones you spotted at the mall. But that tree was the most beautiful thing in my young mind and the memories I have of those times are ones I truly treasure.
Now I have 4 young ones of my own and we don’t go searching in our backyard for a tree, although they do do this for a few Charlie brown trees the kids love to decorate in front of the house. But we do head off to the local tree farm and spend a good hour or so searching for the perfect tree. Our tree these days is not quite so unkempt or awkward but it is picked with love and decorated with all those treasures collected over decades of seasons and years of children’s crafty hands creating perfect gifts for Mom and Dad.
For me, the Christmas tree is a symbol of the love and joy we share as a family, both from my childhood and now shared with my own children. It’s a sign of the beautiful spirit of the season that can only be found in special times with family and loved ones. I hope when you stitch this pattern it makes you think of the wonderful traditions you’ve experienced over the years and brings a bit of joy and splendor to your December.
Happy Stitching,
Jeannie
Thyme for Stitching
