Today our craft was a homemade ornament. The kids each made a light up ornament from a few stickers I had. Taelor then made a few little ones to hang on her own tree. We learned about "ornaments on the tree" and how in medieval Europe plays were performed and December 24th was declared Adam and Eve day and the setting was the garden of Eden, but they couldn't find a fruit tree in the middle of winter so they decorated it with apples which were then called "paradise trees". Later the trees were more elaborate and decorated with gingerbread cookies, nuts and fruits and vegetables, and then it was referred to as the "sugar tree" (so glad ornaments have come a long way!). The most important ornament though was the wafers of bread hidden in the branches with represented the body of Christ that was broken on the cross for our sins.
As I read this story to the kids I was reminded of my grandma's Christmas tree, she had little red apples for us with our names on them and it was tradition for us to hang our own apple on the tree. I miss our Christmas time with Grandma, she was the one who held all of us together (remember she has 8 children and 25+ grand kids +great grandchildren, so yes I have a HUGE family), since she passed away back in 2002 it has never been the same. I am not saying that Christmas isn't as enjoyable because it is, it gets better every year especially with kids, but the memories of my Grandma will always be some of my favorite times as a child and a young adult. But I am glad that I get to start my own traditions with my family and to create new memories!
