"Christmas" Tree

Growing up in Russia, my family's big winter celebration was New Year. We would always get an evergreen tree, decorate it, and hide presents underneath. We would then cook a lot of food, gather together at 10 pm to say good bye to the old year and to welcome in a new year at midnight. And of course to open presents.

This celebration had nothing to do with Christmas. In fact, we are Jewish. Last year I bought a mini tree and decorated it, and wanted to do the same this year. Unfortunately, the mini rosemary tree (as in an herb) I bought did not survive. Maybe I did not water it enough, but regardless, it's now sitting waiting to be trashed.

I was visiting Cindy today and her girls were horrified that I did not have a Christmas tree at home. On the way to my apartment from Cindy's house I stopped by the grocery store and bought some evergreen branches (that actually reminded me of one winter when Anna, my dad and I went to visit our grandparents in Ukraine and my stayed home. Instead of buying a tree, my mom bought evergreen branches).

So now I sort of have my x-mas tree.