All Spruced Up: A Chronicle of Big Spoon Christmas Trees
Christmas trees are more than just holiday decorations; they’re storytellers. Each tree holds a memory, a tradition, or a moment shared with loved ones. Whether it’s the excitement of decorating our favorite tree, the cherished traditions that bring us together year after year, or unforgettable family moments spent under twinkling lights, we’re excited to share a few of our own memories with you.
BARB
My sister and I had an amazing tree back in the 90s, which we fully decorated without realizing that the trunk was completely crooked. The tree kept falling over, so we enlisted our friends, a doctor, an engineer, and a banker to fix the problem. A case of beer and one chainsaw later, our tree was reduced by 4 feet. Yes, it stopped falling, but it was essentially a mini-tree. The lesson? Check the trunk of your tree before purchasing! However, I think they all had a great time with that chainsaw.
ENRIQUE
In Guatemala, there are a lot of fresh pine trees. Some of the street vendors would make fresh pine tree garlands and wreaths that would often be decorated with ribbon, lights, or accessories. What is cool about having fresh pine tree leaves in your house is that it would make your whole house smell like pine. We also decorated with other fresh plants like chamomile and poinsettias. That's how you knew it was Christmas because it was very aromatic.
ERIN
My grandfather had a mini tabletop tree that he would put out and decorate for Christmas. One year, my sister and I got Boy Band (I’m not naming which band because I’ll age myself) Barbies for Christmas. We got the genius idea to take pictures of our Barbies under the tree so it looked like we were hanging out with the band for Christmas. Needless to say, it wasn’t a well-thought-out plan and did not result in bragging rights at all, but we still have the printed out photos somewhere that always make us giggle years later.
CARLA
My family has celebrated Christmas in several countries and had many different Christmas trees over the years, but what my parents and I cherish the most is the Nacimiento—our nativity scene.
When I begin decorating for Christmas, I always start with the Nacimiento. In recent years, it has become more meaningful to me. Setting it up brings back cherished memories of my family, people who are no longer with us like our grandmas, and how they always loved the nativity scene over anything else.
My grandmothers, on both my mom’s and dad’s side, always made the Nacimiento a very special occasion. They each had very large Nacimientos made of ceramic figures—and every year, they would sew new clothes with much love and care for Baby Jesus. It was a beautiful tradition that made the holiday even more meaningful.
TAYLOR
The tree that I had as a little girl still takes the cake as my favorite. To such a little girl it was massive in size and I would fill it with homemade ornaments from school or art classes alongside ornaments given to me by my loved ones. The metallic gold star was the perfect final touch. I loved putting up this tree with my mom while we listened to Christmas music and ate a great home-cooked meal.
KEVIN
Christmas trees always remind me of my mother. When I was a kid, she always gifted me Hallmark ornaments. Growing up, she put up as many as seven trees each year. Hundreds of ornaments (packed carefully into totes) later, getting ready for the holidays is always an event. It's nice to be able to keep the tradition going.
As we gather around the Christmas tree this holiday season, we’re reminded that it’s not just the ornaments or the lights that make it special—it’s the memories and connections we create. From all of us at Big Spoon, we wish you a holiday season filled with joy, love, and memories that will last for years to come.