Oh, Christmas tree: Residents showcase their versions of the festive firs
It’s the Christmas season, and homes are decked out with wreaths, garland, candles in the windows, snow globes, and stockings.
But the Christmas tree, without a doubt, is the star of holiday decorations.
And people deck out their trees in the most creative of ways – from family ornaments collected over the years (who hasn’t draped their festive firs with homemade Christmas ornaments crafted by their kids at school?) to Grinch-themed trees to classic red-and-white-themed trees. The Christmas tree tradition can be traced to 16th-century Germany, where Christians began to decorate evergreens – or, sometimes, simple pyramid-shaped stacks of wood – inside their homes.
The tradition of adding candles to the tree branches is often attributed to Martin Luther, the 16th century Protestant reformer. Legend has it that Luther was inspired by the stars in the night sky amid the evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he placed a tree in the main room and decorated it with lighted candles.
By the early 20th century, Americans were decorating Christmas trees with homemade ornaments and garland – think apples, nuts, berries, and popcorn, and with the invention of electricity, having a Christmas tree in the home became a cherished family tradition.
Here are some fun, creative and beautiful Christmas tree themes area residents have displayed to add cheer to their homes.
Hummel Tree and Music Tree
Marc and Daria Svaline of Bridgeville display two Christmas trees each year: one features Hummel Christmas glass ball ornaments, while the other is decorated with music ornaments – an homage to Marc Svaline’s 35-year career as a music teacher and band director at Washington High School.
Marc Svaline bought the first Hummel ornament in 1974, when the couple got married. Every year, he’d purchase another Hummel for the tree.
When the Hummel series stopped in 1999, the Svalines switched to Lenox ornaments for a handful of years. Hummel started a new series in 2005, and the couple has collected those ornaments ever since. There are 48 Hummels adorning the pencil tree in their main room.
A second tree is decorated with all things musical. Svaline said he has gotten so many music-related ornaments as gifts over the decades that it made sense to have a music-themed tree. Among his favorites is a steel drum band ornament – Svaline started the Wash High steel drum band in 1985 and turned it into one of the nation’s premiere ensembles.
Red-and-White Tree
Tom and Jackie Zeni of South Strabane Township have decked out their beautiful red-and-white Christmas tree with Baldwin brass spinner ornaments and NOMA bubble lights. Satin red-and-white bulbs and crystal icicles and snowflakes adorn the tree, which is topped off with a Hallmark Santa Claus topper. Tom Zeni meticulously places each ornament on the tree in symmetrical fashion, a project that takes about three days to complete. The candle-shaped bubble lights contain a liquid that bubbles when it reaches 103 degrees.
Grinch Tree
Troy and Emma Kerley of Lawrence pay homage to the ultimate “mean one” and Who-ville with their Grinch-themed Christmas tree. It is the second year the Kerleys put up the Grinch tree, which complements the couple’s many Grinch-themed decorations. Santa Tree
Former North Strabane Township resident Cindy Dick loves all things Santa. Her Santa-themed tree pays homage to the man in the red suit with a a variety of Santa ornaments on her evergreen. The tree includes several sports-themed ornaments, travel-related ornaments, and some treasured keepsakes that once belonged to Dick’s grandmother.
The crowning touch for the Santa-centric tannenbaum is a Santa tree topper.
Snowman Tree
Another former North Strabane Township resident, Andrea Grosso, displays a simple, cheerful Snowman Christmas tree.
Grosso decorated the all-white tree with a snowman head, three black bulbs for buttons, and stick arms, and wrapped a scarf around the tree (the Clarion State scarf is a nod to her alma mater).
Steelers Tree
Die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan Wendy Tronka of Wheeling, W.Va., displays a table-top Steelers tree adorned with Steelers decorations. It includes a Steeler snowman, nutcracker, and Santa Claus, along with Pittsburgh legends including Hines Ward, Franco Harris, Troy Polamalu and more. One of Tronka’s favorites is a medallion engraved with Heinz Field.