Tree Worship (The Christmas Spirit)

Spot the kitty.

I haven't put up a Christmas tree in a good twenty years, the problem being that I keep cats, and cats destroy Christmas trees. If I had kids I'd probably have done what my parents did and put up a tree anyway but it just seemed like too much trouble. I remember from childhood both our siamese cats climbing a natural tree at the same time, plaintive meowing coming from within the rustling boughs, and then the tree swaying and falling over.

I also used to joke about it being pagan tree worship, referring to the history of European celebrations of the winter solstice. I always remember the christian definition of Christmas as a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus. But I guess I consider the christmas tree as a separate non-religious tradition.

I finally decided I wanted to put up a tree again this year so I took the step of searching Amazon for "cat proof christmas tree" or similar and got some options. I picked one with the branches close enough together to prevent climbing.

Not cat proof. It took about 48 hours for somebody to knock the tree over, but I think it happened as a result of collision. Or maybe they pushed it over or something. It's sitting on a table and we all know cats like to push things off. One glass ornament was broken. They also keep knocking over my nutcracker soldier from Germany. What am I gonna do, lock it inside a cage?

I'm wrapping my holiday preparations up and looking forward to Christmas.