I’ve never been one to follow trends.
In fact, I think trends are overrated.
There. I said it. So sue me.
Yes, trends may be new and pretty, but after a while, once everyone is following the trend, it tends to loose its luster.
There is one trend though, one that in my personal, somewhat educated opinion, I think should make a comeback.
I’m calling it the Meaningful Decorated Christmas Tree Trend.
I should probably come up with a trendier name though.
You see, this trend is never overused and doesn’t lose its luster.
Never ever.
Because the ornaments you place on your tree with this trend are unique and meaningful to only a few people in the world – you and your family.
Now this does mean you will have to be comfortable with a few things…
1. The decorations on your tree may not all match.
Gasp.
Can you handle that?
2. Your tree may even consist of a few decorations some would consider weird or even ugly.
To each their own, fellow freak.
And the most important thing you’ll have to be ok with…
3. When you look at each ornament on your tree, your heart will smile.
And really, I think that’s all that matters.
Disclosure: Tree Classics provided me with a Christmas tree, however all opinions and trying to create meaningful trends are 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
This year, we got a new Christmas tree from Tree Classics.
We went for a Colorado Blue Spruce Snap Tree – and y’all, it’s so cool. It literally does just snap together, but get this…it’s base is on rollers. So after the holidays, you just take your ornaments off, put the cover right over the tree and roll it on into storage.
#mymindwasblown
On top of all that – the branches look and even feel real. I’ve always wanted to have a real Christmas tree, but unless I want to sneeze my head off all through the holiday season, it ain’t happening. This tree is the best of both worlds for us.
But even with a new fancy tree, we didn’t change one thing about our tree decorating habits.
You will still find Barbie and G.I. Joe nestled in the branches…
…they were our wedding cake toppers.
Stuffed animals from the 1980’s are also among the ornaments…
…because my Grannie used to put them on the tree for me.
The caped crusader is found keeping watch in PEZ dispenser form alongside a Care Bear and the Circus’ hand painted Rudolph…
Oh, and there’s Elvis too. Who could forget Elvis?
And since we are southerners and get overly attached to vehicles…
…you’ll also find car keys gracing our Christmas tree.
The Circus’ first pair of Nikes…
…can be found beside the HeeHaw ornament.
God bless HeeHaw.
And the manger is being threatened by a Little Tikes car…
…and dinosaurs.
I think Baby Jesus can take ’em though.
Now, the Meaningful Decorated Christmas Tree Trend doesn’t mean you can’t buy new ornaments or just ornaments you love ever again.
Oh no.
You should always add in ornaments that make you smile…you just shouldn’t worry about whether or not it goes with your color scheme. 🙂
Among other things, these snowmen ornaments are a new addition to our tree this year. You see, the Circus is especially partial to Snowmen this year and she loves these little guys.
Our tree isn’t color coordinated.
And many of the ornaments don’t make much sense at all to most folks.
But it makes all the sense in the world to us.
And that’s all that really matters.
I hope your heart smiles when you look at your Christmas tree this year.
You might also want to see…
How to Make a Vintage Storybook Garland
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Denise says
This is totally our tree (well one that is unique to us of course)! And, I wouldn’t change it for the world! The memories that get unpacked and enjoyed every month are one of my favorite parts of Christmas! I wonder if the trend will catch on?? 🙂
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Well Denise, if people don’t catch on to this trend, it’s their own fault! We’ll try hard not to judge them! 😉 haha!
Dawn says
Love the Christmas pennant! Where can I get one??? Thanks
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Do you mean the bunting / type garland thing made out of storybook pages, Dawn? If so, I made it – the tutorial for it is here and its so easy: https://rainonatinroof.com/2014/12/vintage-storybook-garland/
Debra says
It’s beautiful! I have my 33 year old’s slightly torn red construction paper star she made when she was barely 3, my 29 year old son’s tinfoil paper cup bell from preschool, and my 24 year old daughter’s plaster glitter star from grade school out and proud on my tree. They made those with love for my husband and me and who wouldn’t put those out? Add MIL’s handmade snowmen from baby socks and pics of my sisters and me in reindeer noses and antlers. What would your first impression be? One of family, love, and laughter!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Your ornaments sound so precious, Debra!!! You’re tree is right up my alley!
Heidi Rew says
Your tree is entertainment all in itself. If I were a guest at your Christmas party, I’d be staring at all the ornaments the whole night. So fun & so meaningful. Love it, Jenna! <3 Heidi Rew
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Heidi! I guess it really is entertainment – there are loads of stories on it!
Stephanie C. says
Your tree is great!! We have always decorated our tree with new and old ornaments that mean the most to us, to me that is the point of the holidays. To celebrate the things you love, with the people you love. It’s not all about having the most trendy and color coordinated tree.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
You nailed it, Stephanie – couldn’t have said it better myself!
Breenah says
We get my daughter a new ornament every year and once she started talking we asked what kind she’d like. She’s chosen Darth Vader, Disney Princesses, and this year was “anything pink and sparkly” (I found a giant butterfly ornament at Kohl’s that fit). My grandma used to get my siblings and me a new ornament every year and those are on the tree too. They’re mostly Barbie and Precious Moments.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
We do the same thing with my kiddo, Breenah! She gets to pick a new one every year. Last year it was a horse and this year a giraffe. haha!
Rebecca says
Jenna – I don’t want this to become a trend. Then my tree and yours and your other readers will no longer have that “did it before it was cool” thing going for us! My tree is exactly as you describe and I love when people don’t know what to make of a Nightmare Before Christmas Happy Meal watch hanging on my tree or the Thorazine bottle a pharmacist friend gave us as an ornament one year. It’s sitting right next to a variety of keychains we pick up as a memory of yearly family trips as an ornament (already has a hanging loop and is way cheaper than ornaments they sell at tourist traps!!) Thanks for writing about your great tree but let’s hope the word doesn’t get around. Wink, wink.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Rebecca, you are too funny!!! hahahahaha!!! Ok, the Thorazine bottle is HILARIOUS!! I love it!
Susan the Farm Quilter says
I had fun when my kids were young making most of our Christmas ornaments. I have 1 ball on the tree that a friend gave me, but all the rest are homemade or look homemade! So many memories of ripping up construction paper, whirling it in the blender with water, pressing it into cookie cutters to make ornaments with the kids and making the flour and salt dough to make ornaments…painting them was always a blast!! So many wonderful memories…thanks for the walk down memory lane!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Those are truly the best kind of ornaments, Susan! 🙂
Barbara says
We have always gone with an eclectic blend or ornaments that I’ve collected over the years. Many of the ornaments on our tree are handmade (by me!) and several were made by my daughter throughout her school years from pre-K through about 4th grade (after that they get too ‘big kid’ for ornament making or the teachers just don’t want glitter everywhere!). Some have been collected during our travels to Ireland and Canada. Each ornament has a sentimental attachment and makes me grin from ear to ear as we hang them every year on our tree. We even have a few that have been handed down from my grandmother. I love our tree each year even though it may look slightly different with a new addition or a patched angel that just got too old to ‘hang’ it is still a walk down memory lane.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Barbara, your tree sounds absolutely beautiful and full of love!
Sally says
Well, this is refreshing! I love a tree that is meaningful and has lots of happy memories. This is too often overlooked. I may have a “come to Jesus meeting” with Martha, etc. thank you.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
haha!! You go have that come to Jesus meeting, Sally!!
Linda says
Honey, just wait till you’ve been married 35 years, have 5 kids and 4 grands! We have never had a fancy tree. I love your tree! I feel the same way you do about decorating a tree. I just wrote about this yesterday….because it isn’t just about the tree!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Linda! I just read your post and I love it – it’s not just about the tree at all!
tammy says
Girlfriend, I am SO GLAD you wrote this post.
I want to tread very carefully here, ‘cuz I don’t want to sound all Judgey McJudgester here, but l the trees you see on so many blogs these days leave me sooooo cold.
I mean, hey, they are drop dead gorgeous and I wish I had haldf that talent and they look like they belong in a fancy store, every one of ’em.
But that’s the thing…. they look like department store trees, not Real People trees!
I don’t see any memories in them.
I don’t see any doggone macaroni and egg carton ornaments from pre-school, or Grandma’s crocheted stars, or Aint onnie’s old felt stockings with sequins all over them, and I damn sure don’t see PeePaw’s old fishing lures that no one can bear to get rid of so we made a garland out of them!
Now please excuse me while I hunt down the key to my first car that I’ve had for 30 years but never knew what to do with…..
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I feel ya, Tammy. I’m the same way – I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but for me, I want my tree filled with memories!
lisa says
I love it! We have a special tree too. It is like coming home to memories long forgotten every single year and that is what makes it AWESOME! Happy Holidays!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
It is what makes it awesome, Lisa!!
Patty says
Jenna, your tree is beautiful it is from the heart, everything on it has meaning to you or a family member. I have collected ornaments since I was a small child if we were somewhere and mom couldn’t afford an ornament I would pick out a key chain or some cheap little trinket to remember that trip each year when I would hang it on our tree. I continued that tradition up until a few years ago and now I have so many ornaments, to many for one tree, but I manage to get them all on there. I have several my aunt brought me from when she was in Germany, I have some of my moms and my grandma’s and my great great grandma’s that were hand crocheted by her and I have no idea how many Hallmark ornaments I have. My tree is not trendy by any means, but it is a happy tree full of wonderful memories. Now if I could just find someone to take it all down for me after Christmas.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Girl, I am with you on the finding someone to take it all down for me!! hahaha! Your tree sounds beautiful though! We do the same thing – anyplace we go, we buy something whether its an actual ornament or not, to go on our tree. Love that tradition!
Lisa says
I think the oldest ornament I have is a hand-painted wooden sleigh that one of my girlfriends made me when I was just a little kid 🙂 And every time I look at it, I smile and think of Theresa <3
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
That is so sweet, Lisa. Love those memories!
CindyB says
People have trees that are color coordinated with matching ornaments? Really? Hmmmmm. Nothing in our house matches. Why start now?
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Exactly, Cindy! Why start now?! haha!
debra says
I’m with you. I’ll be married 37 years tomorrow. My tree has ornaments bought on our honeymoon, a pink ornament bought when pregnant with # 2 son – back then we didn’t know before, a wish bone from a turkey with glitter on it (lol), numerous handmade ornament my boys made, baby keys, vintage ornaments from my mom, and tons more. Oh how precious to pull each out place on the tree. When my boys grew up and moved away I sent them off with ornaments I purchased for them each year and dated. I still buy a new one each year and date it. New one this year is a SC palmetto tree. My favorite of yours is your grandmother’s car key. Don’t have my memories tree up yet, did put up a Star Wars/Star Trek tree for my four year old grandson. Live long and prosper!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Love all the goodness on your tree, Debra!! And I’m betting that grandson LOVES his Star Wars tree!
Bethany @ The Southern Couture says
My tree is exactly the same way. I love having so many ornaments that only me and my husband can truly appreciate and love. That’s what makes it so unique and I love that!
Beautiful tree and neat idea the way you hung the stockings too. Merry Christmas!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Bethany – we don’t have a fireplace, so on the windows they go! Glad to hear your tree is the same way!
Lisa A. says
YOU ARE HILARIOUS! And YOU make me smile!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
hahaha! Thanks, Lisa!
Tammy (inTX from GA) says
SPOT ON! We have always had a “meaningful” tree – my grandmother, my mother, and myself and my kids. I see all the lovely “matching” ones and think those are pretty, but not very special. I, too get a GIGGLE out of seeing my “weird” ornaments (not ornaments) and those memories of years long past. It’s one of the things I love MOST about a Christmas tree. NOTHING matches on ours and I love it. GLAD to see you do too!! HUGS…
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Same here, Tammy – all those weird ornaments that aren’t really ornaments at all are the things I love most at Christmastime!!
Jenn @ My Fabuless Life says
Greatest. Tree. Ever!!!! Christmas is all about those memories and this is perfection!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Jenn! I totally agree – gotta have some memories with Christmas!
Sarah Pulaski says
Lovely tree, Jenna! I, too, believe that the family Christmas tree should be filled with ornaments and trinkets that have special meaning. Add to that, decorating the tree together as a family, and you have a tree filled with holiday love and cheer. My main takeaway from your post is: When it comes to tree decorating, don’t follow trends. Follow your heart.
I hope you and your family enjoy the Colorado Blue Spruce Snap Tree!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I think you nailed it, Sarah – don’t follow trends, follow your heart! I couldn’t agree more. We love the tree and look forward to many more years of decorating it together! Merry Christmas!
Judy says
So refreshing to see a tree that embraces one family’s life!
My children are now young adults, and all our ‘crazy’ ornaments mean something precious to them. My heart almost bursts with joy at their delight in pulling out the collection that represents our family, each year. The annual decoration is much more about the bonding of hearts than it is about the design of the tree.
Thank you for sharing.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Couldn’t agree more, Judy! You put it so beautifully!
Christene Holder says
YES!!!!!! This is exactly how we decorate our tree every year. I never follow a specific theme or trend….but now I know my “trend” is the “Meaningful Decorated Christmas Tree Trend!” LOVE IT! I’m so glad I’m not the only one, but I love bringing out the same ornaments every year and reminiscing about the memories!
Thanks so much for sharing with us on the Family Joy Blog Link Party. Can’t wait to see your home this Christmas 🙂
>> Christene
Keys to Inspiration
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
So glad to hear you embrace that trend too, Christene! 🙂
Debbie-Dabble says
Whats old is new again!! This post made me chuckle!! You do know that this is not a new trend but how people decorated their Trees in the 50′ and 60’s??? As for me, I LOVE ornaments… So much so that i do “trees” for every Holiday and Season. Not one but several/ And for Christmas last year, I had a total of 19 “trees” in our home..All sizes and shapes …Even 3 in my Victorian doll house!! love your “Tree”. It is full of personality and looks great! Thanks for sharing!!
PS. I have already started o decorate our upstairs for Christmas and have 3 Trees up…..
Hugs,
Deb
amy says
I hear what your saying and I totally agree with you, but the designer in me can’t stand it. I just love, love, love a perfectly decorated tree. I have found that there are other options to have the best of both worlds. What works for our family is to put a little tree in each of the childrens bedrooms that they can decorate with their handmade and children’s ornaments. Or another option is to to have another tree in a more relaxed family room that holds more of those family memories.
Beverly says
I totally agree with you. All of my decorations/ornaments have a meaning. I have the first ornament when my son was born and then my daughter. Add in homemade ones from the kids and now grand kids and each year my husband and I get a new ornament from someplace we visit.
I have no special color but so many wonderful memories.
Hugs,
Bev
Emily @DomesticDeadline.com says
This is how we decorate our tree! We collect ornaments on vacations and everyone gets a new one each year with their name on it, it’s something my grandmother started. When I got my own place, my mom gave me all the ornaments with my name from every christmas. When my husband and I got married, she started getting us a “couples” ornament and now we get a family one and I get my kids a new one each year. The kids love telling and hearing stories about the ornaments as we put them on the tree. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Jenna says
Totally the best way to decorate a tree! Love your traditions, Emily!
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