Christmas is a time to look forward to in many a household. But what rings in the cheerful anticipation in our home is that the entire family gets together to put up the Christmas decorations. This has become a tradition in our family and we've all participated for the past several years. Although I can't recall exactly how or when it started, it probably began the day my grandfather sauntered into the house with a mysterious gift box clutched in his hands.
Being a just a child at the time, I was naturally curious. So as he entered the house and proceeded to relax on the couch, we—my sister, brothers and some cousins—amassed around him to see what it was that he brought home. I think we were all expecting some candy, because grandfather had a knack for finding the most awesome candy. But as he was a man full of surprises, not one of us could be really sure what he had brought home.
Grandfather saw that we were all very excited, so he slowly opened the box to reveal—we couldn't have guessed—an antique Christmas decoration! Why an antique Christmas decoration could have an attractive force on a ten year old is beyond me, but in reality, I was enchanted. To just gaze upon that antique Christmas decoration—I knew it was an antique Christmas decoration because my grandfather told me—made my little face light up with delight. It was then that grandfather began to explain the history behind the antique Christmas decoration.
He told the story of a humble peasant in rural Russia that carefully carved a piece of walnut wood to create the shape of the antique Christmas decoration. Then—using his imagination, I'm sure—lead us through the distinct things the peasant must have done to form each of the singular features of the decoration until it evolved into its final shape and size. He also recounted how the antique Christmas decoration must have lain in some dingy old attic until it was discovered by some astute relative or collector, who, after recognizing its real value, must have sold it to the antique dealer wherefrom my grandfather bought it.
To this day, as the family gathers together at Christmas time to decorate our tree in the living room, we take great pride in the first of all antique Christmas decorations our grandfather had obtained for us. Ever since, each of us has taken a turn to buy more antique Christmas decorations for the tree. But even now, the prominent position, the top, belongs to the antique Christmas decoration—a beautiful walnut star—that grandfather bought all those years ago.