From JSOnline:
By of the Journal Sentinel
"Madison — Lucy Van Pelt coveted one in the Peanuts Christmas
special. So did apparently a million people who bought an Evergleam to
turn their living room into a space-age winter wonderland.
"Like a TV antenna's wad of tinfoil magically coming to life, aluminum
Christmas trees sparkled and glowed in living rooms and front windows
during their heyday in the 1960s and '70s. No need to traipse out to a
tree lot and wrestle one home tied to the car roof. No needles littering
the carpet. No need to worry about the family dog drinking out of the
stand.
"Then, like any fad, they wore out their yuletide welcome and were
forgotten in attics, tossed out in the trash or sold at garage sales for
50 cents.
"Now, they're hip again in a retro 'Mad Men' way. And sought after. Some aluminum Christmas trees are selling for $1,000 on eBay.
"Tapping into nostalgia for a time when Christmas trees looked as
silvery and shiny as an astronaut, the Wisconsin Historical Society
Museum is opening an exhibit on Tuesday featuring 20 Wisconsin-made
aluminum trees.
"Billed as the largest public exhibition of Evergleam aluminum
Christmas trees, the exhibit will include rare 2-foot tabletop trees, a
selection of 4-, 6- and 8-foot aluminum trees, accessories such as
rotating tree stands and multicolored light wheels as well as
advertising and packaging. The exhibit also includes trees in gold,
green and even pink — the holy grail of Evergleams. Because few people
bought pink trees, few were made, which now makes them very rare and
valuable."
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8 comments:
Although ours has turned into the Charlie Brown Christmas tree (everything is falling off), we won't be buying one like this.
I've also noticed this year pastels are big in Christmas decorations. Not at my house. Blue and Pink for Christmas? Egads!
We never had a foil tree, but we did once have a flocked tree. What a mess.
When we were kids, we stepped on, and smashed all the glass decorations In the attic. That year we had soup can bottoms, and tops, cut with a tin snips by my dad, and bent kinda like a fan, and he punched a hole In them with a nail, and we hung them from the tree. Also we strung popcorn for the tree that year. Just think. He could have killed us. He was my HERO.
We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve. If everybody was still alive, and able to walk a straight line, we went to my aunt and uncles house a block away for their Christmas, and dinner. My Aunt Marge was a SAINT.
I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas It's just crazy. Now I can't stand the Holiday's and the months of November, and December. I don't honestly know why, but It sure makes life miserable for my wife.
Many people get depressed during the holidays. That includes me. This year I'm already thinking about the last Thanksgiving with my mom. She was dead by Christmas.
http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/25-ways-find-joy-balance-during-holidays
http://www.webmd.com/depression/holidays07/
Btw, when are you supposed to put up the Festivus pole?
We used to have a white flock tree. My dad would hook up two red lights outside that would shine on the tree. Oh my I remember now, it was a mess.
As for the Christmas funk, maybe it's because we all want to go back to our pasts when our parents and grandparents were still alive. The whole family got together. And we were always happy. Unfortunately, when our parents, especially our mothers, things have to change. The common thread is gone. Everyone starts spending Christmas with their own families. Some of us don't have the room to host the entire family. It's sad but it's the way it is. Although I haven't been since the year before my mom died, my brother and sisters families in Racine always get together for Christmas Eve. I am so happy they still do it. I miss it but at the same time with young grandchildren, how can we leave?
We have to make our own new memories. We are the grandparents now. Geez, that's still hard to take, age wise.
As for you Orbs, this year will be a hard one with everything you've been through. I don't know of any words to help. I can only say as sad as it is for you, there is a new home waiting for you and Charlie. Some people don't have that. Time to start the next chapter. Hiding from all the ladies at the new place. :}
Okay, learn to read. When our mothers pass.
And Orbs, I have no idea when to put up the Festivus pole. I'll do some research.
We didn't have an aluminum tree, but my aunt did. It was the sharpest, most dangerous thing ever! We had the rotating light that we put on the porch to illuminate the door decoration.
Families have become disjointed. It is difficult to arrange the whole bunch together. My mom set a date, and you knew you had to be there. Maybe I just need to learn to be more demanding and forceful?
Holidays can be difficult. You just have to honor those who have passed before us by keeping them in your thoughts and by following traditions set by them. As they say, you never forget or get over the loss, you just have to learn to move on despite it all.
For me, the pressure and significance of the perfect gift, or the "more is necessary" tends to ruin it for me. I think the best gift is being with family and friends.
We had one when I was growing up. It was considered 'Daddy's tree' . Was kept out on the sun porch with the rotating color wheels on it set up on a table. I always thought it was pretty cool. (Shiny sparkly).
When my parents died, no one else wanted it. So I got it.
I put it up every year. I have white wire led string lights that I put on it. I have to say, it looks pretty cool.
I finally had to get rid of the original box for it. This thing has to 50-60 yrs old!
Kind of keeps up my Dad's tradition. He died dec 15 many yrs ago.
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