Ang Magandang Christmas Tree

While growing up, it was common to have DIY Christmas trees at home. Now, I know for those of you who have never been to Philippines, you'd wonder "what, DIY?!" 😅

Pine trees are found in Philippine highlands, hence making this unavailable for most households, and as well, expensive to acquire one. I don't know if it was expensive way back then to buy even the plastic ones, or maybe they just were not available during that time. We've always had this 2 feet tall (around 61 cm) Christmas tree put out every Christmas. What was more common, though, among other households were to have these DIY Christmas trees.

How to make these Christmas trees. First, gather long and thick branches and bunch them together. Put them in a pot, or a big can, such as a paint can or a milk can. Place stones in the can to hold the branches and make it stable. Wrap this container with a Christmas wrapper. 

There are different ways to decorate the tree, depending on how much material you have, or could afford --

Option 1: Glue the branches with japanese paper. Or else can be left bare.

Option 2: Tie the branches with white plastic bags (This would be tons of plastic bags 😳)

Option 3: Use Perla to make bubble soap to cover the tree 

Option 4: Mix different food colorings with water. Place these in ice candy wrappers, and hang them on the tree

My favorite was making bubble soaps out of Perla. It was so fun! While decorating, we would throw the bubble soap at each other. So it would be a lot of Perla bars to use!

Since I've never seen snow up until I came to Sweden, the funniest thing is that I've always thought that these white things on the branches of trees and shrubs grow during winter! I've never really associated them as snow! 😂😂😂 I think I've only come to realize some years later. After coming to Sweden, I now know what we were trying to imitate then 🙈🙈🙈

Whenever I see these snow perched on top of these branches, I looked back during my childhood years and reminisce the fun I had with homemade Christmas trees.

Do you have such memories of Christmas?

Wishing everyone a merry, fun-filled and meaningful Christmas! 🎄🎄🎄