Last night when I came to my bedroom I was enchanted by this tiny Christmas tree on my dresser. We have a large tree in the living room as well, but every year for the bedroom I decorate a small tree with tiny ornaments, some of which are about 50 years old. These were ornaments that I used as a child at my grandma’s place for my own small plastic tree. It felt festive and magical then, and it still holds this feeling for me now.
Speaking of the large tree, when I was decorating it this year, I dropped another blast-from-the-[Christmas]-past heirloom – a large glass bell. It shattered completely. I felt that sharp pang of realization of the finality of what happened and even cried. But as my vSO was trying to console me, I came up with something that helped. I proposed we thought of it as a mishap that absorbed some future bad luck protecting us from it. It comforted me.
I wish you all health, happiness and energy to maintain (or establish) your own positive traditions. And let a shattered ornament to be our worst misfortune.
Happy New Year!
Undina's Looking Glass 
Beautiful trees, and sorry to hear about the ornament, Undina. That’s a good way to think of it. I wish you a Happy New Year, and all the best for 2026!
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Thank you, Daniel. Happy New Year to you too!
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The little Christmas tree is beautiful, and I love that you’re using old ornaments to decorate it. I have several family heirloom ornaments on my big Christmas tree, which are about 85 years old now. They were on both my grandmother’s and mother’s Christmas trees, and they bring back fond memories of them every year. As you can imagine, I’ve broken many ornaments over the years, and I appreciate your creative approach to dealing with the loss of them.
I wish you and yours a very Happy New Year, Undina!
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It brings me joy to think that those ornaments have traveled not just through time but also between continents.
Happy New Year, Flaconneur!
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I agree, Undina.
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I know that feeling of breaking something that can’t be replaced… but applaud the reframing of it as protecting against bad luck! I always thought of it as a signal for me to look to the future and not the past. We’ve made it through another year, which should be celebrated. Happy New Year!
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Your “can’t be replace” sent me sifting through eBay listings (with their early slogan in my head – “Whatever it is, you can get it on eBay”). I didn’t find the exact match yet (though I saw a couple from the same time, I think – just smaller), but I’ll try again next November.
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Well, I guess I meant can’t be replaced in terms of its sentimental value. I’ve also been deep in eBay searches for things that I didn’t know existed until many years or even decades after they stopped being made… usually, with (a lot of) patience, they would appear eventually. I hope you find a replacement!
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What a beautiful little tree!
We have no heirloom ornaments from parents. Mum threw them away for “stylish” colour coordinated decorations & a fake tree. We had a real tree in a half barrel we brought in each year from 72-84 that she burnt.
DH’s parent were divorced & remarried. No idea what happened to theirs.
Wishing you & all your readers a Happy Healthy & Wealthy 2026
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I wish I saved more decorations from that time: they were magical! None of my latest color-coordinated sets come even close! But I have a collection of unique ornaments I collected over the years, and they are quite magical also – but still, I wish I had at least some of those old ones.
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Wishing you, your vSO and MIL a Happy New Year! I love how you put a positive spin on the loss of your heirloom ornament! May 2026 be full of good health, wealth and blessings.
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Thank you! All the great wishes back to you!
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Love your beautiful little tree! We didn’t have any holiday decorations this year, but a friend gave me a lovely poinsettia that has brightened my holiday. I hope you and your family have a wonderful new year.
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For some reason, I’ve never bought poinsettia – even though I enjoy looking at those plants. I shall rectify it next holiday season!
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I like your tree, Undina, and I like your approach to misfortune! Indulge me while I tell a story. Twenty five years ago we were taking our then young kids to London for the weekend. My husband for some unknown reason had $1000 cash in a back zip pocket of his backpack, but it had a clear portion which made the money visible. While we were waiting for luggage he realized the money was gone. It was obvious that in the crowd and crush getting off the plane someone behind him had taken it out of his backpack. (This was in the era before cards and atms were as ubiquitous). I was very angry, but he was unperturbed. “Don’t you see,” he said, “This is our bad luck out of the way. The kids are safe, we’re all healthy, it’s just money! We’re lucky that this is our bad luck!” I was so confounded by his logic that I couldn’t be angry anymore. I tell this because my husband is Polish/Ukranian by way of Australia. If this a particular Eastern European way of looking at misfortune? If so, I kind of like it! Happy New Year to you and your husband. For myself, I’m hoping for a better 2026.
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With 2025, I am back to my mantra: I’ll be fine if the next year is at least not worse (for my family personally). But I agree that we all could use some better years.
I’m not sure if it’s “regional” or just personal traits, but some people always try to find a silver lining or rationale for unpleasant situations. Your husband and I are probably this type of people :)
I realize that there are different circumstances. But when I can (if it’s true, I mean), I always say: “It’s just money (or things).” And I believe that.
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Hey there Undina,
What a wonderful way to look at your breakage. In Korea they have a similar idea. When something little happens that holds you up, it may be saving you from a larger problem. They also believe that a favourite household pert will often die in place of a family member. We put Jin’s dog down the same day his day had a serious heart attack, then found out nearly a month later about Dad’s health scare. It was very spooky.
Hope you have a lovely 2026.
HUG
Portia xx
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It is such a wise way to handle a loss of a beloved pet!
Let’s all have a lovely year! I declare that we deserve it! :)
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