The After Christmas Tree

making some sticky bird seed ornaments

 Not long into our creating of advent and holiday traditions, we read a sweet story called "The After Christmas Tree." In it, the family takes their tree down after the holidays, pulls it outside, and decorates it for the animals. Naturally, this became a tradition we had to co-opt. So, once the new year comes, we undecorate the tree, move it outside, and redecorate it for the birds. Once the tree is out, we made bird seed ornaments out of birdseed, flour and water. Even Sterling, so often "icked" out by the gooey stuff, got his hands dirty, and before long there were stars and christmas tree shaped ornaments galore.

Are we decorating or eating? hmmm?

Then we got down to business with the tree. Ornaments were propped into the branches, and loads of popcorn was popped and ceremoniously eaten, I mean thrown all over the tree. In an "over the top" year, we might even string some cranberries for them, but we were in the mood for simple and done this year. Despite Sterling's appearance here, the birds really did have every opportunity to chow down.


This is such a simple tradition - and brings the kids way more joy than even our winter birds could have from it. It also helps get the tree out of the house peaceably (as we have those who would like to keep the tree until it is nothing but dead branches and ornaments). The kids spent the rest of the day rushing out to see if the birds (now hopelessly scared off) had eaten anything.