Christmas was probably my most favorite holiday, until I moved to America and discovered Thanksgiving! lol Growing up in ‘Eua, my siblings and I always looked forward to our Primary activity, toli ‘akau. This is where all the primary kids get to bring their Christmas Trees to the chapel and we get to dance, eat, open presents and the best part – we get to take down our tree decorations! Because no one was able to afford a fake Christmas tree, most of the homes in ‘Eua would just cut down branches or small trees to set up as their Christmas tree. In fact, the Spruce, Pine or Fir trees often used for Christmas trees weren’t found in our village, so most homes just made use of whatever was on hand with easy access, oftentimes, a random weed growing nearby. Once the tree was up, we had all kinds of chips, candy, balloons and even money adorned as ornaments! Which is why, taking down decorations became my most favorite part about the activity.

We didn’t have enough money to buy everyone presents under the tree, so whatever chips and candy my parents decorated our tree with was what we got for Christmas every year.

My Mom always made sure we didn’t fee like we were without, so she would make our Christmas trees from things we had laying around the house. My most favorite was using my Dad’s green fishing net and filling it in with green balloons. We then hung it from the ceiling to create the illusion of a Christmas Tree. I thought it was the most beautiful Christmas tree I’d ever seen!

Since we’ve been married, Paane and I have decided that every year that we’re home celebrating Christmas and aren’t traveling, we would forgo buying a Christmas Tree and instead find creative ways to create/make one.  The first year we celebrated Christmas at home, we were gifted our very own white Christmas tree from Paane’s parents for Sosaia’s first Christmas. I don’t know what happened to that tree, between moving houses and states, I figured it was probably one of the first things that we gifted away to someone in need.

We’re not going to be home for Christmas this year, but the kids really wanted a tree to complete the whole ‘White Christmas’ experience. They ask everyday whether its going to snow here in Arizona and I see the disappointment in their eyes when I tell them we live in the desert lol We ventured out to our own backyard and found a dead tree branch for our white Christmas tree this year. We added leaves made from coffee filters to give it our White Christmas tree!

What I love about this tradition is that I don’t get to constantly tell my kids to stop touching the tree! They re-decorate it everyday lol They use it at night as their imaginary tree house and camp under it with their tablets watching movies. These are the memories I want them to remember!

Merry Christmas from the Tonga’s. xo