This must be the first year we haven’t had a Christmas tree in the house. Artificial trees are strictly off-limits, and since we are off to the States on the 22nd, it didn’t make sense to get a real tree and decorate it.

Christmas is inextricably linked with the family, considering our namesake, Knecht Ruprecht, is associated with Santa Claus. My Dad was always proud to exclaim that we were related to Santa himself, but it turns out Ruprecht was the evil partner that beat the bad kids with a switch.

We used to live in Bethlehem, PA, which is also known as Christmas City, but it’s neighboring Easton, PA that lays claim to the “First Christmas Tree in America”, where German settlers purportedly erected a Christmas tree in 1816. We’ll be visiting both places on our travels, and my Dad will not disappoint with a well-decorated tree, topped with a cotton-stuffed Claus I made in kindergarten, perhaps unconsciously saluting our heritage.

If we don’t see each other before then, have a Merry Christmas.