Spending Christmas with my mum and our greater family would never be complete without the family Christmas tree.

Years ago, each Christmas, my dad would take us out into the local pine scrub-lands to find the perfect tree. I can remember all the arguments about which tree looked the nicest, would be the right size to get close to but not touch our 12′ ceilings. I suspect most of our suggestions were ignored. Dad always seemed to get it right though and we always had the perfect tree to decorate, to look at and to look after over Christmas.

Back then we had old and fragile ornaments made of glass which were carefully unwrapped after being put away from the previous year. All over the tree we placed little candles in holders placed as far out on the branches as their weight could bare and on Christmas eve we lit them all bringing the Christmas tree to life with the twinkle of candle light.

For many years now the family Christmas tree has been made of metal and plastic. The candles are long gone, replaced at first with little bulbs and more recently light emitting diodes and fancy light patterns.

The decorations now are an eclectic mix of old and new. Dad’s gone now but I’m sure he’d still admire this modern day creation.

This year I noticed someone new. I had never noticed Frosty the Snowman before, welcome to our family Christmas tree!

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Day 722, Frosty the Snowman’ 1.3s f/2.8 ISO100 100mm