Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, December 25, 1910

A Jolly Christmas!
And a bright New Year!

Today is Christmas. But somehow it don’t seem so, for there is no snow, and besides, we haven’t given our presents away yet, except a few. This morning, the first thing we did was to decorate the house. Frances had bought some holly and imitation poinsettia flowers; the holly we twined on the ballisters in the stairway in the hall, hung over corners and pictures or pinned on the curtains; the poinsettias we unpacked and twined around the chandeliers – an especially big one, we placed it in a tall glass vase. And – oh yes, I almost forgot something else. In the center of the front room chandelier, we placed one branch, and in the center of the arch-way, we tied another branch of the bewitching and mysterious – mistletoe! More fun out of that mistletoe today! Occasionally while putting it up or directing up to put up, Frances would remark mournfully: “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a tree – but then they’re such a nuisance!” Then we would make some trivial remark, agreeing with her.