The first Christmas was married, I was under the false impression that needed to have a complete collection of Christmas décor for my home. My parents’ house was filled to the brim with holiday décor, and decorating for Christmas had been one of my favorite traditions growing up. But when I moved out, was starting from scratch, and my single garland and few handmade ornaments felt puny next to the volume I was used to.
I’m a few years into my marriage now, and our Christmas décor has grown—from handmade stockings and a collection of vintage ornaments to a Nativity set we picked up in Europe. And I’ve realized that my parents’ home was full of Christmas décor for a reason—they’d acquired it over the years, piece by piece.