It all started off with wanting our first Christmas in Istanbul to really feel like Christmas.  Even though we will be in the states for the actual holiday, it’s the leading up to it that gets you in the Christmas spirit.  So what better way to do it than to start with a Christmas tree?

Believe it or not, Istanbul has Christmas trees.  Real and fake ones galore.  Granted, the real trees are different of course – they are shorter, smaller, and have less pine fragrance than those you would find in North America.  But it’s still a real Christmas tree.  And as an added bonus they come in a pot!  Yes, potted Christmas trees.  Makes it easy for use again the next year, of course pending you have space in your yard or on a balcony to keep it.  

My dilemma was I did not want to get a tree just to have it for one week.  Since I’m leaving for the states in a few days, it would have been a waste – of money and a tree – to only have it for one week.  So in times like these we have to get resourceful.  So what does someone who is now well-connected with the ex-pat community do?  Yep, I pimped out our Christmas tree.  After all, sharing is caring.  And it made it into a Turkish Newspaper here.  

Read here for the article:  The Sharing Tree of Christmas

While we may be home in Ohio for Christmas, our Christmas spirit will reach much further than that.  And a friend’s Christmas in Istanbul was made a little more merrier in the process.  

May you have yourself a merry little Christmas, too.