Every family has that one holiday tradition that makes people stop, stare, and ask questions.
For us, it’s the upside-down Christmas tree that has hung in our home for fourteen years.
And the best part?
It started long before upside-down trees were trendy — back when Pinterest was barely a thing and we were just two tired parents trying to survive December with three small kids and three very large, very enthusiastic dogs.
The Year the Ornaments Couldn’t Survive
Looking through old photos of our “firsts” — our first Christmas in our new home, our youngest’s first Christmas — I noticed something hilarious.
At the start of the season, our tree looked perfectly normal: ornaments spaced out, everything in its place.
But by the end of December?
Every ornament was crowded into the top half of the tree.
Why?
Because every wagging dog tail sent ornaments flying.
Every time a kid proudly brought us one to admire, we hung it “just a little higher.”
And slowly…
steadily…
the bottom three feet of the tree became completely bare.
By New Year’s, the entire lower half looked like it had simply given up.
I didn’t notice it in real time, but the photos made it laugh-out-loud obvious.
The Idea That Started It All
So the next year, when it came time to put up the tree, my husband — the engineer with ideas I hadn’t yet learned to pause before agreeing to — said:
“Why don’t we just hang it upside down from the ceiling?”
We were still early in our marriage, and I didn’t yet know you’re supposed to hesitate before saying yes to an engineer’s creative solutions.
But I loved the idea instantly.
We swapped trees with my aunt (who wanted the smaller one we used in our old house), and then he got to work making the necessary “modifications.”
And that was the year our upside-down Christmas tree was born — long before upside-down trees were cool.
Why It Stuck
From the minute it was hanging, it just felt… right.
The ornaments dangled beautifully, easy to see and safely out of the reach of paws and toddler hands.
It opened up the room.
It made us laugh.
And, honestly, it suited us perfectly.
Over the years we’ve accessorized it in all sorts of ways:
- A traditional tree skirt (on the top)
- A train circling it one year
- A wicker “tree stand basket” we added last year
- A rotating lineup of stars on what is technically the bottom
Through all the changes, the upside-down magic stayed.
We even tossed around the idea of trying a real tree. And while I’m sure Mark could engineer a way to water it, sometimes the tree stays up until March… and that’s pushing it even for us.
“Are You Ever Going to Flip It Back?”
Last year someone asked if we were finally going to return to a “normal” tree now that the kids have grown and the dogs have passed.
The answer? Absolutely not.
Our youngest used to proudly announce to people,
“We have an Upside-Down Christmas!”
And honestly, it became part of who we are.
The tree itself is old. Fake. A little tired.
But it’s not going anywhere until I’m holding its upside-down replacement in my hands.
Hard Years and a Bright Season
The last few years were tough — the kind where even the thought of dragging the tree out felt exhausting.
Some years it barely made it up before Christmas.
But this year, it’s up early.
The snow is falling.
And as much as we grumble about winter, that fresh white blanket makes everything feel a little cleaner, a little brighter, and a little less heavy.
A Truth I Should Probably Confess
My family assumes most of the quirky house projects are my ideas.
So let’s set the record straight:
They’re not mine.
They’re his.
I just agree enthusiastically… and maybe add a little spark to the fire.
Now, the eye bolts in the ceiling of the living/playroom?
Those were mine — from the time I decided the boys needed a sensory room.
But that’s a story for another day.
Our Upside-Down Christmas
So here we are:
Fourteen years.
Dozens of memories.
One very tired, very loved fake tree that still hangs proudly every December.
It started with chaos.
Became a solution.
And turned into a tradition we’ll keep forever.
Because sometimes the best holiday traditions come from the wild ideas you say “yes” to —
before you know you’re not supposed to.
And who knows… maybe someday my boys will continue our upside-down tradition in their own homes.
I kind of hope they do.