Dad always had to go downstairs FIRST to see if Santa really had been there (he turned on the tree lights of the tree Santa brought), and then told us it was okay to come down. I can still get goosebumps remembering coming downstairs and seeing that beautiful tree all lit up. Most of the ornaments were handmade from wood. The whole neighborhood had gotten together during WWII to make ornaments for their trees because of wartime shortages.
When my kids were growing up, Santa always brought their tree, too.
BUT when we lived in Georgia and our boys were 3 and 5, all their friends had their trees up the first week in December and our boys were so worried that Santa wouldn't bring them a tree. That Christmas, when they saw the tree all lit, even though there were presents (bikes and trikes) under the tree, they burst into tears and just stared at the tree in wonder and joy that Santa HAD brought them a tree. After that, we asked them if they would like to help Santa out by putting up the tree before Christmas and they were overjoyed to say YES!
