Natàlia Fabregat Domènech
4t ESO
Igualada
Montclar

The fire was burning in the fireplace while the children were playing and laughing together. The elder ones were talking about the typical topics of this special dates. It was Christmas time. The Christmas tree, surrounded with some presents, was perfectly decorated. Instead of being in silence, it was like expressing the magic of the moment to the quiet city. Christian’s family was having dinner. Christian, the fourth of five brothers, was seven. He was tall, had blond hair and blue eyes. He knew the secret of the tree. That Christmas tree wasn’t common, it was peculiar, very peculiar. Not only because it was the family’s Christmas tree, the reason was another, a very fantastic one. Christian had suspected of that for years. Although he was the only one that knew the secret, he had never told to anyone what he had discovered. The tree was different because it was alive. It could talk, smile, sing, listen, cry... Christian knew it because he had heard it crying one day. That day, the 24th of December, at 01:00 A.M., Christian woke up and run to the living room, where the tree was. But when he was going to enter, something stopped him. He listened to the most beautiful voice he had ever heard before. What an incredible voice! It was neither high nor deep. It was clear, soft and tender. He tried to see who was talking and to whom. He thought it could be Santa Claus, but when he looked through the window, he saw the living room empty. Then he waited a little bit and suddenly, he realised that the tree was talking to the fire! It was amazing so he decided to enter. At the time he stepped in the room, that voice disappeared. Did the tree know he was there? Christian sat down near the fire and started to look at the tree constantly. He said: “Hello?” , but he didn’t receive any answers. Afterwards, he looked at the fire and saw it was not burning. He didn’t know what was going on. He decided to return to bed. However, before doing so, he told to the tree: “ I know you can hear me, and that you can feel like me. So, I want you to know I won’t tell the rest of my family your secret, well, now, our secret. I don’t know why you are crying, but we will have time to talk, ok? Now I am going to bed, because if not, Santa Claus may not give us our presents...good night! See you soon!”. When Christian was in front of the door, he heard that voice telling him: “We will talk, but you can’t explain to the others I live! Bye!”. When Christian woke up, the first thing he did was to visit his new friend. But because he was not alone, the tree seemed lifeless. He felt sad but suddenly his feelings changed. Santa Claus had brought him many presents! The rest of the day was very good and when all his family was sleeping, he went to visit the tree. - Hello! How are you? - Hello Christian. I was sure that you were going to come. Sit down near me, we can’t talk loudly. Let me introduce you to my friend, the fire. - The fire? - Yes, it seem incredible, but don’t you think that what I can do is incredible too? - Yes, I do. Well, hello fire. - I want to explain something to you. You have always thought that Christmas trees weren’t magic, but that’s not true at all. When a tree becomes a Christmas tree, something special happens to him. Since that moment all its meaning changes. It becomes part of Christmas magic. Different trees have specific functions, it depends on the country and the traditions. Here, most of us decorate our houses, but for example, in Catalonia, some trees decorate and some are part of a tradition called “Cagar el tió”. What the Catalans call “El tió” is the trunk of a tree. When they have cut it down, they draw on it a face, that’s to say, two eyes and a mouth. Since that moment, that trunk becomes magic and when it is Christmas day, the children sing a song while they hit “El tió” and it gives presents to them. Did you know it? - No, I didn’t. I think it is a very nice tradition. We could do it here, don’t you think so? - Yes, it is beautiful, but you have to understand that traditions are specific from some places and we should practice ours and they, theirs. Our culture is different from the one they have, but this doesn’t mean we don’t have to respect theirs. - That is true. But what I want to know is why you were crying yesterday.... - Yes, I am really embarrassed, yesterday was the worst day you could meet me, I was sad because of a lot of circumstances. One of these reasons makes me feel gloomy every year. I miss too much my family. - Yours? Do you have a family? I never thought you could have it, because you have been our Christmas tree for many years! - Yes I know I am part of this home, but when I was young, I grew up in a very big wood and all its trees were my family. - Would you like to see them again? - No, because I know that most of them have been cut down. But this is not the only problem. I am dissatisfied due to the children’s behavior at this time. You never have enough! You always want more and more! You never remember the reason of Christmas, the only think you have in mind is presents! But do you know the true reason of Christmas? - Well, let me think. Santa Claus comes because he is the patron saint of the children, isn’t he? - Yes, fantastic, someone who knows it! But that’s not the true reason. The one which you should have in mind is that Christ was born on December 25th. But there are more things that make me feel bad. I have always been at this house, I have never visited any home a part from yours. I have few memories of when I was young, I would like to visit the world, see more cities! - Yes, it sounds nice, but don’t you remember you are only a tree? - Of course I know! But I thought you could help me! Could you? - I don’t know, but I would like to show you the world and now, because it is Christmas, the world is more beautiful. All the big cities are dressed up with lights and some of them with a huge Christmas tree. But I can’t think of any way to help you... - Well, I know one. You could show me pictures of different places. - Ok I will show some to you tomorrow, now I am going to bed. And Merry Christmas! - Thank you! Good night. When Christian had the opportunity to speak with the tree, he showed it some pictures of different cities around the world like New York, Sydney, London, Paris...When he saw the pictures of Paris he said that this city was the most incredible one of the world. He liked New York, too, and specially the Christmas tree that the city had. Christian was very happy because he had been able to help his new friend. The next day he visited the Christmas tree, they talked about Christian’s ancestors. The tree was very old and knew a lot of secrets about the family that every year decorated him. - Tree, you have been with us for many years. You have known my family since my grandfather was a boy like me. I have never known him. Could you talk to me about him? - Yes, I think it is good to talk about the past, because it is the answer to many questions about our present. You grandfather was like you, not exactly, but you have some resemblance. When he was seven, like you, he discovered my secret too! He wasn’t tall like you but he had blond hair and blue eyes. One day, when all the family was sleeping, he came and started to explain some tales to me. He wasn’t sure I was alive, but he suspected so. When he finished, I didn’t know what to do, and that day, I didn’t talk to him. But he insisted another day and I wasn’t able to ignore him. Since that moment, we were very friends. He promised me he wasn’t going to tell anybody my secret. But you, after many years, have discovered it again! But this is not bad at all, I am glad to be your friend. - Me too. But now it is time to go to bed. See you soon! - Bye! From that moment, Christian’s life change completely. Every day, before going to bed, he visited his friend and talked for hours about a lot of things. The tree was one of his best friends and he really loved it. He never allowed his parents to replace it for a new tree. Every Christmas was special to him, he was always looking forward to this time. Since then, Christian has always loved winter, when Christmas begins.