I had a tiny pre-decorated tree at my old apartment out in the country, which was no doubt left behind by a predecessor who wanted the place to feel a little more like home during the Christmas season. I left it behind because, not only was I taking way more stuff than I thought I even owned, the tree just didn’t do anything for me. For me, the act of decorating a tree with ornaments that represent places I’ve been and people I’ve met, rather than simply having a tree, is what invoked warm fuzzy holiday feelings. In fact, as a secular/cultural participant, the tree symbolizes the feeling as if winter has arrived, as the trimming of the tree coincides with the solstice and often the first big snow.
The Lobster Dance 