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PELHAM, N.Y. - The signs of the holiday season are prevalent throughout Pelham as wreaths adorn street lights and menorahs, nativities, and other holiday decorations fill storefront windows. One of the most significant symbols of the season, a Christmas tree, shines right next to the town hall.
However, with Christmas just 10 days away, a few Pelham residents still need to buy a Christmas tree.
Im waiting for all of my children to come into town, so we can all do it together, said Lisa Houser.
Buying and then decorating the Christmas tree has long been a fun activity for families. Houser is waiting for the rest of her family to come home.
Thats why were late this year. Theyre in college. I got one [son] and Im waiting for one more, she said.
Some Pelham residents may choose to not even buy a tree and go with a wreath instead, like a local citizen named Susan.
Just a wreath, said Susan. No tree. I always just do a wreath and I decorate it like a tree. I have dogs and they might get to the tree. She had just bought the wreath at DeCiccos Food Market.
For some people, they wait until the week before Christmas to buy and decorate the tree.
I havent gotten my tree yet, said Alex Hyacinthe. Normally, we wait till everybody gets back. My brothers got to get back from school. We get it at that point the last week or so.
Hyacinthe, the assistant manager at DeCiccos, is not much for decorating. Im not a big decoration guy with the lights and stuff.
Hyacinthe was glad to see that the wreaths outside the store were being bought.
Weve moved a lot of wreaths over the past week, said Hyacinthe. Theyve only been out a week and weve moved at a pretty steady clip.
Tricia DiNapoli, owner of Tricias Unisex Salon, has not bought a tree yet either for her family. She is still deciding on the type of tree and where to get it.
I dont know where yet, but I did buy a wreath at the Chamber, said DiNapoli. I usually get a fake one [tree], but my husband wants to get a real one this year, so I dont know. Were still deciding.
The fun part is when they all get to decorate it. We put it up the week before and then we all just decorate it together, said the mother of two.
Even though a few Pelham residents have yet to buy a tree, there are people in Pelham who could not wait to buy one.
Harry Engstrom, the Pelham assistant court clerk, has a time-honored family tradition when it comes to buying a Christmas tree.
For the last 25 years, we go up to Easton, Connecticut with the family, and we cut down live trees from Maple Row tree farm, said Engstrom.
We always buy it during the first week of December. The tree has been bought, its in the stand, and decorated, he said.
Those who celebrate Christmas in Pelham all go about buying and decorating a Christmas tree in different fashion, which is what makes the holiday season so unique and special.
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