Devin (Runner Up)
Oh gosh, could anyone have asked a more difficult question? I mean, as I was unwrapping them a few days ago I thought as I placed each one on the tree. Is it this one? Or maybe this one? For they all have unique meanings. There are the special ones given by friends, each one bringing to mind a specific time and place. There are the ‘hand made at school’ ornaments my children have given to me over the years…each of those as precious as gold, of course I can’t pick just one. Then there is that Starbucks Christmas latte ornament I bought last year, which I will tell you, I bought one for a friend here at Pan since we share such a coffee addiction. That definitely holds fond memories!

So…what a dilemma. Looking around the house now, scanning each holiday bauble with scrutiny. Is it you? Or you? Which little item is the one that brings the most fond memories or is most dear?

I wander aimlessly through the house…my family certain I have gone mad now as I am speaking to myself aloud, muttering incoherent phrases. Finally, I plant myself on the couch, confused and a little forlorn. I was asked to write about the most special holiday ornament and I can’t choose anything.

Pouting, I decided to turn on the stereo…perhaps music will inspire something. My daughter changed the station to that one…you know, the one, that plays holiday music from Thanksgiving till Christmas…the one you want to annihilate with a bomb two weeks before the big day because its playing in every store you enter from here on out? Yeah…that’s the one. Anyway, it just so happens that what was playing was “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by Burl Ives.

The song was over before it struck me…all the times as child that I would pull that vinyl record from it’s worn cover and place it gently on the turn table. The familiar crackling sound as the needle worked it’s way around and around, emitting the most joyful songs…the ones that let me know Christmas time was here. The ones that played as my mother rolled out sugar cookie dough in the kitchen. The ones that sent a small child into a fit of excitement and anticipation of that big jolly man making his appearance so that our stocking might be overflowing with surprises and sweets.

I sat there silently, finding myself smiling as yet another song played…this time, “White Christmas” also by Burl Ives. My eyes closed, I could smell the sugar cookies and gingerbread baking in the oven. I could see the sparkling white snow that had fallen the night before, pristine and inviting as our sleds leaned against the railing out front. I could imagine the many people in their hustle and bustle of holiday shopping…strangely nicer than usual, smiling at strangers and joyously shouting “Merry Christmas!” as their loose change is dropped into red kettles, their bell ringing companions thankful in return.

Yes…this was it. There is no one single ornament or bauble that denotes itself as the most special. No…it was the songs that reminded me, it is the season itself. Each item on it’s own perhaps has a story to tell, but together they bring me more joy and happiness than any alone could possibly do.

To each and every one of you…may this time of year bring you happiness and contentment, and may you have the love of those near to your hearts.

Clare
It's hard to remember any of the ornaments, when I haven't seen them for going on a year now. Aside from the usual fun a cat can have breaking a few of those round colored glass ones, we have this painted wooded music box from Germany which is in the shape of a book. It sits upright and when the cover is opened, it has shapes that move along with the song - a moon, and a star I think, and most important - a Cat!

Zoe has to wind the thing up to make it go, but it always seems to have a little leftover energy if one of us jumps onto the chest she keeps it on and gives it a tap. What's really fun is setting it off and then immediately disappearing to someplace where we can watch Zoe eyeing the music box in puzzlement at its sudden burst of song.

The best part of Christmas of course, is the presents, but then they're not ornaments. I do get a present for writing this, don't I? YOWL!

Atheena Aristophanes
Of all the ornaments on our Christmas tree, I think the ones which are most special are tiny golden trumpets, because they are special to my son who used to play the trumpet for many years. He quit playing the trumpet because certain meds he takes took away 'his lip'. They remind me of past years and past memories that are filled with joy along with a sad reminder of what was and possibly will never be again.

Clio
Decorating the tree is for me a walk down memory lane. I have very few generic ornaments on the tree. Almost everything is now a memory of a person or a place in my past. Over the years many of my students have given me ornaments and so placing them on the tree reminds me of young people whose lives have intertwined with mine.

Yet of everything on the tree, one is the most special. On the top of my tree is a plastic illuminated angel that my grandmother gave to me when I was three years old. It never stands totally upright; it always leans a bit. It is scratched. Some might even say it is a little tacky. Yet it symbolizes the holidays and family for me. It the ornament I hold dearest in my heart.

Deanna Troi
"Happy holidays. Live long and prosper."

Those words are spoken by Spock on one of my dad's many Star Trek Christmas ornaments. I believe it was actually the first in a long line of Star Trek ornaments that Hallmark has come out with, but that was definitely the first one he ever had. Now my dad has so many Star Trek ornaments that one year he had an entire Christmas tree with only Trek decorations. (I know, I know, that makes him a total geek.)

One Christmas about ten years ago my sister and I were in charge of decorating the tree and made it one giant battle scene with flames shooting out of Klingon birds of prey. My dad left the paper flames taped to the ornaments so now every year there is a damaged Klingon ship on the verge of exploding hung on the tree. My sister and I don't live at home anymore, but when we go over to open presents I always get a kick out of seeing all those Star Trek ornaments. Exploding starships may not mean Christmas to most people, but they do to me!

Pan Historian Staff