BREEZY POINT — Calvin Wallin doesn't remember a Christmas when his family didn't light real candles perched in holders clipped to the Christmas tree branches.
A family custom that has lasted all of his 85 years is sure to carry on with future generations. tapered candlesticks
"It's cool every time," said Teddy Wallin, Calvin's 17-year-old grandson. "I would do this with my future family because it's one I grew up with. I wouldn't change it."
Teddy's comments came when his Grandpa Calvin was visiting to talk about and reenact the longtime family observance that now takes place at the Breezy Point home of Brian and Valarie Wallin — Calvin's son and daughter-in-law and Teddy's parents.
As Calvin carefully clipped antique candle holders on the Christmas tree and then inserted the candles, he said: "Our folks would cut our own tree. We didn't have electricity until I was about 10 years old so we always had candles."
Calvin and his five brothers and two sisters grew up just outside of Nisswa in a home that's still in the Wallin family.
"There was only one time that I remember when the tree caught fire," he said.
His twin brothers, John and James, and sister, Caroljean, were in the living room. Their mom was in the kitchen and they yelled, "The tree is on fire."
The home had no running water, and their mom dumped a pail of water to douse the fire.
Of course, they never went to bed or left their home with the candles lit.
"You have to know where to put the candles," Calvin said, showing how candles don't go near a tree limb or ornament.
And they're lit from top to bottom.
Today's candle tradition lasts no longer than about 5 minutes. On Christmas Day, one candle holder and candle per person gathered goes on the tree, along with one for baby Jesus. When darkness descends, the candles are lit and all lights are turned off while the family — numbering 35-40 — sings Christmas carols.
Then Brian randomly calls out names of those present so each can extinguish a candle, one by one.
Valarie hopes to carry on the ritual with their six kids and their future families when she's Calvin's age of 85. It's a tradition she'd heard about as a girl. Her parents and Brian's parents were friends, and her parents had seen the candles lit on the Christmas tree before they moved their family to Florida.
"So I grew up hearing the stories about it, but we never did it," Valarie said. "It was one of those things that was so cool to hear my parents talk about. I wanted to do it with my kids."
Her family returned to the lakes area, and Valarie married Brian, who'd grown up with Christmas tree candles with his parents — Calvin and Shirley — and two brothers and one sister.
Brian never thought twice about the tradition until he was a teenager and realized it wasn't common to light candles on a Christmas tree.
"We had people come over just to have the experience of seeing it," he said.
Valarie likes how the tradition provides a generational connection.
"Traditions are important. Dad — Calvin — has done this his whole life and it's a way to maintain those connections, those memories we have," she said.
Brian likes the peace, quiet and wholesomeness the custom offers.
"In today's world where everything's electronic and fast-paced and bright, to have the quietness and just the light of the candles and sing 'Silent Night' — it's something you don't see or don't have with TVs and cellphones."
Valarie called it a settled peace they all gravitate to.
"It's the spirit of Christmas, a sense of peace," she said.
Calvin called it a celebration of the birth of Christ.
"It's a blessing to have all my kids, grandkids, great-grandkids — four generations — it makes it special," he said.
After celebrating Christmas Day at Calvin and Shirley's house for 58 years, the tradition moved to Brian and Valarie's home six years ago because they have more room for the large gathering.
modeling candles "It's a blessing that they remember the true meaning of Christmas and respect that," Calvin said of his family.