Secret Christmas Tree

[Dominic]

A few years ago I did a geocache in a wood near Aldershot. It was special, because it was situated near a secret Christmas Tree. Years ago, there was a man and his wife, who loved walking in the woods with their dog. When the wife died, the husband took to decorating a small fir tree that grew there, every christmas. He did this because his wife had loved their walks and Christmas in equal measure, so it was a nice memento.

This was the tree:
 

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Anyway, over the years, dog walkers have started joining in with the tradition. And now the tree looks quite a picture every christmas. Plus, people have started leaving notes to their departed loved ones, especially their pets.

The tree is quite a lot bigger now, and to be honest, it looks a bit odd. But it is still a lovely idea.
 

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My question is this: are there any similar trees in Cyprus? I know there are shrines aplenty. There is a big one near Coral Bay, with lots of notes written on pebbles to departed loved ones. One day I will blog about that. But are there any decorated trees?

[PhotoLady]

I took photos of the shrine by the headland at Coral Bay then found out some months later that every so often someone comes along and removes a large number of the mementos.... That's what I was told after I posted the photos but not sure how true it is so would be interested if you put a reference to it when you do the blog post Dom.

[Dominic]

They do. There is a geocache near there and when I found it I noticed that it was surrounded by pebbles and mementos that had been moved from the shrine. The shrine soon gets repopulated again though. It seems to be mostly a British thing too.

Mind you, the children's shrine near Geroskipou gets cleared away occasionally. There is still an older version of it behind it, pushed to one side. Who clears it , I don't know? Vandals perhaps? Perhaps the owner of the shrine doesn't like the uninvited additions? Who knows...

[PhotoLady]

Someone must look after them, I guess....

This one was interesting when we were there (21 February 2015) because the lady in the photo looks fit and healthy.

Who was Yvonne Tompkins, does anyone know - and what happened to her?

[PaphosAL]

Actually, Jules, a quick examination of the photo above the heart shaped memoir would suggest that the poor lady only had one leg! But then when you zoom in closer, you can see that her right leg is tucked in behind her, in the shadows..

Whatever afflicted her when God took her into his safe keeping, may she rest in peace...

AL

[PaphosAL]

@Dominic: As to other decorated trees in Cyprus, there's always the famous 'Handkerchief Tree' near the Catacombs on the side of Fabrikas hill, on the left of the main road down from the Mall down to the harbour

AL

[memory man]

@ PaphosAl......................did you see this Al?

https://www.paphoslife.com/blog/beyond_fabrica_hill/7

[PaphosAL]

I did indeed, MM! Just thought it a bit strange that Dom was asking if there were decorated trees in Cyprus...

AL

[Dominic]

Because that isn't a Christmas Tree Al. The thread is called Secret Christmas Trees. It is about Christmas Trees that are decorated in secret.

[PaphosAL]

OIC...