WORCESTER—Many homes have holiday traditions that include Christmas trees, and it’s not that unusual to find families that have more than one. But Chris McGovern and Tim Corrinet may have set a record. They have put up 40 Christmas trees, one in every room of their three-story Worcester home, and after all these years, it’s become a tradition for them and their family and friends.
The couple has lived in their antique colonial for 17 years.
“I’ve always loved Christmas,” McGovern said. “When we first got together, we lived in Boston, and had an annual party. I decided I didn’t want people to see the same tree twice. So it became two, then three, then four … as our houses got bigger, the trees became more numerous.”
The holiday party has turned into an every-other-year event, with this year’s guest list around 175. McGovern said he’s stopped at 40 trees, though a recent young guest claimed to have counted 45.
“I love, love, love doing it,” McGovern said. “I love watching people’s reactions.”
McGovern said though he doesn’t have a plan when he starts decorating, most of the trees end up with some sort of a theme.
“Some trees have all antique ornaments,” he said. “There’s one that ended up being all porcelain dolls. I’ll put anything on a tree.”
“We really don’t buy anything anymore,” Corrinet added. “Every year, he’s recreating from what we have. Sometimes he will make new ornaments, but mostly he uses our collection.”
Even though the trees are different from party to party, there are some favorites that show up each year.
There is the “Chris and Tim” tree, the couple’s personal tree, with their presents lying beneath. “We collect ornaments when we travel,” Corrinet said.
There is also a friends and family tree. Per party tradition, the first time a guest attends, they must make an ornament that will hang on the tree forever.
“It’s a blessing,” McGovern said. “People come in and out of your life, but we look at the tree and we remember them all.”
This year’s trees also include fruit themes and Tiffany trees, with silver ornaments, snowflakes, and the famous blue boxes and bags.
McGovern said his favorite ornaments are the antiques.
“We had them when I was a kid and I hated them,” he said. “I thought the old ornaments meant we were poor, so after my first job, I got rid of them and bought others. I’ve regretted it ever since. They’re my favorites now.”
McGovern is an artist, and his talent and creative eye can be seen throughout his home. For example, there is a mitten tree, for which he handmade most of the ornaments. A friend commented how much she loved it, saying it reminded her of a beloved childhood book. Soon after, a package arrived containing “The Mitten Tree” by Candace Christiansen, and McGovern and Corrinet said they’d display it with the tree every year.
McGovern is also talented at reusing and recycling materials they already have. He emptied the linen closet in the guest bathroom, and, using an old window from a kitchen remodel, turned it into a tableau reminiscent of the old Enchanted Village at Jordan Marsh in Boston. During that same remodel, McGovern saw discarded spray foam insulation in the dumpster and thought, “That would look great with penguins.” He rescued the insulation, fashioned it into snow drifts, and set up a winter scene, with Christmas trees of course, in the master bedroom.
And then he created a candy store, complete with cases of treats and customers.
McGovern said he was gifted some Clear Toy Candy, a historic solid sugar candy molded into animals, machines, and holiday designs. After doing some research, McGovern bought some molds and made his own candy, along with a variety of faux chocolates.
“The cases are old storm windows,” he said. “This is usually my art studio; I’ll put it back after the holidays.”
The third floor has been set aside as a quiet, meditative space, with soft white lighting and soothing music.
“At Christmas, I feel more spiritual, and I wanted to reserve a space to be quiet and reflect,” he said. “You can think about who you want to think about.”
McGovern and Corrinet had two friends who had been looking for a place to renew their vows, and did so, on the spur of the moment, in that room.
“We were thrilled,” McGovern said.
Decking the halls takes about two months, McGovern said, but “I’m never really done. I’m moving things until the doorbell rings [for the party], and then I have to be done.”
After the holidays, McGovern said, it takes almost as much time to take the trees and decorations down. He has an involved organization system; ornaments are sorted by color, texture, and materials, among other attributes, and stored in the “ornament room” in the basement.
“I love putting it up, but I hate taking it down,” he said.
The couple has no plans to retire their biennial celebration.
“We have friends who say that this is the beginning of their holiday season,” McGovern said. “It’s so nice to be part of someone’s tradition.”
His husband agreed. “It’s our gift to our family and friends,” Corrinet said. “It takes time, and it’s an expense, but we so enjoy having people come and see it.”
Christine M. Quirk is the former editor of MotherTown and has written for the Telegram & Gazette, Bay State Parent, and the Times & Courier. She is a novelist and an instructional aide at Abby Kelley Foster Charter Elementary School in Worcester. She can be reached at cmqwriter@gmail.com
