In Poland we celebrate Name’s Days, they’re similar to Birthdays, but without a big cake. Santa also has his Name’s Day, it’s on 6th December and traditionally, kids receive gifts on that day. The extent of celebration is regionally dependent. In the area where I grew up, kids get some small gifts, usually sweets and preferably the Advent Calendar. For me it’s always been like Christmas starters, but it’s a very important day from a parent’s perspective and my Mom used to remind me to be good and to eat properly or else I’d get a discipline stick from the elves instead of sweets and that’s always a bad thing because Santa might give me another one should I not improve before Christmas. Not that such a stick had been used in any way other than a threat, but you have to admit it’s a pretty boring present.
Now that I have my own kids I continue that tradition and in the meantime, a new one was created. When my first daughter was 2 years old, she dug out an old, small, plastic Christmas Tree out of some old box. She insisted on decorating it although it was only the beginning of December and then she wouldn’t let us put it away till the end of January. It was a bit early but she was so happy we’ve been doing it ever since. Not that the little tree remained decorated all that time because she likes to play with the plastic ornaments, so she takes them off and puts them on the tree repeatedly. At least we don’t have to trim the main tree in the living room so early. This year there were two such trees that needed trimming as the younger girl wanted to have her own one. It’s a lot of work but we’ve got a specialist on board – Tree Trimming Barbie 1998.
Tree Trimming Barbie wasn’t on my wish list but she was a part of an auction I was bidding for and she was a very welcome bonus. Now that she arrived and I took a closer look at her, I think she’s really a great doll and quite unique too. In general, Tree Trimming Barbie is one of the budget dolls available at grocery stores or pharmacies back in the 90-s. They seem to have been pretty popular and a good compromise between quality and price. Say you’ve been invited to join your friends at Christmas and they have a kid that enjoys playing with dolls. You’d like to get something for the kid but you don’t want to spend too much on the gift. A lower cost Barbie seems perfect for such an occasion! Mattel realized this and so more Christmas Barbies were produced as well as Easter and Halloween themed dolls.
The first on the series was the 1993 Holiday Hostess Barbie packaged in a slim box with only a brush to accompany her. One year later, the Holiday Dreams Barbie left Mattel’s factories and though she looks equally modest and basic on the first sight, take a closer look. She’s truly ravishing and with her make-up, give her a better dress and put her in a large box and she’s ready to stand side by side with the luxurious looking Happy Holiday Barbie dolls. I’m planning to get her next year. Both Holiday Hostess and Holiday Dreams were available only as Caucasian blondes.
In 1995 the Caroling Fun Barbie was produced and only as Caucasian Superstar, just like the previous two Barbies. She was packaged in a lovely box. I especially like the graphics on the inner cardboard. Against that background, Barbie would make a very pretty postcard. I also adore the cute little outfit that Barbie got from her designers. She looks a bit chilly wearing earmuffs and gloves as her only protection against the cold and the snow. I like the combination of red and green and her hair looks wonderful. A simple face paint is all she needs to complete the look of a girl that enjoys caroling with friends on Christmas Eve. Hopefully, next year she’ll join my collection along with the Holiday Dreams Barbie.
1996 brings the long awaited change – we finally get the AA Barbie in the budget holiday line. Both the Caucasian Superstar and the African American Christie bear the name “Barbie” and wear identical clothes. I really like the real, knitted sweater but I find the white painted legs a bit strange. I mean, I kind of understand they can’t go wearing short skirts and no tights, but why paint the legs? Would it really hurt so much to give them real pantyhose that Mattel still knew how to make back in the 90s? At least the legs still do bend and Mattel didn’t cut the corners here, and the dolls do have gorgeous hair, so I guess it’s an acceptable compromise. In 1997 Mattel is quite generous and as a result of this generosity we get Festive Season Barbie (Caucasian and AA) as well as Holiday Treats – one of my top favorites (Caucasian blonde, Caucasian brunette and AA).
My knowledge goes as far as 1998 and Tree Trimming Barbie because that year marks the end of the era I like the best and my interests hardly ever go beyond the 90s. The doll, available as a blonde Caucasian Superstar and AA Christie (both called Barbie) were packaged in a slim box, but it had a little modified shape to accommodate a Christmas Tree and ornaments inside. The doll is, after all, supposed to be decorating her Christmas Tree and she was equipped to do so. The inner cardboard is one large punch-out of the said tree and the necessary ornaments that you’re supposed to put through special perforated holes. The idea is very nice and I almost felt like checking it out, but the box is in a perfect condition and it would be a waste changing that. I keep every single box my dolls arrive in even if it had seen better days. It’s a part of the doll itself and a valuable source of information. It’s just, I don’t necessary think the doll and her box have to be inseparable.
Tree Trimming Barbie of course came with a hairbrush, just as the standards of the passing era dictate. She also has a 3D cardboard ornament to decorate her tree with. Although she doesn’t come heavily accessorized, I can hardly call her a budget doll, her stock outfit is amazing, well designed and the fabrics used are excellent. She’s wearing a real, knitted sweater and I imagine it’s time and money consuming to produce such a piece. The sweater is paired with bottle green velvet pants, very pleasant to the touch. Her burgundy boots look pretty unique, I had never seen that mold before, they are very 90s with the block shaped heels. It’s easy to put them on and they do stay on. A simple hair band finishes the look. When I look at her, I wish the contemporary collector’s Holiday Barbies would get such quality clothes. But instead they only look impressive in their boxes. Once you take them out, the rustling, plastic feeling “gowns” are a big disappointment.
Tree Trimming Barbie is an interesting mixture of the features of both – the passing and arriving eras in Barbie history. The well-known and loved headmold is painted in a style entirely new with sharp lines, dots and lots of details. Her eyebrows are well defined and you will notice the precise strokes that add authenticity to her look. Barbie’s make-up is minimal, her lips are full and her eyes are incredibly green. The facepaint is paired with exceptionally short hair, for Barbie standards that is and I recall I’ve seen the doll nude available on some eBay auctions described as having had a haircut. Funny, because she’s meant to have such short hair. It’s made of kanekalon, and the fringe is pretty stiff, but I like Barbie’s unique look. You don’t get many Barbie dolls with a hairstyle like this. One last thing, it’s also easy to identify Tree Trimming by her body – she has one arm bent and the other straight. Comes in handy when tree trimming, doesn’t it.
The tiny trees have been decorated, my daughters are singing “Last Christmas” with their faces all in chocolate from the Advent Calendars and I feel Christmas is really coming and it’s neither too early nor too late. Normally, stores are already stocked with chocolate Santas and Christmas ornaments once the pumpkins disappear and you are forced to listen to Christmas songs already in November so in December you’re just fed up with them, but this year is completely different. I hardly ever go shopping, my husband does it most of the time and definitely less frequently. I haven’t seen too much of Christmas in the stores which makes me really long for it. I’m sure I’m going to enjoy it better when it does come although we’re going to be a small party this year, just the four of us. Something’s got to give in I guess.
Thank you to share with us all the pictures. It is amazing. 🤩
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