The little old woman and the Christmas tree true story written and illustrated by Gina Hablanian
		On the day before Christmas on a cold Russian morning a little old woman went to market to do holiday shopping.
		Icicles hung from rooftops. When darkness fell the nieces she lived with became worried "What kept her from home?"
		They warmed up some tea on the kettle called samovar and impatiently waited for the return of their aunt. Finally the doorbell rang.
		Standing at the threshold was the little old woman. Her cheeks were red and her eyelids heavy. Her kerchief, called a babooshka, was tightly wrapped around her head. For some reason she looked quite enormous.
		She was rushed to be warmed by the heat of the stove, when what emerged from under her coat but a little evergreen fir tree, amazing to behold.
		These were times in Russia when by official decree called 'ukaz,' Christmas trees were a criminal act. "How did you manage to find one?" they asked her in awe. She was exhausted from dragging it for miles in the snow.
		The nieces admonished her for taking such risks, but were pleased nevertheless, for now they could have a traditional Christmas at last.
		Later that night all the Christmas tree ornaments were dug up from storage. The hanging of each bulb and toy brought back many a warm memory of old.
		When the children awoke early next morning, they beheld the magical sight. In the middle of the living room shimmered the tree, its tiny old-fashioned candles glowing.
		The little old woman lay down to sleep, dreaming of her adventures through icy woods and city streets. Then she heard an angelic chorus sing "Peace on earth and to all a good cheer."
This true story was told to the author by her aunt. The little old woman was an Armenian named 'Oukoun' Sechpenian. Her nieces' maiden name was Usunian. They had escaped from the Turkish genocide and were living in Soviet Russia of the 1920's at the time of the Christmas tree episode. Eventually after WWII the extended family settled in the United States.