Now, the essence, the very spirit of Christmas is that we first make believe a thing is so, and lo, it presently turns out to be so. -Stephen Leacock
Santa: I can explain.
It was my first real live Christmas tree, and well, I didn’t know that it needed to be watered. No one told me, and, let’s chalk it up to me being blonde, but my tree is just doesn’t sparkle with magic anymore, and it barely made it through the day today. 
As the balls weigh the bare branches down to the ground, and any movement in the living room envokes the snowing of pine needles upon the floor, my dead little Charlie Brown Christmas tree has actually brought me great joy. Somehow, the backwardness of it all has made the essence of Christmas come just a little bit more alive in my home because it has brought endless laughter along with each falling needle.
My dried up Christmas tree is not worthless, it simply reminded me that the Christmas spirit is not dependant upon a tree, any number of presents, or holiday feast, but rather that Christmas is a message to be honored all year round. As with life, it is just a matter of perspective. I echo Charles Dickens’ words and I stand by my dead, bare-bone tree with pride because, as Dickens said: “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year.”
Next year Santa, I will do better.