This One Strange Arizona Tradition Is A Complete Mystery But It’s Awesome Anyway
Arizona has its fair share of odd holiday traditions, including playing in fake snow and creating things out of tumbleweeds. But sometimes these traditions are a little less weird and showcase some of the humble celebrations we tend to do this time of year. That’s the case with this one Arizona tradition that has been going for more than 30 years.
The journey along Interstate 17 can be a long one. The highway stretches from Flagstaff down to Phoenix, bridging two very different environments and sometimes the sights on the road can feel repetitive.
However, that's not always the case once our cold season holidays start up. Sitting just beyond Sunset Point Rest Area in the median that separates the northbound and southbound lanes of the highway is a brief sight for sore eyes: a mysterious Christmas tree.
The tradition is long-standing but also mysterious. For more than 30 years, someone has been decorating a lone juniper tree on the highway, bringing a little bit of Christmas cheer to passersby. The decorations are elaborate and large enough for drivers and passengers to see as they speed by.
The most amazing part of the decoration is the fact that no one has been caught or stepped forward in the decades since the decorations began. Rumors have flown over the years about the people responsible, such as law enforcement or the transportation department but no one has stepped forward yet. Either way, it's a pleasant surprise for holiday travelers.
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
