Jule Tide

The Evergreen Traditions of Christmas

September 3rd, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

White Christmas: Decorating and Entertaining for the Holiday Season

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Christmas Decorating for the Home

Most people base their Christmas decorating around that spruce little pine we like to call the Christmas tree. Stemming from nineteenth century Germany, it has captured the imaginations of generations throughout the world like no other Christmas decoration. Not surprisingly, over the years, people have come up with a gazillion ways to adorn their Christmas trees. Just a few of the more down-to-earth decorating ideas are featured on this page with a view to making your Christmas decorating for the home fun and effective.

More than a Purchase

First of all, unless you own a pine plantation, you’ll need to buy a tree. If you’re lucky enough to live near a farm that grows Christmas trees, this step will entail a trip to your local shopping hub. We always try and make this as cosy and festive as possible. We go at twilight when the kids have finished school, sing carols in the car and when we get the tree home we prop it against the wall in the kitchen and drink hot chocolate from Christmas mugs – the same mugs that come out every year at this time. We are marking the moment of the house’s transformation.

Once the chocolate has been drunk, the real work begins.

The Evergreen Party Piece

My sister holds a Christmas tree decorations party every year for the kids. They love getting together, rolling up their sleeves and enjoying Christmas decorating for the home. The children each take turns choosing ornaments to hang and they love arranging a hideous collision between Santa’s toy train and his renegade elf-driven sleigh, half buried in mountains of cotton woo – er - snow underneath the illuminated evergreen.

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The Artificial Art

There are many kinds of artificial evergreens available on the market and you can work with a colour theme as well. Many people like something a little unusual so they may choose a silver or white version of the ultimate detail. Christmas decorating for the home is about character and personal taste. You don’t have to go green.

The Christmas Tree in Miniature

Actually, one of the Christmas decorating activities I enjoy most is to make a special miniature tree for the little ones. My daughter has a pink tree that she decorates with small, shiny pink and silver ornaments. She loves doing this and the tree is so cute and girly that it just has to make you smile.

Topping it all off

My nephew has a mini white version that he decorates with blue lights and details. He is getting older which means that he may be ready for taking on new Christmas decorating for the home activities as well. The biggest moment for him is putting the star on top of the family tree in the living room.

Evergreen Moments

If you pressed me for my choice of tree, I’d have to go with the traditional evergreen. I love that fresh pine fragrance, the warmth that introducing all that living wood brings into your home, the splinters you get setting it up and the countless needles that get trodden into every rug and carpet in the house. Starting Christmas decorating for the home means always starting with these fundamental elements. This year, I think I might base my decorating around a red and white theme – very Danish - and work around that. I close my eyes and see lots of evergreen branches bowing under the weight of red bows and the twinkle of white fairy lights.

Sharing the Christmas Spirit

Christmas decorating for the home is the best way to launch your family into the festive season. In the coming weeks, the atmosphere you create around your home will be something your children will carry with them for the rest of their lives. The Christmas tree can become a symbol of security and inspiration for all of us.

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Eoin Beckett is a freelance author and editor. Although he stems from Ireland, he currently lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark. Read more about Christmas Decoration for the Home at Juletide - the ancient and magical word for Christmas.