Christmas Decorating

Christmas decorating in America: festive both inside and out

Winter in North America is a time of year when things typically slow down, the weather is cold and clear and Christmas day memories are made. It is a time for decorating: the yard, the exterior and interior of the house; even cars get decorated for the holidays!

Some outdoor ideas for Christmas decorating would include lovely pre-lit holly garland for both the threshold of the front door and the porch banisters. Artificial metal trees trimmed in different colored lights add a festive touch for night-time visits. Silken Christmas wreaths offer a more permanent solution for seasonal decorating, and strands of lights can be woven through that operate on battery power to cut-down on dangerous cords.

For the more daring, mechanical reindeer light up the winter night next to Christmas favorites such as penguins, polar bears and Santas that appear to move via synchronized lighting.

Many families have Christmas holiday decorating traditions that reflect personal preferences that have been passed down for generations. Some have a tree cutting ritual that is performed every year, and others have artificial trees that are stored in a special place, that come already wrapped in hundreds of twinkling lights. Modern, pre-packaged trees run the gamut in design and size. There are a myriad of lighting sources to choose from, including colored lights, musical garlands, and tree toppers that blink and change colors.

In anticipation of Santa's visit, American children to go to bed as early as possible on December 24th, in expectation of the bundle of gifts that will await them the next morning. Not only are presents, both wrapped and unwrapped displayed under the tree, but they also run to find what small trinkets are hidden in their stockings. There are numerous ways to decorate the mantle in preparation for the stocking stuffing that's to come. It is easy to find stockings decorated in an array of designs, sure to delight even the most stoic of holiday-goers. Mantle runners are a beautiful display piece from which to perch tapered candles on brass or crystal holders. Snowglobes could be nestled in-between the candles to reflect the soft beauty of natural light.

The use of a Christmas tree started in Germany, but didn’t spread into American homes until Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert decorated Windsor castle with one in 1841. Its popularity spread to well-to-do homes in London, and then on to America by 1849. Americans also added to the festive decor by creating tree skirts, small quilts that add a special touch to the look, while simultaneously protecting the wooden floors from candle drippings. Tinsel, baubles, glass Christmas ornaments and various garlands bring the tree to life. A nice touch is to place a Christmas village or other ceramic pieces atop the skirt, or maybe even a small train track.

From fiber optic trees to expensive, inflatable yard ornaments, there are unlimited possibilities to preparing for what many people say is the most widely celebrated holiday of the year. Whether you use simple candles, handmade ornaments or buy the most expensive of decor, remember that Christmas decorating can be a pleasure both inside and out.