Christmas Trees

Many people see the Christmas tree as the most important of all their Christmas decorations, and I can see why, as usually it is the biggest decoration in the house, and maybe even the one that costs the most money.
Most people have a distinct style of Christmas Tree, often favouring the same sort of style year after year, whereas there are some people who change their Christmas Tree year after year following the different trends. Speaking of which do you remember the other year when one of the high street stores featured upside down Christmas Trees in their shop windows, the country went mad for them! I was not one of them though, as I firmly believe that Christmas Trees should stand from the ground up!
Some people prefer real Christmas Trees to Artificial Trees, maybe its something to do with the smell of them, or the pine needles, or the fact that they don’t have to pack them away at the end of Christmas, or maybe its even for environmental reasons.
Choosing a real Christmas tree can be a daunting task if you don’t know what you are looking for or what the best tree is for your needs, as some real trees apparently don’t shed needles, while others do, so if you’ve got a pet its best to try and find one that retains its needles. I found this useful article today on Choosing a Christmas tree if you need help and advice.
I’ve found a great online shopping site that has a vast range of artificial, LED, traditional and pre-lit Christmas Trees, and the great news is their Christmas Range is out now. I love the Retro Pre-Lit Christmas Tree they have for sale - the multi coloured lights take me right back to my childhood.
Happy days, it’s a lot less stressful when you can shop early.

Christmas Decorations - Traditional Or Modern

Christmas Decorations - what's your style?

Do you prefer traditional or modern Christmas decorations?

I used to favour traditional Christmas trimmings, using themes of red, gold and green, with bows, swags and hand-me-down baubles. Nowadays I have changed my viewpoint and prefer a modern Christmas look for my home, and I've relegated all my old decorations to the attic (well you never know, I might change my mind again and decide I want red and gold and ribbons!)

Traditional Christmas Decorations.
For me, traditional Christmas decorations are a safe option - guaranteed to make your home feel comfortable, festive and welcoming. Real Christmas trees draped with fairy lights, gold tinsel and rich red ribbons tied in bows. Glass baubles in red, gold and green, and hand-me-down tree ornaments passed down through the generations.
The benefit of using a traditional Christmas decor scheme is that it's easy to mix and match, and easy to update the look with just a couple of new items each year. You might choose to rotate some items, keeping some aside for next year, choosing different combinations of tinsel and baubles each time. Home made and antique decorations and ornaments blend seamlessly with a traditional Christmas decoration scheme. To compliment the tree, drape swags and wreaths around shelves, mantles and door frames to co-ordinate the traditional look.

Modern Christmas Decorations.
If your home is decorated in a modern style, or perhaps you're just bored of red and gold, there's a whole world of modern Christmas trimmings out there. Every colour you can imagine - black Christmas trees are a popular choice these days. Christmas lights are far more exotic and spectacular than a few years ago - chasing lights, fibre-optic lights and even solar Christmas lights can be found on the high street. Plus, all kinds of beautiful modern tree ornaments and baubles, wall hangings, window decorations and free standing Christmas trimmings.
Why not try black, silver and purple? Or blue and white shimmering baubles for a frosty look? Whatever colours you love, you can find Christmas trees and baubles to match.

Don't get stuck in a rut this year - try something new with your Christmas decorations!

Great British Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

These days, many argue that Christmas has lost it's original meaning and has become too commercialised and focused on gifts, money and partying. Yet there are some long-standing Christmas traditions that remain strong, even in these days of online shopping and last minute spending.

In the UK, Christmas shopping begins early - the shops often start stocking Christmas items early in Autumn, and, once halloween and Guy Fawkes are out of the way, all the shops and supermarkets really ramp up their efforts and Christmas shopping mania really begins! (Of course when it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts, there's no reason why you can't shop for Christmas all year round - just keep an eye out for suitable gifts throughout the year and have a special cupboard, box, or space in the attic to store everything ready for Christmas!)

Christmas shopping aside, Brits get busy preparing Christmas puddings and cakes many weeks before Christmas, as well as ordering the turkey!

Preparations for school nativity plays and Christmas fayres and fetes begins in the autumn term and often the main event is played out in late November or early December.

November is also a good time to start thinking about Christmas cards - particularly if you have relatives or friends overseas. It'also a good time for children to consider writing a letter to Santa Claus - here the child can say which presents they would really like for Christmas this year and declare that they have been a good boy or girl!

Decorating the home with festive trimmings usually comes later - mid-December seems to be the most popular time, although there are always some people who like to get their Christmas decorations sorted by the start of December - including tonnes of outdoor lights and novelties!

Closer to Christmas itself, on Christmas Eve it is traditional in the Uk for children to hang up their stockings - so that Father Christmas can leave them a little something. Often, a mince pie and drink are left for Santa too - and even a carrot for Rudulf and his colleagues! Meanwhile, preparations for Christmas lunch begin - vegetables peeled and prepared, turkey prepared for a long slow roast in the oven ahead of the big meal on Christmas day.

On Christmas morning, the celebrations normally begin with the family opening gifts and sharing Christmas greetings.

Christmas lunch is usually served at lunchtime and is a chance to show off all the family's best crockery, glasses and tableware. Often the dinner table features festive decorations or centrepieces with candles. Each Christmas lunch guest usually receives a Christmas cracker which can be pulled with fellow guests. Christmas crackers normally contain a small gift, a party hat and a bad joke!

Another Great British Christmas tradition occurs mid-afternoon when families sit down to watch The Queen's Speech - a long standing tradition where the British Monarch addresses the nation.

Other Christmas traditions popular in the UK, old and new include the hanging of mistletoe for romantic Christmas kisses, watching classic film 'The Great Escape' on TV, secret santa gift schemes, office parties, and, for the very lucky, perhaps even a holiday in the sun to see in the new year!

Traditional Religious Christmas Icons

Ever wondered why poinsetta and mistletoe are used to symbolise Christmas?

Here's a nice article / gallery of images with detailed commentary about traditional religious Christmas symbols, from poinsetta and mistletoe to robin red breasts and Christmas stockings...

www.bbc.co.uk/religion/galleries/christmas/

What is Christmas?

What is Christmas? What does Christmas mean to you?

Some argue that the Christmas that we all know and love, with frantic present buying and rushing around has little to do with the true meaning of Christmas.

Here's Wikipedia's take on Christmas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

Christmas means something different to each of us - for some it's about remembering the birth of Christ. For others who are less religious, it's a break from work and a chance to chill out and relax with family and friends.

What does Christmas mean to you?