Decorating your Christmas Tree with Meaning

Do you remember the fun and excitement every year when decorating the Christmas tree? All the tinsel and silver baubles. What did they mean? Were they just pretty decorations? This year put meaning into your tree decorations. At the same time, teach your children the true meaning of Christmas.

First of all the tree. Normally an evergreen pine tree. The evergreen symbolizing the everlasting life we have in Christ. The green color is a symbol of new life and a fresh start.

Start with a string of white lights. These symbolize how Jesus came into the world to be a light to everyone.

Add a string of colored lights. These symbolize the different people and nations of the world. Also that Christ told us to be a light for the rest of the world.

Gold tinsel indicates that we are royalty. Children of the King of Kings.

Now add candy canes. There is a lot of symbolism hidden in a simple candy cane. The cane is like the Shepard's crooks. Christ came as the Shepard for his flock. He was also the lamb led to the cross for us. Then the colors red and white. Christ shed his blood (red) to wash us as white as snow (white). If there are green stripes in the cane this symbolizes the everlasting life we have in Jesus.

Get small sheep and tie fishing gut on them to hang them in the tree. We are all Christ's sheep whom he came to save. Also he was the lamb led to the cross for us. Jesus shared his first home with cattle and possibly goats. Why not hang a few of these too?
Tip! If you are decorating a christmas tree that is real make sure it is fresh. You can tell if a tree is fresh or not by bending the branches.

Angels were the messengers to Mary, Joseph and the Shepard's. Get your children to make their own angels to hang in the tree?

The star of Bethlehem lead the wise men to baby Jesus. Hang several stars - both big and small - in the tree.

Gifts were brought to the baby. Wrap small boxes in gay wrapping paper to add color and variety to your tree.

Christ came to earth to die for us so we could have eternal life. Make a few crosses from twigs of wood and add them to your tree.

To top it all - place a star, angel or gold crown at the top of your tree.

Still have space? Then think of other items like a small bible, manger, camels, donkey, purple streamers indicating royalty, etc. Ask your children for their ideas too. They may just surprise you with their insight.

Blessings from Africa MissTy (Tania Collins) Tania is a single mom to 2 special red-heads (8 & 5 yrs). To support them she has 2 infant websites growing and developing at Total Baby Guide and at TotalBabyGuide. Why 2 sites? Check her blog for her story.

Christmas Tree Decorating - 4 Steps to the Perfect Christmas Tree

You have your Christmas tree in place, be it real or artificial, and now you need to decorate it. Follow the four steps below and achieve a beautifully decorated Christmas tree this year.

Step One: Lights. Place the lights on the Christmas tree first. Wind and secure the strands of lights to the branches in the centre of the tree coming out no further than mid way along the branches. The exception to this rule is when the lights are novelty lights such as lanterns or candles, which need to be displayed at the ends of the branches for best effect. Be generous with your lights as they give the tree an opulent effect and give it impact when viewed at night. I often use 2 to 3 strands of lights on a 6-foot Christmas tree.

Step two: Garlands. Next come the garlands. Drape them over the branches in a horizontal, looping fashion towards the centre of the tree. Placing garlands midway along the branches can make the tree appear fuller, while leaving space for hanging ornaments.

Step Three: Ornaments. Place the ornaments on the branches, both on the ends and towards midway to fill any gaps. Graduate the size of ornaments from small at the top to larger at the base. Working with one style of ornament at a time (eg gold balls), distribute them evenly over the tree. Follow with the next style of ornament such as bells and distribute them evenly. By working with one style at a time the ornaments are evenly mixed over the entire tree. Continue until the tree looks adequately "dressed". Stand back and view the tree from different viewpoints, identifying gaps and filling with additional ornaments. For an elegant tree keep the decorations simple. Limit the number of styles of ornament to two or three; or work with a particular color scheme to suit your décor.

Step Four: Final touches. A tree decorated to step three will look well decorated. However sometimes a final touch can make a difference and provide that extra "pizzazz". Finish the tree with final touches by attaching bows, candles (artificial for safety reasons) or flowers to the very ends of branches. What makes them a final touch? They are significantly different from the other ornaments to stand out and as such you do not need many but ensure they are distributed evenly over the tree. Another touch could be the draping of tinsel from each branch (individual strands not bunches) to imitate the effect of icicles. This can be tedious but worth the effort. Of course we cannot forget the Christmas tree topper in what ever shape or form - star, angel, etc.

All that is now required is to place the gifts beneath the branches, breakout the eggnog, sit back and enjoy the festive season. Merry Christmas everyone. May this year's Christmas tree be the best one ever.

Lee-Ann Raddatz comes from a family that has always celebrated Christmas in a big way. She now continues the tradition with her young family. Decorating the Christmas tree has been elevated to an artform in the family and is a source of greatly enjoyed, family rivalry. Visit her site http://simply-christmas-trees.com/ and http://mychristmas-crafts.com/ for more Christmas ideas.

Christmas Tree Traditions

Modern day Christmas trees originated in the 19th century Britain by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. During the Victorian era trees were the focus of celebration and were decorated with toys, cakes, bonbons and other sweet treats.

Young women in the households made decorations from paper, silk, feathers, and lace to hold the treats.

After 1865 glass trinkets, wire ornaments were began in Germany.

By the 1880's Woolworth's sold commercially produced Xmas tree ornaments.

In the early years real silver tinsel was used for Christmas decorating and the modern version was began in the 1950's. Spiders are sometime given credit for building webs in trees which sparkled in the morning dew and sunlight which inspired the invention of tinsel.

In America fake trees gained popularity early in the twentieth century but not in Britain until the 1950's. While plastic and aluminum were the trees of choice in America, the UK had a penchant for feather trees in the 1920's which quickly disappeared by the 1930's.

Originally in Victorian times candles were used for lights on trees. The invention of electricity brought fairy lights to America in the mid 1880's. By the 1920's candles were rarely used.

President Franklin Pierce brought the first Christmas tree in the White House during the mid-1850's. President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923.

The fairy at the top of the Christmas tree was originally a little figure of the baby Jesus.

Christmas tree farms originated during the depression. Nurserymen found that they could make a profit by cutting evergreens for Christmas trees when they couldn't sell them for landscaping.

But all Christmas trees were not started as a symbol of Christianity.

The Egyptians, Romans, Druids, and other cultures regarded the tree as a symbol of life. They brought green branches into their homes on the Winter Solstice as a symbol of life's triumph over death.
Tip! When choosing a Christmas tree skirt, consider if you want to it to be the center of attention by choosing a bright colored and patterned design or simply a background for your tree with a plain colored tree skirt.

Druid priests decorated oak trees with golden apples for their winter solstice agricultural festivities.

In the middle ages, evergreen trees were decorated with red apples on December 24 as the symbol of the Feast of Adam and Eve.

Even today, Christmas trees are unique to individual countries.

In Brazil where Christmas occurs during the summer, pine trees are decorated with little pieces of cotton to represent falling snow.

In Greenland Christmas trees have to be imported because no trees live this far north.

In South Africa, Christmas is a summer holiday. Instead of trees, windows are often draped with sparkling cotton, wool, and tinsel.

And in the Ukraine a Christmas tree is not complete unless it has a spider and web for good luck.

For more on Christmas Tree and other winter and holiday treats visit: http://www.apluswriting.net/christmas/xmastree.htm

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Tip! You may have heard that decorating a christmas tree with electric lightbulbs is much safer than decorating them the old fashioned way with candles. This is true as long as you obey one cardinal rule: don't rest a bulb directly against the branches of the tree.

Copyright: 2005 Marilyn Pokorney

Author: Marilyn Pokorney Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment. Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading. Website: http://www.apluswriting.net

Christmas Tree Ornament Tips

When it comes to decorating, we are all perfectionists about our Christmas tree. After all, it happens only once a year and the decorations are a treasure to behold. The finishing touch, for any Christmas tree, is the ornaments. Perhaps you have memories of a personalized ornament given to you as a child or maybe it's the tradition of hanging them with your family - making sure that each is perfectly spaced from its neighbor for that added touch of beauty. The Christmas ornaments for Christmas trees, which we choose, should be a reflection of ourselves and our family.

There are all types of Christmas ornaments for Christmas trees. From glass to unbreakable, there is something for everyone. Glass ornaments are among the most expensive, in part, because they require such intricate detail and add a touch of elegance to any Christmas tree. Glass ornaments pick up the reflection of lights and beam them across the room with, perhaps, even a twinkle or two. These ornaments are often hand-painted, which adds to their uniqueness.

There are a variety of unbreakable ornaments, also available, in a multitude of colors. If you have a child who loves to be near the Christmas tree, glass ornaments may not be the best option. Or, if you have a pet that enjoys the mystique of the tree a little too much, you may opt for something unbreakable. This is why there are plastic ornaments, which are much safer for your inquiring family members whether they be small or furry.

If you have children, there are plenty of ways to make beautiful Christmas ornaments for Christmas trees at home.

Using gold ribbon, tie a bow and place it on the tree. Repeat these steps until your tree is filled with golden memories of your child's imagination. You can also purchase plain white ceramic ornaments and, together with your children, paint them into beautiful Christmas ornaments for Christmas trees.

What's good enough to eat and also looks beautiful on a Christmas tree? Give up? It's a candy cane, of course. These pretty little symbols of Christmas are everywhere during the holiday season. If you can resist the temptation of eating them, candy canes make terrific Christmas ornaments for Christmas trees. Leave them as they are or tie little red bows around them for an added touch of Christmas.

If your child would like a personalized letter from Santa, contact one of Santa's helper services and inquire about Santa also sending your child a personalized ornament with his/her name engraved. This will truly be one of the most special ornaments on the tree and your child will treasure it forever.
Tip! When decorating a christmas tree it is best not to throw clumps of tinsel at the tree as if they were handfuls of spaghetti. The most attractive effect is achieved by hanging clumps of tinsel just at the very edges of each branch.

Christmas ornaments for Christmas trees truly are the icing on the cake. Let them reflect you, your family, your home and your love for the holidays. The most precious ornaments are those we decorate with love. Not so surprisingly, these are also the most beautiful.

For more great Christmas ornament related resources check out http://ornaments.christmashub.com

Christmas Tree Selection Guide

Before you select the perfect Christmas tree, consider a little planning to make room for your special guest. Choose the best area in your room for the tree, which would include a spot that is close to an electrical outlet. When you plug in your lights, you won't want a cord running along your floor, which could cause someone to trip and fall. There are so many things to think about when choosing a tree to celebrate your holidays. Do I want real or artificial? Should I buy pre-lit or plain? A few knowledgeable tips will guide you in the right direction.

Christmas Tree Tip #1: Artificial or Real

The first step is to decide whether you want a real or artificial tree. An artificial tree is beneficial to anyone who has allergies, but also if you just want to know that your tree will last for years. Artificial trees are nice because they do not have to be thrown out every year and they are always the same size and a perfect fit. On the other hand, there's nothing like the smell of a real Christmas tree. With real trees, there is a greater risk of fire and also the need to keep them hydrated regularly. A real Christmas tree requires a lot of maintenance and, if you're not up to it, an artificial may be the way to go.

Christmas Tree Tip #2: Will It Fit?

When selecting the perfect Christmas tree, choose one that will fit best in your home. Measure the spot for your tree before you go out shopping and keep those numbers close at hand. After you select an area in your home, measure the distance from your floor to the roof, along with the width of the space. Take a tape measure when you go to pick out your tree and make sure it will fit in the spot you chose.

Christmas Tree Tip #3: Is It Healthy?

If you're looking for a live tree, check the limbs to make sure they are nice and green. Also, look for any brown needles, which may be a sign of a tree that has not been freshly cut. A tree that is too dry could be a fire hazard, so watch out for any signs of needle loss or other symptoms of a damaged tree. You will want to choose one that looks healthy and full with beautiful branches, which will look festive when decorated. If you're planning to load the tree onto your car, place a protective sheet down on the top before adding the tree. This will protect your car from scratches, or sap, on the way home. Make sure that you choose a strong rope to secure the tree to your car.
Tip! Prelit Christmas trees come ready decorated, so you can have your tree ready in a matter of minutes, without the need to spend time hanging decorations and untangling last year's light bulbs.

Christmas Tree Tip #4: Picking the Right Color

If you are buying a real tree, they only come in one color. But, if you are buying an artificial tree, you have the alternate option of white. While white Christmas trees are not as traditional as the green, there is something to be said for their beauty. Consider a white tree with blue lights, blue ornaments and white garland. A white Christmas tree is classic and stunning, especially with the right combination of decorations.
Tip! Make sure to know the measurement of the area where the Christmas tree will be place.

Christmas Tree Tip #5: Prelit or Plain?

Another advantage to artificial trees is that they are available in pre-lit designs. This saves decorating time and ensures that the lights are always perfectly spaced. Additionally, if you don't feel up to wrapping the lights around the tree yourself, a pre-lit tree allows you to enjoy the beauty of Christmas without the work of decorating.

For more great Christmas tree and Christmas light resources check out http://trees.christmashub.com and http://lights.christmashub.com