This is a German tradition that has become popular all over the world – an advent wreath is so much more attractive than any wreath you can buy and it has a wonderful fresh pine/cedar smell! The word “Advent” comes from the Latin “adventus”, which means “arrival” and various traditions attach a variety of meanings to the Advent Wreath.

Generally speaking, the circle of the evergreens is symbolic of Christ’s never-ending love and forgiveness, while the four red candles, lit successively on each of the 4 Sundays of Advent (the four weeks before Christmas), represent hope or expectation, peace, love and joy.
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Christmas without candles would just not feel like Christmas at all!

Many cultures still light real candles on their Christmas trees and even those that opt for electric Christmas lights, use candles for additional decoration. Candles on the tree are usually either red or white (not mixed!) and gold candles also come into play elsewhere.
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We typically center our Christmas decorations around our tree. We have at times used an artificial tree, but very much prefer a real tree.

A big part of the fun of having a real tree is the trek out to pick it out as a family. We usually go out right after Thanksgiving, and often try to find a Christmas tree stand that is selling them as a fundraiser.

Once we have the best tree picked out, which can take a fair bit of time standing out in the cold North Dakota winter searching for a tree without too many bad spots, we bring it home and let it thaw out.

Decorating the tree is also a family affair. We use simple strands of lights and garland, and lots of ornaments. We have an ever growing number of ornaments! Read More »

I make my own Christmas lanterns with wrapping paper that glistens. Cut a square about half a meter, fold the square in half sellotape sides together.

With some scissors cut a length leaving a one cm gap on the edge cut strips all along to the edge. Stand lantern up pressing the top down so the strips fray out in a lantern shape.

These lanterns can be hung or stood, if hanging thread some cotton from one edge to the other edge.

I have made a lot of these lanterns in different colored paper and stood them in windows with glitter streamers making the look very colorful and effective. Read More »

Shopping for Christmas decorations is a very enjoyable time for me. I usually shop at dollar stores, thrift stores, or flea markets for decorations.

In my eyes, some of the best things money can buy are found at thrift stores or flea markets, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

Every Christmas I look for a different decorating theme. Some favorite themes of mine are: Victorian-era themes, retro themes, western themes, or a classic look with the colors red and gold as the focal point. Read More »

Christmas is a special time for our family. We are of Norwegian ancestry and it means a lot to us to follow the traditions of our parents country.

Traditionally we go out and cut down a Christmas tree about two weeks before Christmas – we have ornaments that have been passed down from generation to generation that we place on our tree.

Candles mounting on tin foil are placed on every branch (a wire is wrapped around the base of the candle, poked through the tin fold and then wired in place on the branches – in the old days they were lit but we light them only once on Christmas Day and then they are blown out but remain on the tree).

We string various nuts, paper ornaments and dried fruit which is placed on the branches in place of the artificial snow that most Americans used. Read More »

I prefer to use natural products for my Christmas decorations. I go into the outdoors where I live and collect greenery and greenery with berries to make wreaths for my doors and a garland for my staircase.

With these items I use Christmas ribbons and sometimes use white mini Christmas lights.

I also make a centerpiece for my dining room table with natural items such as greenery, pine cones and berries. Sometimes I add colored Christmas balls to my arrangement.
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I am in a small college apartment, so my choices of Christmas decorations are somewhat limited.

Still, I enjoy getting into the feel of the season and want to make my space special.

One type of tree is my favorite, and comes in a perfect size for any home. Most department stores with a garden section will sell rosemary trees around holiday time.

These herb shrubs are cut into a conical shape that makes everyone think “Christmas tree” when they see it. Read More »

Every Christmas my mom brings out her tubs upon tubs of different Christmas decorations that we like to put up all over the house.

She starts with the tub of stuffed Christmas items which include a gingerbread girl or boy for each of us four siblings and places them outside of our bedroom doors, where they stay for the entire season.

The next big tub that she breaks out would be that with all of the nativity pieces to create the many nativity scenes that are displayed through out our house.

Also included is the very long card holding display that my great grandmother made to hold all of our Christmas cards and is displayed in the dining room every year. Read More »

It all began in 1986. We were a young married couple with no children yet. At a Thanksgiving family get-together, I admired my cousin’s Christmas decoration which was a ceramic church.

I learned it was from a collection of decorations by Dept. 56 called “Snow Village”. I thought the church was very beautiful and classy looking without being overwhelmingly commercial.

It was just a beautiful white church with a simple Christmas wreath on the door. It was probably about 10 – 12 inches high.

The very next Christmas I was over-joyed when I opened several Christmas packages from some family members. I received three Dept. 56 “Snow Village” pieces – a church, a small Nativity scene and 3 carolers. Read More »