Guest Post: Six Classic Christmas Decorations

At Christmas time, the home can become a veritable fairyland of decorations, as we all know. It is really the only time of year when we can get away with making our homes garish – maybe even vulgar – all in the name of Christmas cheer.

Thankfully, decorating at Christmas time is one thing the modern world, with all its technology and communications and virtual reality, hasn’t quite managed to dull our enthusiasm for just yet. Walk around your neighbourhood any balmy December evening and you are likely to come across at least one house’s exterior lighting up the street with the most gloriously extravagant decorations you can imagine.

It’s the same indoors too. So anticipating another bumper year for celebrations in 2012, here are six of our favourite Christmas decorations that remain ever-popular on today’s market. If you are interested in buying, head on over to OO’s Christmas Decoration store.

Tinsel

Is tinsel perhaps the most versatile and reliable of all Christmas decorations? This flexible, light-weight and festive stuff can go practically anywhere, from topping off a well-ornamented tree to between banisters on stairs to being draped across the ceiling. Tinsel as we know it today began life in Nuremberg, Germany way back in 1610. Today, the tinsel phenomenon shows no sign of abating, available in a dazzling array of colours and styles all around the world.

Wreath

In the heavily Anglicised Australian culture, it is only natural that the Christmas wreath is popular. A firmly English Christmas tradition, the wreath is an attractive ring forged from leaves, twigs, fruit and flowers, that usually hangs on one’s front door, making them among the most tasteful and classic of outdoor Christmas decorations.

Angel

Many Christmas trees have for aeons featured an angel adorning its top. These ‘tree toppers’, as they are known, are of course firmly rooted in the Christian context, yet the form of the angel on top of the tree has taken on a more novelty feel in recent times, to the point that angels can be made out of a variety of substances (wool, plastic, wood) and come in all colours of the rainbow. The next most popular tree topper is the star.

Baubles

These essential spherical little things will never ever go out of fashion. Durable and easy to make, baubles have been a central decoration since 1847. The majority of them are made from plastic, with the really classy ones made from glass (although this makes them more breakable). They can come in an endless variety of styles and themes, while they are also very easy to make.

Home-made

Never underestimate the charm of the home-made Christmas decoration, specifically those made by children. So we’re talking dried pasta, rice, toilet paper rolls, glitter and much more. Year after year as these decorations are pulled out of the box, they become all the more treasured. So for every new expensive decoration you purchase, be sure to make sure it is matched by a home-grown effort too.

Candy canes

Small they may be, but few things embody the spirit of Christmas like the good old candy cane. Traditionally red and white, these things can go anywhere – be it on a tree or anywhere else. The best ones, obviously, are the edible ones.