The Everything Family Christmas Book (59 page)

Entertaining

Avoid the dangers of food poisoning by observing cooking times and temperatures carefully, especially with turkey and stuffing. Be especially careful if you or someone you know has food allergies, particularly to nuts, which are used in many holiday foods.

Keep candies and nuts out of the way of small children, who might choke on them, and keep alcohol out of their reach, too. And if you’re enjoying a little Christmas cheer, designate a sober driver: Never drink and drive, and never let anyone else drive while under the influence, either.

14
Decking the Halls

N
o matter where you live, whether you celebrate Christmas where there’s snow on the hills or waves on the beaches, the holiday season just wouldn’t feel right without certain decorations. There are some that families pass down between generations, and others that tempt you in the stores (soon to become your own heirlooms)—but they all seem to say “Christmas is really here” when you open up the boxes. Here are some more ideas for decorating the house, inside and out.

Light Up Christmas

Christmas lights have come a long, long way since the first string of electric lights was introduced for sale in 1903 (they hit the White House Christmas tree a little earlier, in 1895). Today, there are lights for indoors and out, lights that wink and blink, and lights that loop from roofs and drape in nets over bushes. One of the best innovations is also one of the most recent: LED lights. LED is short for light-emitting-diode, but what you really need to know is that they consume less than 10 percent of the electricity that conventional lights use: This is great news for both utility bills and the environment. Plus, they look great and tend to burn cooler than conventional bulbs, which makes them less of a fire risk.

Lights come in a stunning array of styles from traditional, classic, white mini-lights to strings of big multicolored bulbs to garlands of red-hot chili peppers to color-changing floodlights. There’s definitely a style to fit your taste! To make hanging them easier, there are also all kinds of clips for windows, gutters, brickwork, and more.

Just remember to plan your lights carefully. If you need to use extension cords, make sure that they’re in good shape, and that they’re as short as possible. Don’t run them under carpets or leave them where they could be a tripping hazard. Also check to make sure they’re rated properly for where you’re using them (don’t use indoor cords outdoors, for example). Ensure that you don’t overload any electrical circuits by plugging in too many strands of lights at the same time.

Detangling Christmas lights has to be one of the season’s most finicky jobs. It’s best if you have some room to work, so that you can lay lights out on a tabletop or the floor—you can then see where the tangles are and work them loose. When you put the lights away this year, wrap them around a sturdy piece of cardboard or a store-bought light holder to keep them from tangling up with themselves or other cords.

The best time to check the lights is before you hang them. Plug them in to see if they’re working, make sure that the bulbs and the electrical wires between them are in good condition, and replace any burned-out bulbs. Then, if it’s time to get the ladder out, be safe: Position the ladder carefully; have someone hold it for you; and don’t over-reach (move the ladder instead).

The Christmas Tree

Whether you buy your tree from a roadside stand or store lot, trek to your own private grove to chop one down yourself, or unwrap it from a box purchased at a department store, you’ll want to pick one that’s right for your living space. Measure the floor-to-ceiling dimension before you select a tree, and be sure to leave a good bit of room at the top for the angel, star, or other tree-top ornament.

Assuming yours is a live tree, you should cut the base of the tree’s trunk on a diagonal angle once you get it home, and immediately place it in water. If it’s cold, the branches are likely quite tightly tucked against the trunk: Let the branches drop for a few hours, preferably overnight, by standing the tree inside the house (in water) before you try decorating it.

Look for a sturdy tree stand that will help steady the tree and provide a good water reservoir, to reduce the amount of watering you have to do. Some natural trees now come with a plastic bag that helps protect them on the journey to your house. Once the tree is up, slide the plastic bag down and leave it on the floor under the tree (it’s also a good idea to put a layer of newspapers or other protective surface between the tree stand and the floor). When it’s time to take the tree down, you can simply slide the plastic bag back up over the tree, catching most of the stray needles before they bury themselves in your carpet.

Once the tree is up and its branches have dropped, you can decorate to your heart’s content, with Christmas-tree skirts, lights, garlands, and more. Indulge in a favorite theme or just decorate as your whims take you.

All Around the House

In many houses, the Christmas tree is the focal point of the decorations, but it’s certainly not alone. Depending on your decorating style, available time, and budget, you can decorate the whole house, a single room, or just the main living area. You can even theme the areas, with a child-friendly style in the playroom, for example, and a more sophisticated look in the living room.

Sometimes it’s the littlest touches that make a big difference. You could, for example, tie up cinnamon sticks with a holiday bow and place them on the stovetop or on the mantel. Their fragrance is lovely, and the look is one of old-fashioned charm.

Virtually every surface of the home has potential for decorating. Your usual wall art can be switched with special art that you only display at Christmas; you can add garland swags to stair rails and mantels; even china, glassware, and cutlery can be switched for festive fare. Nativity scenes and Christmas villages can be added to each year (which makes for a great gift idea, too).

Cards, of course, can be placed on tables and shelves, but they can also form part of the décor: Try hanging them by their folds over a piece of string that’s pinned to a wall or ceiling (choose a place that won’t show the pinhole when the cards come down). Cards can also be taped one beneath the other, with the top card pinned or taped to the wall, to create a cascade of cards down the wall.

Candles are always welcome at the holidays, but do keep safety in mind. Never put them where they could catch an item such as curtains alight, and never leave them unattended. They look very welcoming in windows, but it’s best to use battery-operated electric candles there: The effect is almost the same, but it’s much safer.

Keep in mind that less can be more when it comes to decorating. If you feel like indulging your inner Christmas diva, then go for it, but don’t be afraid to stick with something simple. Remember: This is all about what makes you happiest when you step inside your home.

Take Christmas Outside

Thanks to the availability of lighted outdoor ornaments—life-sized, head-nodding deer, inflatable snowmen and Santas—you can easily turn your yard into the Christmas grotto of your dreams. Or, you could stick with something simple and classic: Either way, planning is essential, especially if you live in a cold climate where December will have you freezing your fingers as you try to manage clips and lights that are brittle with the cold.

If you’re stringing lights, it really is best to get them up when you have a spell of decent weather. You don’t have to turn them on right away; just get them up while you can still climb a ladder in relative comfort. Other items, such as lawn ornaments, are easier to add later, whatever the weather.

If ladders and lights don’t appeal to you, don’t feel obligated by the season to string up those house lights. Green garlands and red bows—even a single, huge red bow wrapped around the trunk of a big tree in your front yard—can make just as pretty an outdoor package for the season. Another idea to try includes wrapping doors and mailboxes with Christmas paper or fabric and ribbons so they look like gifts (without, of course, interfering with the operation of whatever it is that you’ve wrapped).

Consider the security of your outdoor decorations, especially if they might be easy—and appealing—to steal (stranger things have happened, unfortunately). If you can fasten them somehow, that would be best; otherwise, consider the display’s value. If it has great sentimental value and you can’t secure it, you may want to think twice about putting it out front.

Natural Trimmings

Shopping in your own backyard is one opportunity for great Christmas decorations. From evergreen branches and cones to berries and the seedpods of architectural plants such as purple coneflower and poppies, there’s a hidden wealth of décor ideas out there to decorate windowsills, fireplace mantels, or other appropriate places in your home.

If your garden won’t provide what you need, check out other sources: Christmastree lots often sell branches and boughs, while craft stores may offer holly, cones, and even dried berries. Be very cautious about gathering items from parks or wild areas: Removing natural items from many areas is prohibited, so check and follow the rules—and never disturb anyone’s private property.