Christmas Decorating

Christmas decorating is almost as big a tradition as eggnog and candy canes. For some, even more! Here we explore the modern art of decorating with ideas, trends and news of how Christmas is done inside and out.

Ancestor Christmas Tree
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My Ancestor Christmas Tree

Years ago I had an epiphany listening to the SBMX Christmas Podcast about ancestral Christmas trees. The idea was simple: have a theme tree dedicated to your ancestors. My first impression was "Why didn't I think of this?" After all, I'm…
Tinsel
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The Real History of Tinsel

The word “tinsel” is believed to come from an old French word, “estincele”, which means “spark”. Indeed, a browse through media history reveals that tinsel was related to anything shiny – from military uniforms to décor. It…
Mistletoe
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The Rise and Fall of Mistletoe as a Christmas Tradition

Mistletoe is perhaps the most backwards of Christmas traditions. Most today associate mistletoe with a Christmas kiss – something that happens now rarely, if spontaneously – and only if mistletoe is included in festive activities (it rarely…
Too early to decorate for Christmas

Decorating at Home is the New Debate of Christmas

Big in the news today, November 14th, is word of a Home Owners Association in Texas making a family remove their Christmas decorations because they are up “too early”. The letter was received by the family on November 4th. That news has…
Christmas Ornament
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The Real History of Christmas Ornaments

The humble Christmas ornament rarely gets much thought for its significance and purpose. For many the Christmas ornament is merely decorative, a simple environmental adornment of the season. Most can look at an ornament and see it as nothing…

Five Things to Consider Before You Build That Mega Christmas Light Display

Ron Behringer thinks back to his epic Christmas displays of the late 1990s with great fondness. “It was a new age for Christmas lighting,” he says. “Computer technology was really cutting edge. It was expensive but it was so exciting.…
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Celebrating Christmas Year Round

For some people the Christmas tree never comes down. Their reasons vary. And others just think it is weird. “Right around this time of year you start hearing the uncomfortable comments,” Mitzi Unger, 64, said from her Louisiana…
Christmas tree
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Five Reasons NOT to take Down Your Christmas Tree Yet

We live on a busy Main Street in our little town. We have a large picture window at the front of our house. Each Thanksgiving weekend we look forward to the beacon of light our Christmas tree becomes along our bustling street. But as the…
Holiday Humor
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Star Wars Funk

We've been on the prowl for the great Christmas light videos of 2015 -- where are they? It's been pretty light this year, no pun intended. Here's one but there's little information to share with you about who did it or where it is from. It has…
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Johnson Light Show Fires Up in San Antonio

The Johnson Family Christmas Lights are pretty famous. They were a hit in San Antonio long before being featured on the Great Christmas Light Fight. This display likes to bill itself as "non-traditional" and right away it smacks the viewer…
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History of the American Christmas Tree

The story of Christmas trees in America usually takes us down the path of Hessian soldiers who showcased Christmas trees to George Washington's troops during his famous Christmas trek across the Delaware. Historians explain that Christmas…
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How Fast Does a Christmas Tree Burn?

Every holiday season stories of tragedy hit the news as homes are burned and lives are lost to fires fueled by dry Christmas trees. Experts think that more critical care with Christmas trees can spare lives -- even with simple strategies such…
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A Different Kind of History of Christmas Trees

Pick a history resource out there and you will find a history of Christmas trees that dates back to pagan traditions of the Winter Solstice. The History Channel says Christmas trees took root from ancient use of evergreens as an end-of-year…
Tips for Keeping Your Tree Fresh
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Tips for Keeping Your Christmas Tree Fresh

By Walt Frazer, California Tree Grower The great debate of Christmas trees will usually lead to what is "wrong" with a real or artificial tree. The hard truth of the matter is that no Christmas tree is imperfect. If there are problems with…
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What Thanksgiving Has to Do with Christmas

There are complaints aplenty out there about how Christmas has stolen time and appreciation from Thanksgiving. Those who cry foul by claiming "Christmas creep" miss the larger lessons of history -- and they fail to really see the absurdity of…