Deck the Halls
Advent Wreaths
Christmas Tree
Outdoor Lighting

The Start of an Ornament Collection

A tree with a height of about 2 meters (6 feet) will need anywhere from 50 to 100 ornaments, depending on your taste. If you ever bought any Christmas decorations, you will know that the material is not cheap. That's no reason to panic. A collection does not need to be finished in one year. It is advisable to begin with a smaller tree if you are just starting out. What's important now is deciding on a color and/or a theme for your tree. If possible do not choose the fashion trend of the year. Something more timeless will be enjoyed over many years to come. Once you reach a solution, you can start to collect...

Color choices

Red and green are traditional. Red is the symbol for the blood of kinship, the bonding of family, and the act of charity. Green stands for nature, the revel of youth, and the promise of eternal life.

Gold (the symbol for that which is most holy and most precious) and a soft brown represent elegance, silver and white stand for purity, joy and light.

Themes for Christmas tree decoration

Ideas include: Nutcracker ballet, music, forest, flowers, fairy tale, a collection of things your children have made over the years. The possibilities are endless.

The rarer your theme the more time you will need finding material for your collection.

Once decided on the colors and/or a theme, the shopping starts. As November approaches start your shopping to avoid disappointment. Do not depend on the after Christmas sale, usually all there is left is the junk that nobody wanted.

Before you go to the stores, make a shopping list and decide on a budget. What do you need? Candles? Lights? Ornaments? Wire?

To save a bit of money do not buy the regular glass balls (picture left) at a fancy-decorating store. You can find excellent quality decorations at your local supermarket. For more delicate and special ornaments (picture on top) shop at your local florist or gift store. Some cities even have year round Christmas stores. Beware though, the Christmas stores offer plastic ornaments! A big no-no for my tree.

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