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Opening presents beneath a real, beautifully lit Christmas tree is the highlight of the Christmas holidays for many people. However, many live Christmas trees end up dry and brittle long before Christmas Eve arrives because of improper care. Giving your tree the care it deserves will ensure that it stays fresh from Thanksgiving to Christmas morning.
Tis the season to be organized. For some families, Christmas is just another holiday, whether they choose to make a big fuss out it or not. But for many, it's one of the biggest holidays for getting together with family, friends and everyone else, and it calls for big plans. If you're trying to get prepared for Christmas, your best bet is to make a list and check it twice to be sure you've accounted for everything that needs to be done to host a magnificent holiday.
Every family has their own Christmas traditions. Many families enjoy making, decorating and eating a gingerbread house during the holiday season. Continue with a decades-old family tradition and make a traditional house or shake it up and have a party for your extended family where decorating gingerbread houses is the focal point of the party.
Christmastime -- a time for celebration, giving and gathering -- is also a time for you to show off your crafty side. Bejeweled ornaments, cross-stitched decorations, knitted sweaters and all the other adorable crafts you have created just for the joyous holiday. With intricate technique and a knack for aesthetics, your crafty productions -- including Christmas house crafts -- will surely receive compliments and praise from family and friends.
Setting up Christmas lights is a project that many people look forward to throughout the year. Some people even spend an extensive amount of time setting up their displays and want to ensure they have the best setup in the neighborhood. One way to take a Christmas light display one step further is to install a Christmas light kit that makes the lights flash in time with the music you play. There are a variety of different types of kits available, but the most convenient kinds are those that are wireless, as they do not require you to have extension…
Entertainment at a holiday party is typically holiday-themed, full of gift exchanges, Santa appearances and lots of delicious goodies. When planning a holiday house party, it is important to have a checklist for each of the entertainment elements of your party so that you can keep guests happy without stressing yourself out.
Count down to Christmas with a three-dimensional Advent house. Every day in December, you can open a new door or window on the house to reveal a holiday-themed image. You can also tape a small prize, such as a piece of candy or tiny toy, to the inside of each door or window. Building a Christmas Advent house involves the use of sharp tools, so supervise children as they work on this project.
The star is a traditional Christmas decoration representing the Star of Bethlehem in the the nativity story. According to the story, the star shone at the birth of Christ and led the Three Wise Men, or Magi, to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Adding a handmade star to your holiday light display can give your house a warm and classic look during the Christmas season.
There is no better way to fill your home with holiday cheer than with bright and festive Christmas decorations. No matter what your budget is or what you have to work with, a little creativity can go a long way in making your home warm and inviting. Holiday decorating with a theme can tie your look together and give your home the atmosphere you want.
Boston is a historical city that many people like to visit, especially during the holidays. If you are planning a visit to Boston at Christmas time, consider finding some holiday home tours. This is one way you can tour Boston, either by yourself or with a guide, on foot or by trolley and catch a glimpse of how Boston might have looked at Christmas in past centuries.
Choosing the best Christmas house lights may seem like a daunting task when you want to show off your holiday spirit. With so many available, finding the right combination to make your house look festive is a task not to take lightly.
Every year, Kamloops, British Columbia, hosts "Homes for the Holidays," a chance for residents and visitors to tour five different homes decorated in holiday cheer. Proceeds from ticket sales support local United Way agencies. Take the November tour to gain ideas for decorating your own home for Christmas. You can also offer up your home for decoration during the holidays or volunteer as a decorator or retailer to support the charitable cause.
Giving a Christmas plant as a gift is customary when you are not close to another, but still want to wish them a happy holiday season. This year add a short note to your plant describing the holiday meaning associated with the plant. It may be pagan, folklore or Christian based, but share the legend and inform them how the tradition began.
A creative way to decorate your home at Christmas time is to make cardboard houses for the holidays. Whether you want to make one house or a variety to create a village, you can work with used cardboard and basic supplies to create this inexpensive craft on your own or with children. While you can create a simple cardboard Christmas house in less than an hour, you'll likely spend more time on more intricate or realistic cardboard houses.
Living in an old farmhouse allows you to go back in time with your Christmas decorations. Avoid modern-looking objects and search for vintage (or vintage-looking) decorations to adorn your home. Vintage ornaments include those made of glass and cotton. Look for figurines depicting old-fashioned Santas, children on sleds, carol singers and angels to decorate your tree and home.
The month of December is the heart of holiday season. Chanukah, or Hanukkah, is the Jewish festival of light that begins in late November or early December and lasts eight days. Christmas is the Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. While most Jews do not celebrate Christmas, and most Christians do not celebrate Chanukah, a mixture of decorations are seen around December reflecting both religious holidays.
Many historic societies in Pennsylvania communities know well that touring other people's houses is just plain fun, especially when they are decked out for the holiday season.
Looking at decorated houses is a favorite pastime, especially during the Christmas holiday season. The northern New England state of New Hampshire offers many types of Christmas holiday house tours. Favorite areas are Portsmouth, Nashua and the Bethlehem and White Mountains area, all providing tours of beautiful New Hampshire homes decorated for Christmas.
A Christmas open house allows you to visit with friends and family in a relaxed atmosphere since the event isn't restricted to the two to three activity-packed hours of a traditional event. Although guests can attend the informal festivities at various hours, design holiday open house invitations with the general starting and ending time. Creative invitations should also include the date, location, whether children are welcome and request if the event is a potluck.
A traditional house to build around Christmas time is a gingerbread house, a decorative (and edible) house made of candy and, of course, gingerbread. While many stores around the holidays have pre-made kits available for purchase, making your own Christmas gingerbread house can be a fun, new tradition for adults and children alike.
Facing an open house crowd with a toddler or young child can seem intimidating. However, there are some shortcuts that can make the experience go smoothly: Invite other families to socialize by simplifying your tasks; you can even set up a special area with toys and treats for the children while the adults enjoy a bit of wine and cheese.
Christmas is a time for fun and celebration. Around the world families gather for food and fun for the Christmas holiday. Regardless of the size of your immediate family, you can have a Christmas that rivals the festivities in the fictional Brady household. Organizing a Brady style Christmas just takes a little planning and a cooperative family.
Tips on how to decorate your house from the outside in for Christmas in this free holiday video.
Gift wrapping your door will make it look like Santa made it to your house early this year.
