"Deck the halls with boughs of holly!" ...and pine, baubles, swags, wreaths, candles -along with the colors and glimmer that wouldn't fit into any other time of year. Do you like to go all out for Christmas? Let's get started with decorating the house for the best time of the year: Christmas!

There are so many themes, but the original idea was to bring the outdoors inside for fresh scents and the natural beauty of evergreens and bright red berries. It is the classic red and green Christmas color combination.

Although you might think of using excess evergreen trimming to create a door swag ( a great idea, by the way!), this tree skirt will trim up the bottom of any Christmas tree you choose, whether a live cut or artificial tree. There are so many- this is my favorite for a traditional holly berry look.

What About Mistletoe?

Mistletoe

The Druids believed mistletoe fell from heaven and grew onto a tree that sprang from Earth. Mistletoe thus represented the joining of heaven and earth, and God's reconciliation with mankind. A kiss under mistletoe symbolized acceptance and reconciliation.~ [1]

Handmade?

Matching?

Which one matches your decor?

Wreaths and Swags

Not alone in feeling that the best way to welcome people is with a wreath or a swag of evergreens on the door. A preference for real living evergreens is what I choose, but there are gorgeous artificial greens that look fabulous and come in every sort of coordinating style.

Southern Living Christmas books have some of the best holiday decorating and entertaining ideas, delicious recipes, and great tips.

Artificial Garlands

Lots of garlands look real, natural, and some are lit. An easy way to add swags to mantles windows, and doors. Different styles, many with trimmings like fruits, berries, holly foliage (all artificial, of course) that add to your chosen theme.

Indoor Wreaths

Inside, consider using only artificial evergreens. Real ones need misting and care in placing away from heat sources. The numbers of choices are exciting... and they add to the Christmas color scheme. Hang them on your doors using a wreath holder that hooks over the door; over the fireplace, in a window, you will find the right place for a festive wreath to brighten up your interiors.

Other ways to deck the halls

Kissing balls, swags, door charms, all ways to bring in the cheerful boughs of holly and fir, along with mistletoe and other classic winter greenery.

A Traditional Time of Blessing

On the first day of Advent a ritual called "the hanging of the green" is observed in some churches. Decorating the church with evergreen wreaths, boughs, or trees for symbolizing everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ. One part of the service is beginning the Advent wreath devotions, with the lighting of the first candle. Read more about Advent.

On your door, in a window, or above the mantle- wherever you hang a wreath it spread the holiday feeling. I love real evergreen wreaths, but indoors they are just not practical, and some people like their decorations to be the type that last for many years- a real evergreen wreath is only for one season.

The Creche is an old, old tradition, originally based primarily in Catholic traditions. Part of their Christmas observation is to create a masterpiece of plants and miniature statues which tell the Christmas story of Jesus' Nativity. France has had a particularly beautiful expression of this replication of the Christmas story with fanciful landscapes and a whole array of figures.

The Low Latin word cripia, meaning manger, was the origin of the terms creche, crib, krippe, krubba, szopka and wertep meaning Nativity Scene respectively in French, English, German and Swedish, Polish and Russian.[1]

Many of us love our nativity sets that we arrange each year, depicting the nativity of Jesus in a visual way. More information onnativity scenes, here.

Canadian creche scenes

Cookies and Christmas Trees

One of my favorite things about Christmas celebrations is the wonderful smells- isn't it yours? a heady mix of spices... Cinnamon,Cardamom, Nutmeg, and Clove! The warm cookie dough aromas of vanilla and sugar, the pine and the balsam, the peppermint and coffee... all sorts of hospitable and inviting smells that say "Home for Christmas" and cheer even a grumpy old Scrooge.

You can bake til you shake or shop til you drop, but you really don't have to, just set some potpourri out, or use home fragrances to give your house a Christmas scent . Scented candles, home fragrance oils, and dry potpourri all add to the mix.

Or- you can do it the old fashioned way and bake a dozen or so Christmas cookies.

Christmas Cookie Recipes.

While we love the smell of fresh baked cookies, sometimes we just want the facsimile... in that case try some baked cookie scents!

For a tour through delicious candle scents for Christmas, Go Here

My most favorite Christmas album:

Long Play Christmas Vol. 1 and 2

Don't you love playing a great Christmas set of music in the background? I mean something that is a fresh rendition of old favorites and a really well done old favorite, or three, as well? It makes a special impression on me and sets the mood in a way not even the smells or sights are able to... music is the language of the soul, and maybe that explains it.

But combine them all and the impact of the message of this season comes through in a way that makes it such a happy memory for so many, and a time of year we look forward to, when we can share in the tidings of peace and good will.

to sing while you joyfully deck the halls in your house!

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Tis the season to be jolly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Strike the harp and join the chorus.

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me in merry measure,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

While I tell of Yule tide treasure,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Heedless of the wind and weather,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Do you like to light up the house with Christmas lights? I know many people who travel around surrounding neighborhoods looking at all the bright Christmas displays. It does seem to be a cheerful sight to view a house lit up with anything from lights in the windows to trees strung with lights.

Christmas Light Tips

Tips for lighting things up right.

1. The basic electrical plug can handle only three strands of lights at a time. No more than 1,400 watts on a circuit.

2. If your evergreen can only be seen from the front, save lights and work by decorating only that part of the tree.

3. Consider using timer with a photocell.

4. The front of the house is always the most dramatic focal point in the landscape. Accent the eves of the roofline and around windows and doors.

5. Use large clear c-9 lights on patios and decks.

Lowes has excellent tips on Christmas lighting.