Decorating your bathroom for Christmas

When the holiday spirit hits, you want to place decorations in every room of the house. Your bathroom/bathrooms are just another room when it comes to Christmas decorations. How much decorating you can do in your bathroom is dependent on the size of the room. If you have a large bathroom there are many more options, but with some creativity, any size bathroom can be filled with Christmas cheer.

Small bathroom

Many older homes have small bathrooms without many spaces to place Christmas decorations. One that works perfectly is the door. Every bathroom has one and unless it is a pocket door, you can use an over the door hanger to place a wreath or a hanging on the door. 

Some over the door hooks are two sided so that your inside and outside will both be decorated. Just keep in mind that the inside of the bathroom can get very damp and steamy, so you will want to choose a decoration that will not be damaged by the dampness. Some very nice looking artificial flower wreaths or perhaps homemade ornaments can work.

Your mirror is another place where you can decorate. You can place a festive poinsettia or holly swag over the top of the mirror or place bows along the top. With the suction holders, you can even attach things to your mirror. This might be a nice place to attach some jingle bells or a gingerbread man.

If you have a shower door, you can also use the suction hooks to attach any decoration that you choose to the door. The top of your toilet tank is the perfect place for a holiday placemat and a holiday-scented candle. You may also choose to place a small Christmas tree on the tank top.

Large bathrooms

With a large bathroom, you have many more choices. You may want to place a small Christmas tree or flower arrangement behind your tub if you have a jetted one with a tile edge. You can place music boxes on a shelf or on a table. Fill a pretty Christmas bowl full of colorful round ornaments and fresh greens.

No matter what size bathroom you have, you can place a holiday rug on your floor and hang holiday towels from your towel bars. If you use a shower curtain, you can go all out and get one with a holiday theme or at least a holiday color. Don’t worry, if you are not really a red and green person, you can find lovely decorations in blue and silver or gold and white.

When it comes to decorating your bathroom for Christmas, let the spirit of the season guide you, and if you can have music playing as well, there is nothing like a taking a shower to “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas.”

The Symbolism of Christmas decorations

Many decorations are synonymous with Christmas. Have you ever wondered if there is a reason why you hang an evergreen wreath on your door? Many decorations have a tradition that goes back for hundreds of years. Many are symbolic of things that are related to the celebration of Christmas.

The first decoration that many people see during the Christmas season is the Advent Wreath. It has four candles, one for each week in Advent. It is usually decorated with greens which are a symbol of life and the candles are usually either all purple or three purples and one pink with the pink candle being lit during the third week of Advent. Some people also have a fifth candle in the middle which is lit on Christmas Eve to symbolize the birth of Jesus. If the wreath is in the home, usually the candle is lit and a prayer is said before the evening meal.

The evergreen wreath is a symbol of continuity, the wreath has no beginning and no end. The evergreens are a symbol of life in the midst of winter and have their roots in pagan traditions. It may be combined with holly, mistletoe and even bells.

Holly is a common decoration during Christmas time. It is thought that the traditional colors of Christmas red and green may be a tribute to the beautiful colors of holly. Holly was sacred to the ancient Druids and it is a common part of English holiday decorating traditions. It was believed that holly placed on a door would keep evil spirits out. It came across the Atlantic with the English colonists and became part of traditional American Christmas decorations.

The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is an ancient one that goes back as far as the Greeks and their celebration of Saturnalia. Mistletoe was considered to have mystic properties both in Celtic and Scandinavian pagan traditions. These have transitioned to Christianity and have been incorporated into decorations all over the world.

Bells are traditionally rung when major events occur, they can be happy such as weddings and they can be sad such as funerals. Like many other traditions, the ringing of bells has its roots in pagan rituals. Christmas is one of the most joyous times of the year and it no surprise that bells would also be part of the celebration and the décor. It can be real bells such as sleigh bells or it can be bells that are strictly decorative but they are often found on the door of homes to welcome guests.

There is little doubt that the origins of the Christmas tree are German but there is some

disagreement about how long it was used as a decoration and when it started. There are some people who believe that Martin Luther was the first one to bring an evergreen into the house and decorate it with candles. 

By the early 17th century, it was a common feature in German homes. It came to the United States with the Hessian soldiers but was not found in most homes until the 19th century. The evergreen tree is a symbol of life and the candles are the light that welcomes the Christ child.

Angels are common decorations at Christmas time and it was angels that heralded the birth of Christ. There is hardly a Christmas tree to be found without either an angel ornament or an angel tree topper.

The Star symbolizes the star that led the wise men to the place where the baby lay in the manger. The crèche is the modern representation of that manger and all the figures represent those who came to worship the newborn king and of course baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

These are some of the decorations that are symbols of the amazing event that took place over 2000 years ago in Bethlehem.

Timeless Christmas tree themes

Creating a themed Christmas tree is something that many people do during the holidays. Whether you have one tree or multiple trees, one theme or several, it can be great fun to collect the ornaments and the decorations to make your vision a reality.

Angel tree

Angles are universally loved and open up a wide variety of decorating options. You can opt for cherubs or for adult angels. You can combine angels who are in flight with angels playing musical instruments. Once you have decided whether you are going to go with only one type of angel or are going to mix it up then you need to decide if you want to buy ornaments or make ornaments.

If you want to make your own you can make yarn angels in one color or in a variety of colors. You can look for angel garland to continue the theme. If you want a more Scandinavian theme you can choose straw angles and top the tree with a straw star. This is particularly attractive on a white tree with pastel lights.

An angel topper can take your tree to another level. 

Santas

Santas are one of the most loved Christmas tree themes. You can go with a traditional red-robed Santa or you can go with Santas in the Victorian color pallet. Think Santas in pastels with light pinks and blues. There are Santas for every taste, you can find him riding a chopper and drinking a Coke. Santa, he gets around. Trimming a Santa tree with little packages and snow makes the perfect winter scene.

Snowmen

Snowmen come in so many styles and sizes that this is a tree that is guaranteed to never get boring. You can make it “The Snowman” tree and go with the classic ornament with the green hat and scarf or make your own with the kids from cotton balls. You can alternate your snowmen with little shovels for a very outdoor themed tree. You can add hanging icicles to continue the winter outdoor theme.

Stars

The Christmas star is the oldest symbol of the season. You can go with little stars or large stars. You can choose glass and then use the colored light to really make the ornaments shine. The star tree topper is an all-time favorite.

Cookies

A cookie tree is the perfect way to use your culinary skills to decorate your tree. You can choose to decorate with all one cookie shape or you can use a variety. If you want to be able to eat some cookies then pick your favorite sugar cookie recipe or you want them to last for a long time then make a paste with flour and water and paint the cookies.

With a cookie tree, adding a popcorn garland is a good choice or mix it with cranberries. Putting the popcorn on a string is a good activity to do with the kids as well as decorating the cookie ornaments.

These are just a few ways to use a theme to decorate your Christmas tree, you can use one or all of them or come up with themes of your own. Tis the season to be jolly.

Creating a traditional Christmas

What exactly is a traditional Christmas?  Traditional is not antique,  it does, however, have some age to it. So a traditional Christmas experience may involve trying to recreate the experience of your childhood or even your parent’s childhood.

Christmas tree

One way to create a traditional Christmas experience is to go out with the family to a tree farm and actually cut your own Christmas tree. This is something that was done by families for many years. Conversely, it could mean putting up a shiny silver artificial tree, these have colored lights that reflect on the silver and are reminiscent of the time when many baby boomers were children.

Decorating the live tree can be done with popcorn and cranberry garlands that are made at home or with traditional ones that can be purchased at the store, it depends on how authentically traditional you want to get. Don't forget the tinsel, this is a very traditional decoration when trees were lit with larger colored bulbs, not the white ones that are so popular today.

Make your own ornaments

In the days before store bought ornaments adorned Christmas trees, ornaments were homemade. Garlands made from rings of construction paper, pipe cleaner candy canes, and pine cones hung on a ribbon, are all easy and inexpensive ways to add a traditional touch to your tree.

Bake Christmas cookies

While many people bake Christmas cookies every year, a traditional Christmas cookie can be cut with vintage cookie cutters. These can be found at antique stores around the world. If you have a hard time finding the vintage ones, replicas are available both in stores and online.

Window wax

To give your house a real old fashioned look, get a bottle or can of Window Wax and some stencils and decorate your windows. Whether it is Santa, some bells or the sleigh and eight tiny reindeer these are what you would have found on almost everyone's windows in the 1950's and 60's.

Wrap all the presents

In days gone by there were no gift bags. Every present was wrapped with bows and placed under the tree. The gifts from Santa always had their own special wrapping paper different from what was used to wrap the other presents. Make your own bows especially with the type of ribbons that can be curled. It gives the presents under the tree a beautiful vintage look.

Mom in an apron

If your idea of traditional is the 1950's then mom would be wearing a pretty apron as she cooks and served the Christmas dinner. Picture June Cleaver and you get an idea of the look.

Oranges and cloves

Pick up some oranges and whole cloves at the grocery store. Cover the entire peel of the orange with cloves and then place the oranges in a glass or crystal bowl. They will fill an entire room with the scent of the season.

Greenery

Greenery around the house is something that adds a warm touch. It can be garland on the banister, pine wreath on the door or a green sway on the mantle. Any use of greens adds a wonderful look and smell to your home. Family movie time

Movies

Watch all the holiday favorites in their original versions. The kids will love Rudolph and Frosty and A Christmas Story is always a favorite.  Versions of  A Christmas Carol go back over 70 years and Miracle on 34th Street with Natalie Wood and It's a Wonderful Life in black and white are traditional favorites.

No matter what you consider traditional, there are many ways to create a memorable Christmas experience.

Celebrating Christmas when money is tight

The holidays can be a time when money is tight for some people. There isn’t a lot of extra money to spend on holiday gifts. Holiday gift giving when money is tight can be a challenge. Does that mean that there isn’t going to be any gift giving this year? No, but it does mean that there will have to be a lot more thought put into what exactly would make the perfect gift.

It is much easier to come up with ideas that are outside the box for adults than it is for children. They need to see something in their hands, they don’t understand the concept of a handwritten service gift certificate. This is where you will need to spend the actual money that you have for Christmas gifts.

When it comes to your own children you may want to get one family gift that everyone can share. It might be a game or a piece of equipment like a trampoline or an air hockey table. A lot will depend on the age of your children. If they are small, then small gifts work. If they are teens they are old enough to understand the financial difficulties that the family is living under.

For adults, giving of yourself is a great way to go. For your sister who has small children, a plate of homemade Christmas cookies which she probably was too busy to bake herself and a handwritten gift certificate redeemable for one overnight babysitting break at your house or two three hour babysitting visits is a great idea. It is a gift that will be very much appreciated and will cost you nothing at all except your time.

Watch for sales starting early in the fall season. Go online and cut coupons so that you can take advantage of any savings that are offered. Check out the local consignment shops and thrift stores. You can sometimes find brand new items with tags still on them at very much reduced prices.

Make gift baskets. You can place a few small items in a gift basket with some inexpensive candy or small toys and make it seem as if it is a much bigger gift. If you are into making your own things, you can buy yarn on sale and crochet or knit beautiful scarves or hats which everyone needs in the winter if they live in a cooler climate. If you can sew there are many things that you can make with some inexpensive fleece or flannel. A gift that you make yourself is a gift from the heart.

If you really are strapped for cash, only worry about your own children. Don’t be afraid to talk to other family members and explain that money is tight this year and you want to gather as a family and enjoy Christmas, but you cannot afford to buy gifts. You may be surprised how happy this makes everyone because there are a lot of people who have less money this year.

The spirit of Christmas doesn’t have to be measured by the amount of money that you spend, it should be about the love and good times you share.

Have an old-fashioned Christmas

In today’s modern world, all too often, the real spirit of Christmas is lost. With so many parents who work, it is exhausting to try to add the additional activities to an already overloaded schedule. Shopping, cooking, baking and parties can just become too much. This year, why not stop the madness and celebrate an old fashioned Christmas.

What exactly is an old-fashioned Christmas? It is one where the spirit is more important than the dollar amount. Where time spent with family is the measure of success. Here are a few tips to make your Christmas old-fashioned in all the right ways.

Keep it simple

When your mothers and grandmothers celebrated Christmas it was in a simple way. The tree was decorated with ornaments that often times were homemade. Take one evening and get the kids away from the TV and their computers and games and get them to make some easy Christmas decorations for the tree. It can be construction paper chains, popcorn chains, popsicle stick stars or pipe-cleaner angels. Put on a Christmas CD and sing some carols while making the decorations. Slow down and take the time to talk about what the real reason for the season is.

Bake

It isn’t always easy to find the time to make Christmas cookies, but it is the old fashioned way. It doesn’t have to be a fancy recipe, simple sugar cookies are fine. If you are really pressed for time, you can even buy the pre-made dough but the important thing is to actually cut, decorate and bake them with the children. It is the time spent together. If you don’t own an apron, consider buying one, not only will it help to keep the decorations off of your clothes but it just feels right.

Make traditions

If you don’t have any holiday traditions, there is always time to make some new ones. If your family has always done things a certain way, pass on the traditions. It can be as simple as taking the young children to a pancake breakfast with a visit from Santa or doing some Christmas shopping with the children at a local church or civic fair. Look for places nearby which are decorated for Christmas, not the mall, a house, arboretum or local attraction. Take a sleigh ride, or, if there is no snow, a carriage ride. These are as old-fashioned as you can get.

If there is a historic village nearby, spend the day enjoying the sights and sounds of yesterday.

Relax

Try not to get uptight about the holidays. Spending a lot of money is not necessary to have an old fashioned Christmas. It is about the memories that you will make, the things that your children will remember about their childhood and the traditions they will pass on to their children. Santa does not have to spend hundreds of dollars, especially if money is tight. One meaningful gift is more important than lots of expensive toys.

Go real

Get a real Christmas tree, a real wreath, fresh fruits that you can stick cloves into. Part of the enjoyment of an old fashioned Christmas are the smells that remind people of their own childhood or at least what they wished their childhood had been like.

Share

In days gone by, people knew their neighbors. No one would have spent the holidays alone unless they wanted to. Think about who might be alone at Christmas and consider inviting them to your home. If that is not possible think about bringing a plate of cookies to a neighbor or visiting the local nursing home and bringing the old-fashioned spirit of Christmas to someone who may not have any family or friends to visit them.

Just say no thank you

There are usually way too many things going on during the holidays. Just say no to as many as you can. You don’t have to attend every event or party. It is much more important to spend time with your family and doing the things that are really important.

Having an old fashioned Christmas will heighten your enjoyment of the season. When it is over, you will not be exhausted but rather renewed. If you have a religious tradition, make that a part of your old fashioned Christmas. It is after all is said and done, the real reason for the season.

Getting in the holiday spirit

The Halloween candy and costumes still linger in one aisle of the store while they are already putting out the holiday lights, trees, stockings and candles in another. They have skipped the whole Thanksgiving season and jumped right from ghosts and goblins to Santa and elves.

The holiday season is arriving earlier each year and soon we will be starting the holidays in July. The commercialization that goes into the season from the retailers is overwhelming. It is about time we refused to get into the spirit until after we have had our fill of turkey and stuffing. Black Friday is early enough for us to begin this most wonderful time of the year.

Turn on the tunes

Thanksgiving weekend, dig out the CD’s, tapes and even the vinyl if that is what you have. Put them on your player of preference and let the songs of the season bring back the feelings of peace and goodwill that are what the holidays are really all about. Carry some in your car, download them into your iPod and let your computer sing away all day if your workplace allows it. Nothing says the holidays more than your favorite renditions of the old classics.

Put in the DVDs

There are a plethora of Christmas movies.  Who has not enjoyed “It’s a Wonderful Life “with James Stewart and Donna Reed? Of all the holiday classics this one really has the true spirit of the holidays as it makes all of us realize what really is important in life.

“Miracle on 34th Street” is another classic that makes even the most hardened unbeliever question whether or not there really is a Santa Claus. In the original 1947 version, a very young Natalie Woods performs alongside screen greats Maureen O’Hara, John Payne and Edmund Gwynn. A new version was made in 1994 but pales in comparison to the original. Charles Dickens Classic “A Christmas Carol” has been made and remade. 

No version is a bad version of this classic. If you are like me, you may want to own two or three and watch them for comparison sake.

Make cookies

If you are a veritable Betty Crocker in the kitchen then whip up batches of your own homemade favorites. If however, you are pressed for time you can purchase the dough already made and just slice them up and decorate. This is a wonderful opportunity to have some together time with other members of the family. The holidays are all about spending time with the ones we love. Rose's Christmas Cookies will give you plenty of recipes to choose from.

Pack the family in the car

Take a ride around your neighborhood, your town or even your state. Enjoy the seasonal displays of lights and house decorations. This doesn’t cost anything and it certainly is a great way to enjoy the season. Check your local newspaper for organized light displays, there may be a charge for these but the awe and wonder on your children’s faces is worth every penny.

Grab a tag off a giving tree

Instead of letting the holidays be all about me, me, me let it be about those in need. You can start even with small children teaching them that part of the spirit of the season is to share with those who have less than they do. It is amazing to see a child get so excited trying to pick a gift for another child.

These are just a few of the ways that you can get into the holiday spirit. Your family has traditions that make your holidays more spirit-filled, take advantage of them. If you’re lucky, the spirit of the holidays will stay with you all year long.