Christmas is not too far away. Street decorations festoon our shopping strip, shops and businesses, anticipating festive gatherings.

Unpacking Christmas decorations brings back memories. Two traditions that I remember from my childhood are my mother placing a ceramic nativity scene on the living room mantlepiece, and placing an Advent candle arrangement in the window.

I have pulled out our faithful old wreath to hang on our front door with thick red ribbon. The first wreaths can be dated back to pagan times: a never-ending circle, with no beginning and no end, representing the cycle of life.

The Greeks and Romans used wreaths to represent their power and victory. In Northern Europe, Advent wreaths were placed on tables with a candle in the centre, while a Christmas wreath was hung on the door.

In Europe, Christmas coincides with the winter solstice. In the 1800s, German tradition had trees brought inside as decoration, bringing life and greenery into the house from the cold. I have seen plastic trees in red, white, silver or gold, but I still prefer a living potted spruce in a basket, decorated with white candles and a few baubles.

Traditional Christmas colours are red, green silver and gold. Alternatively, mark Christmas with bare branches in a vase, whitewashed timber decorations, or presents wrapped in brown craft paper with raffia bows.

Outside, place on either side of your front door a potted poinsettia, or a decorative candle in a lantern. Inside, hallways and entryways are ideal places for decorations: on a sideboard or table, place a bowl filled with glass baubles, a mini tree, or a pile of presents.

Merry Christmas!

Published in the December 2021 Issue of The Trentham Trumpet