| Every year, soon after the Thanksgiving holiday and | | | | tough the ground. Outside Christmas decorations are |
| sometimes even before, millions of us all over the | | | | another matter entirely. When choosing outdoor |
| world decorate our homes inside and out in recognition | | | | decorations it is important to determine they were |
| of the Christmas holiday. But what are the "hot item" | | | | meant to be displayed outside. The winter elements |
| Christmas decorations? Of course, all decorating starts | | | | can be very harsh in certain areas of the planet and |
| with the Christmas tree. Many people choose a real | | | | flimsy light strings meant for an indoor tree will not |
| tree, as they find this to be the "traditional" choice, but | | | | stand up to the wear and tear and can become a fire |
| many others choose artificial trees. Artificial trees can | | | | hazard. Knowing that, there are a wide variety of |
| make decorating a lot easier and cleaner because | | | | outdoor Christmas decorations. In recent years, yard |
| they don't "shed" pine needles all over the floor. | | | | decorations that inflate with a powered fan are the |
| Artificial trees can now be purchased with lights built | | | | latest rage. These come in many varieties also. Santa |
| into them in a variety of colors. This way, the tree can | | | | Claus can be featured in his sleigh, standing and |
| be reused each year and the lights are already strung. | | | | waving to passersby, or even riding a motorcycle. |
| Artificial trees can be bought in a variety of colors. | | | | Other popular inflatable yard characters include Disney |
| White is a popular tree color other than green, but | | | | figures, snowmen, and Nativity scenes. Non-inflating |
| there are even some that are pink and blue for those | | | | lighted deer are another popular yard decoration as |
| with eclectic tastes. Ornaments on the Christmas tree | | | | are solid-figure Nativity scenes. Essential to outdoor |
| also come in a huge variety and themes and it is really | | | | decorating are light arrangements on the exterior of |
| up to the individual decorators on what type to buy. | | | | the home. These also come in a wide variety. In recent |
| Many choose to purchase special ornaments each | | | | years, many choose outdoor lights that resemble |
| holiday season in order to commemorate that year's | | | | icicles in white or blue. When strung across the |
| Christmas. Hallmark is a great store to visit for these | | | | overhang of a house they present a beautiful effect at |
| types of commemorative ornaments where special | | | | night. For those that must have the fanciest house |
| types are offered each year. Additionally, there are | | | | decorations on the block, hardware and department |
| ornaments featuring a variety of favorite characters | | | | stores offer contraptions that synchronize the flashing |
| from pop culture like Star Wars, Peanuts, and Disney. | | | | of Christmas lights with the sound of Christmas music. |
| Another popular home decoration is the poinsettia | | | | Be sure to check with local public disturbance policies |
| flowers. These can also be real or artificial. Poinsettias | | | | before attempting a production such as this. There are |
| throughout the house are a widely recognized symbol | | | | many possibilities when it comes to decorating the |
| of the Christmas holiday going back centuries. One | | | | home for the Christmas holiday. It is really up to the |
| more holiday decoration of the organic type is | | | | individual taste of the decorator when making the |
| mistletoe where the common custom dictates that a | | | | choices. Themes range from the traditional to just |
| couple meeting under a hanging mistletoe branch are | | | | about any popular pop culture figures imaginable. |
| obligated to kiss. A lot of ancient tradition is involved in | | | | Holiday stories and occasions. |
| gathering live mistletoe, such as never allowing it to | | | | |