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