The signature decorations of a traditional Christmas tree are the balls and bells. These can be any color and can be made of glass, plastic or coated in fabric. Usually every traditional Christmas tree has many of these balls and bells set as a base for the rest of the ornaments or as the sole decorations. Traditional Christmas songs like “silver bells” express the virtue of these ornaments.
One of the main focal points of a traditional Christmas tree is a star, angel or sometimes Father Christmas which is placed on the very top of the tree. Classic images often show a father lifting his child to place the star on the top. Without the help of a child you will need a ladder to position the star unless your Christmas tree is very small.
A traditional Christmas tree also has a generous supply of lights. The colors of the lights vary from strands of white or blue lights to strands of multicolored lights according to the decorators taste. With the advent of electricity, Christmas tree lights replaced the age old, beautiful yet dangerous tradition of donning the Christmas tree with candles.
Another time tested tradition of decorating the Christmas tree is garland. The garland is usually placed on the tree after the lights and before any other decorations. Garland is available in the form of woven leaves, colorful plastic material, popcorn, wooden beads etc. Children love to make paper garland by constructing a series of colorful paper loops to drape around the Christmas tree. Garland is not only a beautiful addition to the Christmas tree but also symbolizes honor and victory which connects the tree with the religious themes of Christmas.
In addition to the balls, bells, lights and garland, keepsake ornaments are hung on the Christmas tree to celebrate the joy of the holidays throughout the years. Some of the most popular include miniature Santa Clauses, elves, reindeer, rocking horses, stars, birds, wreaths and more. The sky is the limit when it comes to keepsake ornaments as they come in every any shape and form. Handmade ornaments are especially nice and can be handed down throughout the generations. Giving a keepsake ornament to a loved one that includes their name and the year is a great gift idea.
The last decorations to go on a Christmas tree are candy canes, and tinsel. Tinsel adds glitter to the tree making it appear as though there are beautiful icicles coating the branches. The candy canes make the task of taking down the tree more enjoyable since you can eat them instead of storing them away.