 Fancy new Christmas Tree lights for the coming season? There are many bargains to be had but oh the variety; shapes, colours, styles, energy consumption and more are all up for grabs it seems.
Traditionally a set of Christmas tree lights could last a lifetime and some did! Most parts of the lights were either repairable or replaceable; add to this the fact that in the past a set of tree lights were far from cheap and it is easy to see why they were seldom thrown away. Each year the same set of lights would be dragged out, tested, tweaked as necessary and hung, often on the same old tired artificial tree. Times were tight and resources meager and so this was common practice unless you came from a more affluent household. Somewhere along the line Christmas tree lights became much cheaper. They started to be made in a variety of colours, styles and lengths; the wire colour varied and so did the actual bulbs. Indoor, outdoor lights were revamped and brought to life. In the 21st Century more and more Western households hang many sets of lights at Christmas both indoors and out but perhaps the most important set of Christmas lights will be those that adorn your tree. They and the tree will be the focal point of Christmas in your home. You may opt to add more than one set of lights but, as some now have 100 plus twinkling lights, one should be enough; it will depend on the size of your tree and what impression you want to make. Too many tree lights and your ornaments will disappear into nothing; the right amount and appropriate colour, including clear, and your tree will come alive like sparkling diamonds. One problem with cheaper tree lights is that they may be suspect; always check that they comply with your country's health and safety standards. Many of these lights come from China these days and whilst not all will be faulty by any means there are some unscrupulous dealers in that country. Another thing to consider is that if you aim to almost have throwaway cheap lights they could damage the environment. Unnecessary waste is never good. The resources used to make a set of lights will be wasted if you simply throw them away each year. A better option is to go for a mid-price set. One that offers replacement bulbs and the like; one that can be repaired, by changing a fuse for example, and become a family tradition. LED lights are more eco-friendly as they use less energy but they may not be bright enough for you. We all have less time these days but our throw away world is bad news. If you can afford to why not buy a good set of classic tree lights, which will not date quickly, and treasure them. Handing family Christmas tree decorations or lights down through the family is a lovely idea. Whatever option you go for never compromise health and safety. At Christmas Time there is usually news of at least one house fire or death by electrocution, due to faulty Christmas tree lights. The key phrase should be, If in doubt-throw them out. You may or may not have already assembled your tree, lights and ornaments. There is usually ample time to bag a bargain especially as far as Christmas Tree lights go; the nearer it is too Christmas the better the bargain will be. In order to get exceptional value for money purchase after Christmas in the January sales. Always store your Tree lights carefully after Christmas; remember the wiring could become damaged. If you have been able to buy replacement bulbs, just in case, label them. In a year's time you may not be able to find them, nor have a clue which set of lights they are for. If you buy in the post Christmas sales check the lights over fully working and test before use. If there any faults you will need to get your money back or a replacement. Discovering they do not work the following Christmas could be costly. For added peace of mind purchase an RCD safety plug to run your lights from. These have come down in price and could be a lifesaver.
0 Comments
 The following was originally written a few years ago after watching a Christmas themed show on television in which it was stated that the correct way to decorate a Christmas tree was to start with the lights, add the tinsel and then the decorations.
This advice was the reverse to how I had always decorated my Christmas tree. Now my tree down the years has always looked good though I say so myself. After more than 40 years of marriage to the same guy we have quite a few decorations bought or passed down. But I am always open to suggestions on how to improve anything or make it easier so I tuned in and listened up. The presenter stated that her method would guarantee that the lights sparkled discretely onto the tree's ornaments. My tree as I already said has always looks fab, and received plenty of good comments, so I guess that either way will work well. But here is the basic advice then, no matter which order you chose to decorate your tree:
It is always best to place your tree and then lay out all of the tinsel and decorations on the floor. Put the lights in one place on the floor, the tinsel another and the decorations with each other. This way you can see exactly what you have got. This may prevent your tree having too many ornaments in one part and empty bare patches in another. Above all remember that Christmas should be about fun. Try not to make decorating the tree just another Christmas chore. Take your time, have a small glass of wine, or two, and a mince pie, or two, and enjoy yourself. Tips & Warnings
You will need
 It's just a Christmas tree
You may or may not love Christmas. Whether you do or you don't the odds are that you will put up a tree indoors at Christmas, a Christmas tree. These have come a long way since Queen Victoria of England; in the19th Century popularized the Christmas tree. She was persuaded by her beloved husband German Prince Albert. The celebratory trees do however date back to a time long before this Queen. In ancient times people had a different relationship with trees and foliage. Plants and the like often had an almost religious feel. Before the birth of Christianity people believed they could ward of evil spirits, or at least some people believed that they could. Following the lead of Queen Victoria of England the West adopted the practice of decorating a tree and placing one in their homes. That practice has continued in the UK during wars, good and bad times, and changing fashions; the “tree", however, has experienced some changes along the years. Real or artificial This can be one of the most important factors in choosing your tree. There are pros and cons to both. An artificial tree may seem better value for money, as it will last for years. It does not drop needles and does not have to be transported home each year. These days you can buy artificial trees that look real. You may say why not then buy real in the first place, but read on. Artificial trees come in many shapes and sizes. There are half trees which can be attached to walls. This is very useful where space is at a premium. There are many colours also. Real trees have in their favour tradition, a specific scent, memories and eye appeal for some. A real tree does not have to drop needles from the day it is put up to the day it is taken down. On the contrary you can buy real trees these days which are grown so that the needles will not shed easily. It is also down to how you treat the tree in your home. It is after all a living thing and will need some specific TLC, tender loving care. For example if you place a Christmas tree next to a radiator in your home it will not fare well. Simple. Real Trees can pose a problem after Christmas. You could buy one that is suitable to plant in your garden after the festivities end. Alternatively you could chop it up using the wood to burn and the foliage for garden compost. Although many trees are planted with Christmas in mind you should consider the environmental implications of buying a real Christmas tree. More choice from artificial If you decide on an artificial tree you will find a huge choice on offer. First and foremost consider the colour of the tree. Personally green trees speak Christmas but the choice is yours. Many people these days purchase a tree to fit in with the style of their home. They then dress the tree accordingly with specific themes or colours. Black trees are also popular. They are not too dissimilar to trees really. They may look to you like a dead tree but they will often fit into a modern home better than a traditional Christmas tree. White trees have been around for many years. They usually look very artificial. You could choose one instead that was basically green but already dressed with fake snow. These trees look more white than green in some cases. If you want to let your imagination fly go for purple, bright pink or orange. A word of caution here though. If you are buying a fake tree as it is more value for money stick with traditional green. If you do not you may find that you are stuck with a bright pink tree which you hate a couple of Christmases down the road. When you buy an artificial tree always buy from a reputable retailer. Check the label to ensure that it meets your country's safety standards. You do not want to bring a fire hazard into your home do you? Remember to take into account the cost of decorating the tree. Bear this in mind as far as costs and colours go. If you buy an orange coloured tree for example you will be limited what you can decorate it with, unless you are a clever designer. Up and ready One advantage with some Christmas trees is that they come as a package. You can purchase a pre-lit tree but you can go much further. You can buy a tree which has fixed decorations on it. Each year you will simply get it out of its box, shake it and erect the tree. Job done after a little fiddling about. Most of us, however much we complain about "doing the tree", love to decorate the Tree though. It brings back memories, allows your artistic side to soar, can be sociable, enables different and personal choices, and so much more. A pre-lit and pre-decorated tree could be too clinical for you. If you have mobility issues however one could be perfect. If you live on your own and struggle with fiddly objects it may be a must. Each year the "lights" need to be tested, would around the tree and so on. A pre lit tree can save you time and a frayed temper. The downside with pre-lit trees can be if the lights no longer work. If your tree has served you faithfully over a few years that may not be a problem. It could be time for a change. Most of the things you need to consider about what type of Christmas tree to buy boil down to personal choice, safety and money. Our Choice In our increasingly lengthy marriage we have had at least one Christmas tree in our home each year, except for perhaps one year. When we were newly-weds we would buy a huge real tree. With no car we would carry it home between us. By the time we arrived home the tree had less needles than earlier and we were covered in them. Days later we would find odd ones in our hair. Occasionally tempers heated up but on the whole it was fun. It was also not easy. For many years we have had artificial trees. After a rather poor looking one we bought a decent real looking tree which served us well for years. Last year we opted to update and went for a traditional looking pre-lit tree. My heart occasionally toys with the idea of a real tree but my brain says no. This year with our latest, fast and furious rescue dog Tinka a real tree does not make sense. Who knows, next year could be different. The image here is off our tree last year. For once there was snow on the ground outside. That was a little before Christmas though. As a final thought I have wonderful memories of our childhood Christmas tree. At the time it was, now how do you say it these days, Awesome. When we removed it many years later it was a pathetic post war effort. It was all of two feet tall, if that. It was spindly with little foliage. It was in reality dismal. However once Mum got to work on it the magic begun. Remember Christmas magic is about more than biggest and best. I can still see that childhood tree in my mind's eye and for me it will always remain, amazing.  No matter what time of year it is Christmas is never far away. Each year the cost of Christmas increases and yet for many people their income will not have done so. Having said that, experiencing a great Christmas is about more than just spending too much money.
The secret of enjoying a great Christmas is about family, friends, celebrating the birth of Christ, and of course it is about children. Gift giving is an integral part of Christmas celebrations around the world but can be a worry. We all love to see the recipient's eyes light up when they open their Christmas gift but spreading such pleasure can be costly. However in reality it does not have to cost the earth. It’s never too early to buy Christmas gifts Forward planning is essential if money is in short supply; even if it is not why spend more money on Christmas gifts than is necessary? Shopping for Christmas gifts throughout the year means that you can take advantage of sale prices and special deals. Free gifts Believe it or not there are some suitable gift items that are free or almost free. Consider:
Do it yourself gifts. Do it yourself gifts are those that you have made or assembled yourself. For example, how about:
How to buy cheap Christmas gifts If you have started shopping for Christmas gifts early in the year you should be able to take full advantage of the January sales. Make sure however that you do not buy items that will be unpopular or unfashionable by the next Christmas.
You will need Imagination. Forward planning. A list of those you want to buy a gift for. Some current knowledge of the recipient such as age, hobbies and interests. To always have some cash set aside for Christmas gift shopping. Tips & Warnings Shop early for Christmas gifts. Remember the best bargains are soon snapped up. Research on-line for special offers. Use cash-back websites when possible. Keep your eyes open for potential Christmas gifts and ideas. Avoid using a credit card to purchase the gifts. In the long run using such a card will make them expensive. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yAM1OIb-aMI |
Archives
January 2019
Categories
All
|
