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Because I love Christmas
Origins of Santa Claus
Frugal Articles
Recycle Those Old Christmas Decorations
Articles published elsewhere
Funky, Free and Frugal Christmas Decorations
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Christmas Decorating for LessNaturally free Christmas decorations at your fingertipsby Pat Veretto
Deck the halls with boughs of holly... By using things that are near at hand and free or nearly free just as people used to do to decorate for Christmas, we can have a bright and happy holiday season and still have money for other things. Think about how our traditional decorations for Christmas trees came about. Strings of cranberries came from areas where cranberries grow wild. Popcorn strings, holly berries, candles... they all had their beginnings because they were cheap, natural and free, easy to find, and part of daily life. Now elevated to "tradition", big business charges a price for plastic holly sprigs and bubbling candle lights. And you know what? We buy it. I'm not saying we should put real candles back on the tree (they used to only light them for a while on Christmas eve or morning, anyway), but maybe we need to approach decorating for Christmas in the same spirit as our frugal, sensible grandparents or great grandparents did. What do you have for free - in your home, in your yard, in a nearby park or trail or field? There are very few places where nothing can be found with which to decorate. Making decorations from "nothing," is frugal, too! You're familiar with paper chains, but why not use a twist, literally? Cut strips from foil or glossy paper (magazine pictures are great for this), then fold and twist them a couple of times before joining with a stapler. Or use decoratively edged scissors or pinking shears to cut the strips, then close with a stapler. Make a hole in the circle and insert the next strip, close with stapler and make another hole and so on. It looks festive! Use these chains to drape doorways or make swags for the ceiling. The best ornaments and decorations I own are those we've made over the years. Those memories and good times can't be bought in a store, and while a few of them take time, most take very little money, if any. They all help to create a real Christmas, in our homes and in our hearts. Back to Christmas! |
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