This can the most fun, yet the most tedious of all Christmas traditions. The tree usually has the most decorations of anything else in or on your house. Take your time and you will have a beautiful tree.

First thing’s first. You need lights on your tree (make sure you test them before you put them in the tree). I personally like the blinking lights… the ones that keep changing blinking patterns. It gives the tree interest. I actually find it rather hypnotizing if not extremely soothing.

Start by running the lights inside the tree. Some people like to get all the way to the trunk. I think about half way up the branches should be enough. Start from the bottom… making sure there is enough wire for the plug to make it to the wall socket. Go around the tree until you get to the top. If you have more lights, keep going around (closer to the outside of the branches) ‘til you get back to the bottom or ‘til you run out of lights.

NOTE: most strings of lights say not to link more than three strands. If you link more than that, it can become a fire hazard.

Step back and look at the spacing of the lights. Make sure you rearrange the lights so there are not any obvious holes.

Next you will want to put the ornaments on the tree. Again, make sure that you disperse them evenly. If your tree is against a wall, you can lessen the number of ornaments on the back of the tree. Just remember, people will look back there. If your tree is in front of a window, the window side could actually be more important than what you see inside the house. This is the side that all passersby see when they go by your home.

Next you will want to put on any garland or tinsel you may have. Again, make sure you apply it evenly.

Finally, find the youngest person in your house, lift them up and let them place the tree topper on the top of the tree (this it the tradition in our house). Plug in the topper. Turn of the lights in the room. Plug the whole tree into the wall socket.

Sit back and be memorized of your beautiful work.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 6th, 2007 at 12:01 am and is filed under Christmas Ideas. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.