In Part 1, I introduced some of the most common Christmas decorations, and today I’d like to add a few more things to that list!

Aside from lighting one’s Christmas tree, lots of people also put up (a string of) Christmas lights, along their eaves or balcony/deck railing outside or around their window and door frames inside. Multicolour lights are traditional and were more common in the past, but these days warm white lights may be considered more stylish.

Because it can be troublesome to put them up, especially on one’s eaves, some people (*ahem* my parents) are a bit lazy and just leave them up all year and only turn them on in December. Some people also place Christmas-coloured spotlights in their front yard to illuminate the front of their home or other decorations in their yard. 

Another common decoration to hang in one’s home is garland. Although (typically artificial) evergreen garland with lights or small ornaments is the most common, there are many other types of garland made from various materials, such as tinsel, felt, or dried fruit (such as cranberries and orange slices). Stores also use garland to decorate their doors and shelves at this time of year to create a more inviting and festive atmosphere. I don’t use any garland at home, but my parents use it to decorate their window frames. 

Poinsettias, plants with red (or white) and green foliage, are a common sight at Christmastime. They are displayed in homes and businesses and are a common gift in December. Although they can be kept longer, many people get rid of them after Christmas. Whenever I visit my parents’ house for Christmas, I know that there will be a poinsettia or two sitting in the kitchen.

An advent calendar can take many forms, but typically it is some kind of container with 24 compartments (pockets, doors, or drawers) that contain small treats. Many companies sell advent calendars containing their products at Christmastime (like chocolate, tea, cosmetics, or even LEGO), but some people prefer to buy their own advent calendar (often made of wood) and fill the compartments with their own small gifts. Each day, you can open a new compartment and enjoy the gift inside as you count down to Christmas day. Advent calendars also look nice and make great decorations!

Some people like to place a seasonal centerpiece in the middle of their dining table. At Christmastime, this centerpiece will probably be made from many of the same materials as wreaths, along with a candle (or several candles) in the center. In my family, we stopped putting out a centerpiece during Christmas after one of our curious cats got too close to the candles and his tail caught fire, but my grandmother still enjoys making her own centerpiece every year.

Finally, when it comes to outdoor decorations, people who really love Christmas may put an inflatable Santa or snowman or perhaps some wooden reindeer in their front yard. You may also find a large nativity scene, a scene depicting the birth of Jesus, in front of some houses and churches, though this is not as common as it used to be. Since I live in an apartment, I don’t have any outdoor decorations, but my parents have a bunch of wooden reindeer that sit in the front yard all winter and attract birds (I guess it’s a nice place for them to sit and rest!). 

Well, there are plenty of other Christmas decorations, but that’s quite a long list already, so it’s probably a good idea to stop there and leave the others for you to discover!