Published at 19:21, Thursday, 10 December 2009

DECISIONS, decisions. The black one or the upside down one?

The corner one or the cotton wool one (it’s true!)?

Silver, cinnamon or black? Ice blue or purple? Victorian, kitsch or Barbie pink?

I am, of course, discussing Christmas trees and their decorations.

As our homes (or wherever we might be spending Christmas this year) are gradually being transformed into colourful tributes to the season, there are endless temptations for us to keep up with latest trends.

Whether we bring our tree out of the loft or carry a real one home to subtly scent the room, there’s always something to lure us into spending more money at a time when we’re already emptying our coffers.

It was the unveiling this week of fashion designer John Galliano’s tree in London’s Claridge’s hotel that got me thinking.

Moving away from tradition, he has chosen a bare tropical tree adorned with snow leopards, dragonflies and parrots.

Most of us won’t get much more tropical or fantastical than a grandma-knitted snowman or school-made bauble from our kids’ pasts; we might splash out on a trendy butterfly, flower or star to plonk on the branches, but I really hope not many of us are going to slavishly follow each year’s trend (in recent times we’ve had the upside-down tree, trees that are pink, purple, electric blue, brown or white, and this year, pencil ones in black, even though I have to admit to a sneaking like for these, sheer gothic).

Do we really want to add fake trees to the ever-growing piles on landfill sites?

I love decorating the house but it has to be admitted some people do go somewhat over the top at this time of year: putting decorations up sometimes months ahead of the big day; draining the national grid with displays; having several trees and themed rooms in each room.

I have over the years subtly altered the colour scheme of the tree but I’m not obsessed about it.

The kids are still able to hang some of their school decorations up (tasteful ones only, please) and there are still some that we’ve had for 10 years or more.

I do let the kids choose a new decoration each year but I subtly make sure we’re in a shop I like before I suggest it to them.

What with food and parties, clothes and wrapping paper, sometimes it seems that Christmas is more about adults than children, and fashion than the true sentiments of the season.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk