Decluttering Christmas Stuff

Sadly just added 2, but of a tradition that Mr P always has one for his November birthday.

The sitting room is decorated quite tastefully (I think ) but I give him free rein in the kitchen dining room!

Bought a fibre optic tree and Father Christmas (posted about that as he needed some more filling for his wicker type frame) on the local village fb page, £10 for both, the FC still had the price tag on, £19.99!

Bargain!
It’s so hard to resist the pretty things.

Gave my grandchildren the run of a Christmas shop at the weekend, couldn’t believe how much their basket of baubles cost me!

Some of them were quite hideous, I suggested they take them home for their own tree, but no, they are destined to festoon mine!

I am particularly bothered by a big brown rather ugly owl.

Sara65 what a hoot!

I never do too many, dun to put up but a drag to take down again.
Two artificial trees, a white one for the conservatory ( usually dressed in pink and gold or blue and silver or purple and gold) just to ring the changes, and a green one in the sitting room with traditional red green and gold.Lights on both, white and silver lights on one and multicolour on the other.
Christmas wreath on the door, and a garland on the mantelpiece.That’s about it.No outside lights.

Dun? Fun!

Lemongrove

You’re funny!!

Except for the odd bauble, haven't bought any new for ages, so don't feel the need to cut down.
Big real tree in the sitting room, assorted multicoloured decorations collected over decades. And after years of 'tasteful' white lights, I rebelled last year after finding - oh joy! - a set of the old fashioned soft and twinkly coloured ones, instead of those horrible LED things.

Little real tree outside the front door.

Sundry green garlands, inc. up the banisters.

Two 'garlands' of Victorian-scrap-type Christmas robins, bought ages ago from Past Times.

Christmas cards blu-tacked to various vertical surfaces.

An arrangement of greenery from the garden, plus a candle, stuck into Oasis in a copper bowl on the hall table. (Must dig out bowl and polish it.)

Fresh green wreath on the front door.

And that's about it, but for our house it's enough.

I’m getting quite bored by the spread of Christmas virtue signalling (not OP but in general)
Were I to have a tree, (and I probably won’t bother, as I am away from the 20th) if I were to, my tree baubles go back to and include the gold star my mother had on her (German-style) tree throughout my childhood and which she passed on to me, the glass angels and little bells I bought at the Aachen Christmas market on various visits in the 90’s , baubles I have bought over many many years, little wooden angels my sis in law gave us easily 30 years ago, in other words tree ornaments which are part of our family history. Other than gradually substituting glass baubles with unbreakable ones and downsizing in the years when the tree was a smaller one, it has remained relatively unchanged and traditional.
My tastes may have changed and become simpler, but I still like fir garlands along the mantelpieces, fir branches tucked behind pictures (often trimmed with green velvet ribbon votive candies everywhere and Christmas pot pourri - it is the traditional character of my decs which I like.
I am not contributing to landfill or harming the environment in any way, as , with the exception of the tree, it all goes back into the loft until the next year.

I sorted out my collection last year and put them all into plastic storage boxes instead of tatty cardboard ones, so I can now see what's inside. Some things I'll never use again went to recycling/charity shop.

This year will be fairly minimalist for me as we're away for the holiday itself but I'll want something up at home. I've bought a new artificial tree but youngest dd, who will be home with us, was horrified at the prospect of not having a real tree!

I'm actually in the process of making new ones. After watching the sewing demos on the craft channels, I have bought several kits and am making decorations for the tree and two wall-hangings. I shall be spending Christmas alone so I'm the only one who will see them, but I shall still enjoy them.

MawB

I have baubles and decorations going back forty five years, as you said, a family history on a tree, I always decorate with my grandchildren these days, and we talk about them all as we get them out, they now have their memories as well.

Like you Maw, it’s a hotch potch of clashing colours and styles, Cheap, expensive, made by various children over the years, I love it!

MawB most of my decorations are wooden German ones too, from the Erzgebirge, and reflect my family heritage. They are so beautiful and impossible to part with.

I cut down on my decorations last year as it wasn't the same without DH. I used to do every room downstairs and go to town. But decided to just do the sitting room instead, which is what I think I'll do again. And also put a wreath on the front door.

I did get a new pre-lit tree ? last year as I could not face stringing all the fairy lights on the old one. It is so much easier. My baubles date back to 1969, when DH and I met in Singapore and the same ones come out every year. Also from when we lived in Cyprus and Australia. Always used to search out new ones on holidays, so there are some from Majorca, San Francisco and Los Angeles. And of course the ones that the children made in school. Decided enough was enough. But saw some pretty ones in St Petersburg this summer and wanted to use up my last few roubles and thought why not. Will not be buying any more!

Over the years I’ve thrown away miles of tinsel I should think,

In the seventies we used to hang paper chains everywhere, we must have looked like a branch of Woolworths, they are all long gone, as is a Blue Peter coat hanger decoration which had pride of place for many years.

I did mine 2 years ago, after I was widowed and when I realised that I had to downsize properly. The artificial tree went to a dd, it was big and heavy no matter how much I squashed it for storage. Most knick knacks went the same way. Now I have a scandi tree made from wood and dowels, it packs into a slim box and looks gorgeous covered in baubles and home crafted dangly things. A couple of bright covers for small tables add colour. A few beautiful ornaments and two hanging things and one set of stylish little lanterns run by battery. That is it, my house looks festive and will be easy to pack away

Things first changed once the AC got their own homes and families but the final change was hardest, after I was widowed. I am happy with what I kept or changed. No fussiness, bright and cheerful for mid winter and definitely not over the top

Craftyone

That sounds really lovely

My desire to downsize Christmas a bit is driven by deteriorating health.