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Original poster

To not have a theme for our Christmas tree?

143 replies

Fern86 · 04/12/2023 21:57

Our Christmas tree is so random.
4 kids and we pretty much let them do whatever ever they want re decorating the tree. Decoration day starts with a trip to Dobbies so everyone can choose a new bauble. Nothing matches yet i tell myself it’s kind of magical but I keep seeing all these wonderful themed trees and wondering if we should be making more of an effort?!

OP posts:
Cheesyfootballs01 · 05/12/2023 10:37

The snobbery and outrage on here for having a “theme” is hilarious. It really doesn’t matter if someone’s tree is full of random decorations that don’t match or if it’s a themed colour - it’s their own personal choice!

Also not everyone has children who have made decorations or historic family decorations that have been passed down through generations…

Maybe a lot of people are starting new traditions or don’t have big families and just want a nice tree?

MrsSkylerWhite · 05/12/2023 10:39

No idea what a themed tree is. Our decorations are ancient. Do people junk them and buy new each year? What a bloody waste.

But then I don’t have instagram/FB 😁

CharityShopChic · 05/12/2023 10:40

I think what people are objecting to, @Cheesyfootballs01, is the poster who said that mish mash trees are "shit".

Sequinne · 05/12/2023 10:40

We don’t have a theme either.
We’ve collected hundreds of lovely tree decs over the years and it’s just a free for all.

I love our mismatched tree, the kids love it and hopefully in years to come, they will have lots of happy memories of it.

SABM10 · 05/12/2023 10:49

Noooo! My parents' tree was always a mishmash of decorations me and my siblings had made at home or school, random baubles, chocolate decorations and lots of multicoloured tinsel and fairy lights. The trees were gaudy and pretty much a mess but told a story and were made with love (a bit of a cheesy analogy with our family!). My parents still get out the same decorations to this day (or at least the most meaningful ones, which have now been added to by baubles etc made by my young DNs).

My cousins who are about the same age as me (year older and year younger) always had perfect fake trees which changed theme every year. They weren't allowed to have chocolate decorations and none of the baubles etc made by them at school were hung up. I remember looking at a particularly sterile silver and icy blue tree after my girl cousin had at age about 8 just been told by her mum that she couldn't put the angel she'd made on it, or indeed go anywhere near it in case she messed it up somehow, and just feeling a bit sorry for them tbh.

Alconleigh · 05/12/2023 10:55

boohooloo · 05/12/2023 05:59

Themed trees are so 1990's Debenhams.

Nailed it

Alconleigh · 05/12/2023 10:55

My parents tree has decorations from every decade from the 1940s onwards. It's glorious.

piscofrisco · 05/12/2023 11:02

This thread has made me want to see all your random ornaments so I've started a separate thread for it! Please come and show me your best ones!

Down with tasteful trees!!

GetYourBaublesOut · 05/12/2023 11:04

I definately think we're either all speaking at odds or people are choosing to push the idea of a 'theme' to some kind of insta extreme.

My tree is themed - as I said. None of the baubles are identical, many were picked up over the years but all are within a colour theme and most look similar-ish simply because I bought them and so I tend to choose ones I like and they tend to be sympathetic to each other.

I don't care what's on trend nor do I add to landfill. I have a loft full of baubles I have picked up over the years, some of which are more precious than others. Next year's theme will be different and a different load of baubles will come down to have their turn on the tree.

Personally, I find Christmas comes around so often that if I used the same baubles every year I'd never get that 'oh, I remember this one; moment because I'd have learned them all off by heart. I like rediscovering ones I haven't seen for a few years.

As I said, every now and again I have a 'anything goes' theme which means some of the lesser seen baubles get a chance.

But I think it very rude to call mismatched trees shit or used snide comments about Debenhams in the 90s to disparage themed trees.

Cheesyfootballs01 · 05/12/2023 11:04

CharityShopChic · 05/12/2023 10:40

I think what people are objecting to, @Cheesyfootballs01, is the poster who said that mish mash trees are "shit".

But the majority of posters are slating themed trees?

One even said that if you have a themed tree you are not normal and have nothing else to do!?

Also a lot of scorn that you are a slave to Instagram/social media if you have one.

Both type of tree are absolutely fine but there is no need for posters to get bitchy about it?

Also as I said before, not everyone has kids or families so might not have good memories of previous Christmas….

SnacksToTheMax · 05/12/2023 11:05

My theme every year is “20 years-worth of random, sparkly, festive things, minus the ones that got smashed by the cat last time…”.

LadyDanburysHat · 05/12/2023 11:08

I keep seeing a post on Instagram that says, Christmas decorations should not be classy and understated. It should look like joy threw up in your house. I like this statement, it what Christmas is about. I could but matching classy decorations and have a themed house. But the decorations we have hold memories, and are a joy to bring out each year.

squeekychicken · 05/12/2023 11:30

Mine has a theme, or more a colour scheme that I change most years (in rotation). Same lights but this year the tree is red, silver and white. Last year it was pink and blue.

Arduenna · 05/12/2023 11:48

GetYourBaublesOut · 05/12/2023 11:04

I definately think we're either all speaking at odds or people are choosing to push the idea of a 'theme' to some kind of insta extreme.

My tree is themed - as I said. None of the baubles are identical, many were picked up over the years but all are within a colour theme and most look similar-ish simply because I bought them and so I tend to choose ones I like and they tend to be sympathetic to each other.

I don't care what's on trend nor do I add to landfill. I have a loft full of baubles I have picked up over the years, some of which are more precious than others. Next year's theme will be different and a different load of baubles will come down to have their turn on the tree.

Personally, I find Christmas comes around so often that if I used the same baubles every year I'd never get that 'oh, I remember this one; moment because I'd have learned them all off by heart. I like rediscovering ones I haven't seen for a few years.

As I said, every now and again I have a 'anything goes' theme which means some of the lesser seen baubles get a chance.

But I think it very rude to call mismatched trees shit or used snide comments about Debenhams in the 90s to disparage themed trees.

Great post - I think people are talking past each other a bit!

I theme my tree, but I don't buy a loads of new decorations every year! I have loads of baubles because I love Christmas decorations, so you tend to accumulate a lot over the years! I can't put them all on the tree, so I put on ones that 'go' every year, and different ones that 'go' the next year. Last year it was red, green and gold and clear glass, this year it's pink, blue, silver and clear glass.

I've been doing the tree since I was about 7, and even as a kid I liked to have a proper colour scheme - some of us are just anal! It's just a matter of aesthetics - doesn't say anything more about you or your family than having red as your favourite colour over blue does.

glassyhag · 05/12/2023 11:49

My Christmas tree isn't themed at all unless the theme is baubles and tinsel. I did used to buy plastic every few years but I've spent the last 5-6 years collecting vintage glass baubles and adding 1-2 a year from travelling to various Xmas markets etc. I've got lots of different ones so I do swap some of them out every year . I've just put mine up this morning as the teenagers are to old and cool to do anything so trivial. Had to put a cage around it to protect the tree from my grand kids though .

To not have a theme for our Christmas tree?
Original poster
Fern86 · 06/12/2023 03:55

Lizzieregina · 05/12/2023 04:27

My kids are all grown, but we still put all the crap from school on! My personal favourite, a nativity (Jesus Mary and Joseph) made out of peanuts in a lollipop stick triangle 😆

Omg that sounds so funny and cute 🥰

OP posts:
Original poster
Fern86 · 06/12/2023 03:59

SnacksToTheMax · 05/12/2023 11:05

My theme every year is “20 years-worth of random, sparkly, festive things, minus the ones that got smashed by the cat last time…”.

We once had a aeroplane bauble that dropped and smashed and a little tiny Santa fell out the middle!! It does make us all giggle every time how Santa survived! And yes he does go on the tree lol

OP posts:
Original poster
Fern86 · 06/12/2023 04:02

Disabledmomma · 05/12/2023 07:58

Every year I normally do the same. Each DC chooses a new bauble or ornament for the tree. I'm really sad as this year is the first time I can't (I had an accident and on strict bed rest) I'm not even sure my tree will go up this year 😭 my youngest is only three so it's really his year of really understanding it all.

I'll miss nativity plays, carol concerts etc.

I'm quite sad.

Aw sorry to hear that. Hope you get better soon x

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