just watching nigella does anyone really have candles on their christmas tree.

[twinsetiscrapatflouncing]

I feel risque enough having lots on my mantle piece with my garland.

Funnily enough, we were at my dh's boss's Xmas party at the weekend. They are Spanish and the house and tree were covered in tinsel. I wonder about other countries, if there are tinsel Borders.

Sadly, I suspect there is a classic northern vs Southern Eusope cliche in here...

No tinsel in dutch houses either. My dutch MIL always had candles on the tree which were lit on Christmas Eve. Beautiful but I found it slightly worrying as not only naked flame on dried out pine tree but also residing in wooden chalet in french alps....surrounded by yet more pine trees just waiting to be burnt to a cinder.....My english sensibilities meant I spent the whole evening working out how long it would take fire brigade to make it up twisty mountain roads from Evian (assuming french fire brigade not half-way through main course of christmas eve supper and therefore totally unable to break away from table )

Hmm, yes. A naked flame. Combustible pine tree. Paper-wrapped presents beneath. Carols playing, and children laughing in the background

It's all beginnning to sound like the opening sequence of the Casualty Christmas Special, isn't it?

Lol Les Sapeurs d'Evian! Those French have such style..

twinset, i don't think the safe tea lights look bad at all.

i have the Everlasting large pillar candles, too, which are nice because i can use them with rechargeable batteries.

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Looks good in her studio but not in a small lounge with an over-active toddler and terrier in the mix! I'm off to have a lychini and make some mincemeat!

I'm going to make mincemeat ice-cream, having taken a detour via Mr Slater.

Onebat your first post made me laugh so much I dribbled. And your subsequent posts actually....

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My dad did as a child. Apparently. He used to go and stay in his gp's big house for the school holidays. On Boxing Day they used to have a party for all the local children. Real candles on the massive real tree. And some real men with buckets standing but in case of fire .

Danae
My DH's family always baked plaetzchen (little biscuits only made at christmastime) and lebkuchen (gingerbread cakes, actually a bit like jaffacakes, not a cake but not a biscuit). They also celebrate 6th December (St Nikolaus) by putti g their boots at the bedroom door the night before. St Nik brings chocolate during the night. The whole of advent is celebrated, by making a wreath with 4 candles. One gets lit each Advent Sunday.

Xmas is then celebrated on 24th december. Presents unwrapped in the evening.

We've always had real candles on our Christmas tree - I love it. Dh isn't convinced and has a mini heart attack whenever I light them.

Onebat - I am going to try the mincemeat ice cream as well. DH has had enough of me drooling over her book - I just want to make everything in it! (Also agree with you about dancing around the tree - would have to be drunk or alone to even consider doing this!)