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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

does anyone in the UK have real candles on their christmas tree?

20 replies

catepilarr · 20/12/2009 14:43

well, that is it.
where i come from it is common to have real candles but havent met anyone in the uk who has them.

OP posts:

SheikYerbouti · 20/12/2009 14:44

With 3 cats and 2 small children, real candles on my Christmas tree would lead to a towering inferno

ShinyAndNew · 20/12/2009 14:46

No, I like my house to be of the non crispy variety

muggglewump · 20/12/2009 14:47

Um no. I might try it though, could be cheaper than paying for heating, even if it will only last 5 minutes before I'm crispy and sitting in rubble

displayuntiltwelfthnight · 20/12/2009 14:48

can't imagine anyone with children or pets having real candles on their tree tbh even if they would like to

muggglewump · 20/12/2009 14:49

Actually, it would also save on a Halloween costume as I could go as Freddy Krueger without needing to dress up.

Maybe this should be a money saving tip?

wonderingwondering · 20/12/2009 14:50

How does that work? Do you hang tea-light holders from the branches? My baubles keep falling off the saggy branches, so I certainly wouldn't fancy balancing a naked flame on them!

SheikYerbouti · 20/12/2009 14:53

Lol at mugglewump

mmelindt · 20/12/2009 14:56

I used to have candles when we lived in Germany, still have the holders somewhere but have not bought candles since we had the DC.

I might get some this week and light them on Heiliger Abend. It does look pretty, and as long as you are careful it is not dangerous.

Many British folk have artificial trees though, so that could be a reason.

mmelindt · 20/12/2009 14:57

Wondering
You can buy special candle holders for long slim candles.

wonderingwondering · 20/12/2009 15:09

Thanks. I don't think I've ever seen candles on a tree in real life. Def not a good idea in my house, with children, pets and clumsy grandparents milling about

GoodKingWhatFreshHellLookedOut · 20/12/2009 15:19

We always had real candles when I was a child - not when we were tiny, obviously, but when we were old enough not to be idiots. We knew never to leave the tree unattended, so they were only lit when we were doing presents or in the evenings after dinner, but they were so lovely.

I intend to have real candles again once my DCs are past the age of pulling stuff over.

Original poster

catepilarr · 20/12/2009 15:43

we have special christmas candle holders, i have put photos here- if have good eyes, you'll see them.
perhaps i should add we do not light the tree up unless we sit around it (have always had it like this, also when we were babies/ toddlers. but you didnt have any electric candles in those days, at least not here ;) )

OP posts:

mmelindt · 20/12/2009 16:21

Yes, that is the kind of candle holder I have. Lovely tree, candlelight makes it look very festive.

Am going to hunt for my holders.

geekgirl · 20/12/2009 16:48

well lots of Germans manage to combine real candles with small children and pets without setting fire to their houses... we did have a rather dramatic moment once when our cat managed to pull over a Christmas tree with lit candles - I think all the candles were blown out by the draft of the fall though.

We don't have real candles now - you can't get hold of the right size candles in the UK and I quite like having the tree lit by fairy lights all day long.

Original poster

catepilarr · 20/12/2009 23:42

did i tempt you, mmlindt? ;) do they/you do sparkles on christmas tree in germany?

OP posts:

isgrassgreener · 20/12/2009 23:48

I have been told that it is now illegal to sell real candle holders for trees in the UK (I work in a shop and we used to sell them) two years ago we had tealight holders that you hung on the tree and they caught on fire whilst on display in the shop, it was all rather funny at the time, but obviously not something that we felt happy selling, so they were taken down straight away.

choosyfloosy · 20/12/2009 23:49

my mum did real candles on our tree when we were a bit older, as she was nostalgic for her youth.

i remember the holders being an absolute PITA and it was a bit annoying having to light them all repeatedly. I get nostalgic for the warm twinkle of electricity, and the annual 'bulb check' of my youth, which of course I never had to do.

Original poster

catepilarr · 21/12/2009 18:29

isgrassgreener - thb i wouldnt be much surprised if it was forbidden. after i asked at the opticians for glass lenses and they said they dont have them because of health and safety

OP posts:

ZZZenAgain · 21/12/2009 18:38

no never used real candles in a tree. Wouldn't like to risk it tbh

Smithagain · 21/12/2009 20:01

My friend does. She is Danish and has a Danish-style Christmas at home, which involves putting the tree up on Christmas Eve, complete with real candles in specially-designed candle holders. They have weights hanging down under the candle, which keep it upright and they have a VERY big tree, with lots of space between branches.

The tree is lit on Christmas Eve. They dance around it singing Christmas carols. It is never left unattended. And I think the candles are only lit on Christmas Eve, for that particular ceremony.

They have three children aged 7, 4 and 1, and seem to have got away with it so far. And I have to say, it does look very, very beautiful!

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