Christmas decorating is a personal choice and depending on your level of Elf or Grinch you can be as over the top or minimalist as you like!
The modern Christmas tree was made popular in Britain in Victorian times when Prince Albert brought the tradition from Germany when he married Queen Victoria.
This image of Victoria and Albert standing round the Christmas tree with their children was published in the Illustrated London News in 1848 and is regarded as the moment decorating a tree in your home became popular.
The first trees were decorated with candles, sweets, fruit, homemade decorations and small gifts. Over the years the candles became strings of fairy lights and the sweets and homemade decorations became mass produced. Tinsel and lametta with bright multi coloured lights became the must have decorations for trees in the 60's and 70's completely ignoring the natural handmade traditions of the past.
Nowadays there are so many different styles and options available.
The Scandinavians love to decorate their homes with branches of fresh evergreen swathed in sparkling white fairy lights and natural fir cones, hand made salt dough decorations and pretty gingham ribbons or bakers twine.
In America big and bright is definitely best! It is very popular to decorate the outside of your house with Christmas lights, ornaments and even life size statues.
Prize for the World's best tree surely must go to New York City, the incredible tree at the Rockerfella Centre every year is always breathtaking
Whether you are a retro tinsel lover or a scandi minimalist make your home the perfect Christmas grotto this year and unleash your inner elf!
The FRI team have chosen their favourite Christmas images to inspire you:
Merry Christmas
