Christmas Decorating for Senior Citizens

When a couple is young and their children are small, the decorating can be a fun-filled family event. But what of an older couple who have no young children in the home and their kids and grandkids live far away? You can hear plenty of older folks say the holidays don't matter now that the kids are gone. That doesn't have to be the case!

Whether you choose an artificial tree or a cut tree or a living tree, it can be a great experience for both the husband and wife to set it up and decorate it. Maybe your grandchildren will see it and maybe they won't. But you'll see it! And there are always pictures that you can send to share your holiday with far off loved ones.

First, choose the type of tree you want. If it is artificial, it's easy to set up. Just pick the spot and rearrange your furniture a little. With a live tree, do the same thing, but be sure to leave plenty of room for watering so it will still be alive once the holidays are over. Then you can decide where to plant it. That can be great fun, too. With a cut tree, make sure the trunk is freshly cut (at a small angle) and the lower branches are trimmed. It should be kept in a container so that you can water it often to keep the tree fresh and the needles from falling out all over your floor.

Once the tree is where you want it, dig out the decorations and lights. With a few hot toddies the decorating can be a blast. Lights are a nuisance, but if the tree is going in front of a window for display, they're necessary. Otherwise, just a pretty tree with a few ornaments can be enough. If you have heirloom ornaments, use them. Popcorn was great when your kids were young, but it can be just as much fun for the two of you. String it with fresh cranberries and drape your tree. Make a "snow field" under the tree with an old sheet and start loading it with gifts.

Don't forget the wreath! If you already have one, they aren't hard to hang on a door, or a porch or in a window. If not and if you have a cut tree, try tying the cut branches from the bottom of the tree to a metal clothes hanger. You can find accents (like bells or ribbons) at your local dollar store to add for festive effects.

Indoors, you can buy an inexpensive bowl or two and arrange bright ornaments with sprigs of greenery to set around your living room. Candles are a wonderful touch, too. Pick whatever scent says "Christmas" to you and light them often. Gingerbread, cinnamon, and pine are always good for the holiday smells.

Be sure you send out Christmas cards to all your friends and relatives. When they send return cards, you can decorate a whole wall with them. You can also buy a few dollar store gifts to have under the tree, just in case someone comes to visit and you want to give them something special.

Age shouldn't take away from the Christmas spirit! There are still things you can do to celebrate and enjoy the season without spending a fortune.