Holiday Decoration Ideas from a Midwestern Point of View

Families, in the Midwestern part of the United States, do a great job handling holiday decorations. From their point of view, they do just as good a job as any other place in the nation. This article will give you some helpful suggestions, on how to liven up your holidays, Midwest style.

Outdoor Lighting; Some homes are over done with lights. White lights or single colored lights are in. Mixed colored lights are out. Mixed lights can be used on your main tree. Too many colored lights makes your home look too commercial. More people are using outdoor lighting to accent and highlight other decorations like wreaths and garland.

Hot Air Blowups; It seems that each year, different blowups come out. For those that love to go overboard with decorations, this is fine. However, too many of them or cumbersome. When not inflated, they make your yard look like a piles of empty trash bags. Maybe, one or two is fine, if located properly.

Holiday Wreaths; More and more across the Midwest, you see holiday decorations accented by a large wreath. Wreaths can be made out of anything from evergreen to twisted vines. They can be straw that is bound together, by wire, ribbons and many other craft items. Wreaths are placed on barns, sheds and houses. Small ones go on doors, large ones go on outer walls of the front of the house. A single light that shines on it, can bring it to the attention to the viewer.

Garland; Works great inside and outside. Inside it can go on the fireplace mantle, counter, grandfather clock, staircase, down halls on the walls, around bedposts and around doors and windows. Outside, you can place on the eaves of your house, around pillars, picket fences, trellis's, mail boxes,light posts, hand rails, front porches, deck rails, and windows and doors.

Live Nativity Scenes; Some Midwestern communities have live nativity scenes. Various churches will volunteer individuals to serve the parts of the main characters. Then live animals are added. This area is usually located in an open area, so that it can be viewed by people as they pass by. The churches will rotate personnel on a daily basis.

In St. Charles, Missouri a special Nativity walk is held. Starting at one end of town, Joesph and Mary show up looking for an inn to stay in. As they go door to door and denied, the shop owner and shoppers follow them to their final destination, a manger.

Christmas Walks; The Chamber of Commerce sets up a Christmas walk on a Sunday evening. Various stores open their doors with beverages and treats. Horse and carriage tours move individuals around in the night air. Songs are sung on street corners, bell ringers ring out special music tunes. Concerts are held in local churches. Midwest Christmas walks are set up for families of all ages.

Ribbons, logs and cards; All three of these can add to your Midwestern holiday decorations. Ribbons of silver, gold. blue, white, purple and plaid are excellent for holiday color. Logs can offer a wood smell. Even, if you don't have a fireplace, their appearance can add to your holiday decorations. Christmas cards, that you get in the mail,
can be placed in good locations to catch the eye of your visitors. Midwestern families put their cards to good use. They are from family and friends and Midwesterners place them in high regards.

Trees; Almost every home has a tree of some type. It doesn't matter what type or size tree that they have. Midwesterners display their trees with pride. It is their way, to make their point of view, when it comes to Midwest holiday decorations.