Tips for Decorating Your Aluminum Christmas Tree

It takes a special sensibility to enjoy the look of an aluminum Christmas tree. At first glance it looks spindly to some but to those of us who love them, they look futuristic. Putting the three poles together, straightening out the bent wire branches and the mashed threads of silver have become a sign of holidays. Some folks go to the Christmas tree lot and search for the perfect shape, color and smell. We go to the basement. We move around some boxes and there it is.

Over the years we began with the standard all blue globe ornament look, maybe red, sometimes green, and feeling really crazy - silver globes that gave the tree the look of a disco ball. It was all good. There is nothing wrong with tradition but times they are a changin'.

Short bit of history is needed here. The most famous of the aluminum tree manufacturers was the Aluminum Specialty Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. In 1959 the sales manager, Tom Gannon saw a little metal tree in the window of a hardware store. The sensation, short-lived as it was was born. The "Evergleam" Christmas tree grew from Mr. Gannon's fertile imagination, was nurtured on the factory floor at ASC before branching out into the homes of folks bored with the trees Mother Nature had so long provided. ASC made them in a variety of colors; blue, green, red and the rarest of them all; the pink.

The metal trees weren't conducive, or is that conductive, to strings of electric Christmas lights so the color wheel came to be. A rotating wheel with inset colored plastic panels turned in front of a light to cast a fluidly changing light that reflected off the silver leaves. Many ornament manufacturers made and distributed them.

Don't get stuck in a decorative rut with an aluminum Christmas tree. Traditionally an aluminum Christmas tree would be decorated with globe shaped ornaments, different sizes but the same color. Great look for the beginner or the traditionalist. There is no need for tinsel because the tree is one big piece of standing tinsel. From there the possibilities are staggering and sometimes strange.

THE SANTA PLEASE BRING JEWELRY TREE

Sometimes Santa needs a more than subtle hint. Decorate the tree with the bright colors and varied designs of costume jewelry. Make garlands from necklaces strung together. Ornaments can be earrings, especially those funky neon hued plastic circles and ones with glittering fake jewels.

THE FLY ME TO SANTA'S WORKSHOP TREE

Festoon the tree with feathers, preferably fake ones. You can find them in all sizes and colors. Artfully arranged among the silver branches they can make a stunning presentation.

THE I LOVE TOYS (OR THE I AM A FANBOY) TREE

Pull out your box of loose comic action figures. Or if you are a true fanboy take them off the shelf in the living room. Buy a box of Christmas ornament hangers and create a theme.

Think of dozens of different sized Spider-man figures dangling. With great Christmas comes great responsibility.

Feeling more mutant for the holiday season hang X-Men figures. The light-up Phoenix is very festive against the silver tree. Sit back and Marvel at it.

Expecting a Dark Knight on Christmas the Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy figures would add an element of Grinch along with Robin and the Batman. Chances are your family and friends won't get the Joke(r).

Give where no man has given before. Can't leave out Star Trek or Star Wars. Now is your chance to hang up the ornaments you bought for an investment. The original Enterprise and the Millennium Falcon are ready to zoom through the aluminum sky. Surely you know by now they aren't going to make you rich.

THE THOSE ORNAMENTS ARE SO COOL BUT THEY WOULDN'T LOOK GOOD ON A REAL TREE TREE

You see ornaments in the stores that just wouldn't work on a nice evergreen tree. They are too futuristic looking, too modern so you pass on them. An "Evergleam" tree is perfect for them.

Those are just a few ideas. The picture included with the article is of our much loved aluminum tree. It was bought at a tailgate sale here in St. Louis for $5.00. You won't find them that cheap anymore because the collectibles market discovered them. There are new ones on the market but the old ones have more character.

No matter how you decorate an aluminum tree a color wheel is essential. And if you can find one of the tree stands that slowly rotate the tree while playing Silent Night or Come All Ye Faithful you won't regret it. We love ours.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a shiny tree in the living room.