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December 1875.
In every household we would strongly urge the use of Christmas decorations. All, from the oldest to the youngest, should unite in the work of gathering and preparing the decorations. There is much pleasure in united home-work; and great good will surely come from a general, cheerful observance of anniversaries in the home. And we should enlarge our sympathies, embracing some in our kindly remembrance outside our immediate family. Christmas decorations make the rooms seem cheery and homelike, and in the work itself of preparing them there is a positive pleasure. Any such work of home interest strengthens the home love. It makes happier and better children, as well as truer, more devoted parents.
It is a pity that we have not, except in occasional sections of the Southern States, the mistletoe, with its curiously forked branches, and their terminal pairs of pale green leaves and their crystalline berries. In old England , no house would be thought complete in its Christmas decorations without it. Thanks, however, for the holly, the laurel, the hemlock, and other fine native evergreens in tree, shrub, and vine, with which America is favored. For some tings the double fir is lovely. Cedar and the trailing evergreen are pretty when they are first arranged, but soon look dry and faded; while the hemlock will remain bright and glossy as long as we care for it, giving us no trouble about shedding its leaves.
Holly, where it can be had, is of course the special tree of the season. Its leaves bent into various curves, its thorny points, and its bundles of coral-red berries, make it the prince of evergreens for decorative purposes. It is a good plan to strip off the berries, and use them strung in bunches, as the berries get hidden when the sprigs are worked into wreathes and devices, and the berries bent into little bunches, dotted about the festoons here and there, look very effective.
Laurel is a very useful green in sprays, and the leaves may be applied with excellent effect in wreathes, or overlapping one another in borders.
Myrtle and box also are pretty in narrow borderings, into which colored everlasting flowers may be introduced. Of course, if chrysanthemums, roses, carnations, &c., can be obtained, the general effect is heightened, and the decoration becomes more elaborate and more elegant.
The best wreathes for Christmas decorations are those made in a rope of evergreen sprigs. There are several ways in which such wreaths are made. One way is as follows: Get a rope or strong cord of proper length and a quantity of twine and a handful of evergreen twigs. Begin at one end of the rope, which should be attached firmly to something. Arrange a bunch of twigs around the rope, and tie them on with twine; then arrange another bunch so that the leaves may conceal the stocks of those already on, and give the twigs a turn round them, fastening it with a running knot, and so on until the rope is finished. This must be done at the fastening of each bunch of twigs. Another way very frequently adopted is in place of a rope to use only a piece of strong twine to run through the wreath so as to prevent its falling to pieces, and instead of twine to tie the twigs on, to use fine wire, which must be firmly twisted round the twigs.
In all kinds of wreaths, the thickness of the wreath must be carefully regulated at the outset, and evenly maintained throughout, and care should be taken that all the foliage be turned in one direction. The wreaths may be made of one kind of evergreen only, or of any number of kinds mixed; the latter has the best effect. There should be an equal mixture of the fine kinds to keep the wreath light and sprayey. The holly and bitter-sweet berries should be fastened as best to imitate their natural effect. In fastening the wreath to a pillar or wall, take care not to put it on upside down, as foliage must not be placed in a direction contrary to that of its growth. When the wreaths are finished, before hanging them up they should be kept in some cool place, or else they shrivel up; if necessary, a little water may be sprinkled over them. If holly and bittersweet berries are scarce, a good substitute may be found in rose-hips, which may have a small piece of wi re passed through them as a stalk, and several twisted together. Split peas may be passed through them as a stalk, and several twisted together. Split peas may be made to resemble holly-berries by pouring over them red sealing wax melted in spirits of wine.
Where definite shapes are required, there are several ways of securing the desired effect. Some use a groundwork of tin or perforated zinc.
Holly strung has a very good effect. It is very quickly done, and looks like a rich cord when finished. It is made by threading a packing-needle with the required length of twine, and stringing upon it the largest and most curly-looking holly leaves, taking care to pass the needle through the exact center of each leaf. Flat borderings, to lie along panels of cabinets, doors, or mirrors, &c., should be made of leaves sewn in strips on strong paper or yards of buckram cut in strips, and sewn together to the required lengths. Garlands or half-wreaths are best made on barrel hoops for their foundation. For making letters, there is nothing that bends to the shape of the letters so well as crinoline wires. Single letters are best cut out in strong paper, and the leaves sewn on with a needle and thread. Borders of evergreens may be placed around the room, and used to form attractive frames for pictures and mirrors. Scrolls, with mottoes bidding people to be welcome and happy, either laid on bright-colored calicoes with holly bordering, or else merely the word “Christmas” done in laurel leaves, and variegated with immortelle flowers. . . .
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