I am about to spend my second Christmas in New York and I know it is such a cliche, but no other city does Christmas quite like New York! The 5th Avenue Christmas windows, the Rockettes, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and shopping at Macy’s! But the most surprising and wonderful part of Christmas is visiting my friends’ apartments! Seriously, when it comes to Christmas – New-Yorkers sure know how to decorate!
Now I’ve never been a big Christmas-decoration kinda gal (much to Mother’s disappointment). The blow-up Santas, the singing door mats, the candy-cane shaped plates… I just can’t do it. But my New-York friends have changed my thinking. Their decorations are beautiful, stylish and cheese-free. So I have started a quest. That is, to buy one or two beautiful Christmas items each year to start my collection of non-tacky, non-neon, non-paddle-pop-stick-ornament decorations. These are the first 4 on my list!
1. Nutcrackers
Truth be told, I never understood the significance of the nutcracker until my hubby and I went to the Nutcracker Ballet last Christmas. The ballet tells the story of a nutcracker coming to life and turning into a prince. Set on Christmas Eve it is a classic Christmas story and nutcrackers have become a universal symbol of Christmas. These wood carvings are typically dressed as different professions – bakers, soldier’s, kings etc. They look so sweet all lined up along the top of a fireplace or along a window sill. If you would like to purchase a nutcracker this season, we suggest online stores House of Holiday for our American readers and Christmas Kingdom for our Australian readers.
2. Christmas Candles
This is a unique way to display a Merry Christmas sign in your home without having to hang up a cheesy plastic banner. Candles are beautiful at any time of year, but particularly at Christmas. Candle holders and lanterns with illuminated festive words add class and serenity to your Christmas setting.
3. Snowglobes
Snowglobes have become my favourite New York Christmas decoration. Last Christmas I splurged and bought a beautiful (and ridiculously too expensive) snowglobe from Macys and I just adore it! There is something so magical about them. Perhaps because snow at Christmas seems so foreign and exotic to an Aussie! As they are small and compact, they are the perfect little ornament to place on a bathroom vanity, a bookshelf or on your bedside table.
4. Poinsettia
Also known as the “Flowers of the Holy Night”, poinsettias are the universal Christmas flower. Their bright red colours make for a beautiful table centerpiece and placing 2 pots either side of your doorway in the month of December is a beautiful reminder of the season.
Penny xo
