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Tiverton Four Corners hosts a quiet celebration of creativity each holiday season, as artists design Christmas trees from recycled and saved materials. The display coincides with the Four Corners Arts & Artisans Fair, a great opportunity to find unique gifts.

T

he holiday season is nearly upon us, and that means some of the best, timeless and enjoyable celebrations are just around the corner. The East Bay stages great holiday traditions, from downtown block parties, to Santas on firetrucks, Christmas trees made from lobster pots, fire-juggling street performers, and children welcoming the season in song.

See what's in store this season right in your hometown or a short drive away.

BARRINGTON

WARREN

Barrington’s largest holiday celebration, the annual Festival of Lights, has become a favorite destination for residents, as it offers something for everyone WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 5, 2-5 p.m.; Town Hall HIGHLIGHTS: Children's holiday movies, music, free hot chocolate, arts and crafts, horse-drawn wagon rides around town, singing performances, Santa and treelighting.

The day after Thanksgiving usually means one thing: shopping. In Warren, there’s something bigger afoot. “Black Friday” is also the first day of the annual two-day Warren Holiday Festival, a tradition in town for nearly 30 years.

WHEN: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 27 & 28 HIGHLIGHTS: Concerts, street performers (fire jugglers), Santa on firetruck, and the lighting of the town’s holiday lights (7

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RICHARD W. DIONNE JR.

The Bristol Grand Illumination moves to a new night this year — Saturday, Dec. 5 — when people will be dancing in the streets downtown.

p.m. Friday). Christmas cookie workshops, speaking presentations, caroling and ornament decorating.

FOR MORE INFO: facebook.com/Warrenholidayfestival

BRISTOL The winter equivalent of Bristol's Fourth of July Parade, Bristol's Grand Illumination will celebrate its 28th year.

Like a Dickens Village come to life, downtown Bristol will be filled with choirs, carolers and dancers entertaining a crowd of thousands. Last year's Illumination was highlighted by a dramatic wedding proposal right on stage during the event. (She said "yes.") This year promises to delight with a 30-foot tree illuminated by thousands of lights, surrounded by music from local groups and student ensembles.

NOTE: The festival has moved this year from Sunday, its traditional spot for three decades, to Saturday night.

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 5 HIGHLIGHTS: Choral performances, dance teams, reading of “ ’twas the Night 4

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Before Christmas,” lighting the downtown lights (6 p.m.) MORE INFO: facebook.com/BristolChristmasFestival/ OTHER EVENTS: • Photos with Santa, Saturday, Dec. 5, Audubon Environmental Education Center, 9-4, free admission, arts and crafts.

• Breakfast with Santa, Mt. Hope High School; 8 a.m. breakfast, photos 9-10:30 a.m.; pancake breakfast, children's craft workshop, balloon twisting, face painting and a magic show, $5 (free under 5).

• Many Moods of Christmas Concert, led

by Joan Roth, Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m., St. Mary’s Church, $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

HIGHLIGHTS: Complimentary cocoa and cookies, Santa on a firetruck (6 p.m.), tree-lighting OTHER EVENTS • With extraordinary decorations and Yuletide cheer, the town-owned Glen Manor House will be open to all for its annual Christmas open house; Sunday, Dec. 13, 2-4 p.m.; photos with Santa, local talent and entertainment.

TIVERTON

PORTSMOUTH

Tiverton is brimming with holiday festivities for all ages.

WHAT: Town tree-lighting ceremony WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 5, 5 p.m., Fort Barton School HIGHLIGHTS: Santa arrive on firetruck, choral, band and dance performances, reading of "The Night Before Christmas."

The Portsmouth Free Public Library’s annual tree-lighting is the first Sunday in December, and the town-owned Glen Manor House hosts an open house the following weekend.

WHEN: Tree lighting, Sunday, Dec. 6

WHAT: Re-Tree "Showcase of trees" and Tiverton Four Corners' Winter's Arts & Artisans Fair WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 12 (10-6) & Sunday, Dec.13 (11-4), Tiverton Four Corners Art

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Center, Meeting House lawn HIGHLIGHTS: Trees 5 to 9 feet tall created using re-cycled materials — amazing creativity on display! Handcrafted goods, meet the artists.

WHAT: Living theater presentation from John Irving’s novel, "A Prayer for Owen Meany," the tale of two pre-teenage boys’ roles in an unorthodox Christmas pageant held in the fictitious New Hampshire town of Gravesend in the mid-1950s.

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m., Tiverton Public Library

LITTLE COMPTON Little Compton combines one of the most fun, creative fund-raisers of the season, with its annual tree-lighting.

WHAT: 22nd annual Ben Wilkie Memorial Tree Spree WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 6, 1-7 p.m., Wilbur & McMahon School gymnasium HIGHLIGHTS: Dozens of theme-decorated four-foot-tall trees are available for bid.

In the past, the event has featured trees in lobster pots, a race-car-themed tree, a tree adorned with money or with photos by a noted local photographer.

ALSO GOING ON: • 5 p.m.: Holiday tree-lighting ceremony at Pike's Peak, The Commons • 6 p.m.: Santa will arrive, with an elf, on the Commons

Warren’s two-day Holiday Festival has all the traditional highlights, and some of the untraditional – like fire-juggling and fire-twirling street performers.

WESTPORT, MA Westport firefighters will once again give Santa a lift to Lees Market aboard a fire engine, where he’ll greet youngsters. They were still working out details with St. Nick — it’s a busy time for him — when this section went to press. Firefighters predict, though, that a Saturday in early December is the best bet. Check Westport Shorelines or Lees Market for details.

DON'T MISS: Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery open house WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS: Free vineyard hayrides all day long, hot cocoa, kettle fires, Christmas music, Golden Touch Alpaca petting zoo, games for the youngsters, art gallery and those wonderful Westport views. There will be great locally produced food all day long thanks to Newie Casciano and her Foodzilla Food Truck, Dartmouth Orchards, Shy Brothers Cheese, Rays Kettle Korn, Hana’s Honey and more.

RICHARD W. DIONNE JR.

Downtown Bristol, moments after the town flips the switch on its holiday lights.

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Shop locally this holiday season S

hopping is a big part of the holiday season, when families and friends gather to reconnect and exchange gifts. While the popularity of shopping online has grown, such practices are not always eco-friendly or timely, as gifts bought online must be packaged and shipped, wasting valuable resources and time that last-minute shoppers may not have.

The benefits of shopping locally go beyond convenience and the chance to reduce your carbon footprint. The following are a few ways that shopping locally this holiday season can directly benefit your community and the people who call it home.

Local economy When men and women shop locally, they are putting money back into their local communities. Local small businesses may be owned by your neighbors, and it can be comforting to know that your holiday shopping dollars are going to support a neighbor instead of a large corporation. Local businesses also employ your neighbors, so shopping local can strengthen the local economy by creating jobs that may not exist if you and members of your community fail to support local small businesses.

Community identity Local small businesses go a long way toward creating a neighborhood identity, and that identity can create a stronger sense of community among you and your neighbors.

In addition, a unique community identity can make your town more attractive to outsiders, and that appeal can improve the value of local real estate while also attracting more people to local businesses in your neighborhood.

Uniqueness of gifts The gifts you buy when shopping locally also can benefit your community. Gifts purchased from small local businesses tend to be more unique than items bought from national chains, as smaller retailers tend to sell more homemade items than their national competitors.

Recipients of such items may find such gifts more thoughtful than mass produced items bought from national chains, and the uniqueness of homemade gifts may encourage the gifts’ recipients to visit your community and do some shopping, further benefitting your local economy.

Customer service The accessibility of customer service

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is another oft-overlooked benefit of shopping locally. When buying from national chains, especially during the holiday season when such businesses may be overwhelmed with orders, making contact with customer service departments can be a trying exercise in patience.

Long wait times on the phone or online can make the process of contacting customer service extremely frustrating.

But such frustration is rare when buying from local businesses, as consumers can simply take their products into the store, where employees can immediately address their concerns. In addition, buying locally makes it more convenient for friends and family members who also live in your community to return their gifts.

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It is once again time to talk turkey, stuffing and all of the trimmings. Thanksgiving is celebrated in both Canada and the United States with similar parades and fanfare. Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for the blessings in one’s life and enjoy the company of family and friends during a special meal.

Although people celebrate Thanksgiving each and every year, they may not be aware of some of its interesting history. Test your knowledge of gobblers and general trivia with this quiz.

1. The story most people associate with the first American Thanksgiving took place in a colony in this modern-day state? a. Pennsylvania b. New Jersey c. Massachusetts d. Delaware 2. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on which day of the week in Canada? a. Monday b. Tuesday c. Wednesday d. Thursday 3. Pilgrims from Europe associated with Thanksgiving are purported to have sailed across the Atlantic to reach North American on which ship? a. Daisy b. Mayflower c. Santa Maria d. Roseflower

4. Which tribe of Native Americans taught Pilgrims how to cultivate the land, contributing to the first Thanksgiving? a. Algonquin b. Lenape c. Shoshone d. Wampanoag

8. Twenty precent of the overall consumption of this type of fruit is done on Thanksgiving. a. apples b. cranberries c. cherries d. grapes

5. Fossil evidence shows that turkeys roamed the Americas how long ago? a. 10 million years ago b. 15 million years ago c. 20 million years ago d. 25 million years ago

9. The first Canadian Thanksgiving was a welcome-home celebration for Sir Martin Frobisher when he returned to which area of the country? a. Albert b. Manitoba c. British Columbia d. Newfoundland

6. Three different deboned types of poultry go into this Thanksgiving meal alternative? a. Orange duck b. Turducken c. Turkey chowmein d. Chixturck 7. In what year did Congress make Thanksgiving an official national holiday in the United States? a. 1932 c. 1941 b. 1939 d. 1946

10. Canadians sometimes call the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States by this name to distinguish it from their own Thanksgiving celebration. a. Yanksgiving b. Amerigiving c. Turmerica d. USthanks Answers: 1. c 2. a 3. b 4. d 5. a 6. b 7. c 8. b 9. d 10. a

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The history behind some beloved Christmas songs Holiday traditions vary from family to family, but one component of the holidays that seems to be universally enjoyed is a good Christmas song. Music is piped throughout malls and stores to entertain shoppers, and favorite tunes may be on the radio or streamed through a digital music service as families decorate their homes.

Many people may love Christmas songs and carols, but not everyone shares the same favorites. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of material when it comes to Christmas songs, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

In 2014, Time magazine researched records at the U.S. Copyright Office to determine the most popular and most recorded Christmas songs since 1978. when copyright registrations were digitized. The following are some of the more beloved holiday tunes and a bit of history about each song.

• “Silent Night”: One of the most rerecorded songs in history (733 versions since 1978), “Silent Night,” was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber and put to lyrics by Joseph Mohr. It was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a village in Austria. Today’s version is a slow lullaby, but it’s believed the original was a dance-like tune in 6/8 time.

• “O Holy Night”: This popular song was composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to a French poem titled, “Minuit, chrétiens (Midnight, Christians).” Many notable performers, including Perry Como, Céline Dion, Josh Groban, Michael Crawford, and Lea Michele, have performed “O Holy Night.”

• “Silver Bells”: Now a Christmas classic, “Silver Bells” originally was written for the Bob Hope film, “The Lemon Drop Kid.” Songwriter Jay Livingston wanted to title the song “Tinkle Bell,” but his wife dissuaded him from using the word “tinkle.”

• “Jingle Bells”: Although it has become one of the more popular Christmas songs, “Jingle Bells” really was written for Thanksgiving. It’s also one of the oldest holiday songs of American origin. James Lord Pierpont, the song’s author, was inspired by

the famous sleigh races of Medford, Massachusetts.

• “Do You Hear What I Hear”: Noel Regney wrote this song as a call to peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The original context has long been forgotten, and “Do You Hear What I Hear” is now a staple of holiday celebrations.

• “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”: James Gillespie wrote this tune while riding a subway and reminiscing about his childhood with his brother. It became a hit after being performed at the famed Macy’s Thanksgiving

Day Parade.

• “The Christmas Song”: This classic Christmas song was written in 1944 by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé. It’s usually subtitled “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.” The song was written during a heat wave as a way to think cool thoughts. It only took 40 minutes to write the music and some of the lyrics. Nat King Cole’s rendition of the song is among the more popular versions.

Christmas songs are enjoyed and performed year after year. Popular songs continue to endure and attract new fans.

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Simple prep for a great holiday party Holiday entertaining doesn’t have to make you crazy

BY LYNDA REGO lrego@eastbaynewspapers.com Holiday entertaining is a lot of fun.

However, it can be daunting even for those who throw parties every year. But, spending time with those we love is really the highlight of the season. Our family cuts back on other events so we have more together time.

When entertaining, the goal is to organize things in a way that allows you to have a good time, too. There’s only one way to accomplish that — planning. I’m a big listmaker (and I keep them from year to year). I keep track of what worked, what didn’t, and exactly what I did and how. I inherited the habit from my Mother, a master entertaining planner.

Putting everything down on paper clears my mind — and allows me to sleep better!

And, I put the lists on my computer so they can be easily updated or changed.

Start with the menu. Are you doing a cookie swap, a cocktail party with appetizers, a complete dinner, or desserts and dessert wines/champagne? Is it sit-down or buffet? The event will dictate your menu to a degree.

Don’t experiment. Trust me. It can be a disaster. You want tried and true recipes you’re familiar with. If you have something new that’s too enticing to pass up, test it out ahead of time.

I keep a folder with all my favorite holiday recipes so I don’t have to rummage through cookbooks and file drawers. And, if I come across a new recipe anytime of year, it can go right into the holiday folder.

If you have friends and family who are amenable, definitely farm out some of the cooking to them. If everyone brings something, you can concentrate on cleaning and have fun decorating.

Once you have a menu, make a list of who will prepare what, the ingredients you need (you don’t want ingredients you can’t find this time of year) and what serving dishes, trays, plates, etc., will hold each dish. How will you keep the drinks cold? Do you have enough glasses or will you use plastic? Do you need to borrow a big coffeepot? What

Use a small side table for a cheese array, which is an elegant addition to a buffet or party. There are so many choices from around the world at your local market these days. Add some simple crostini and crackers, dried fruits or grapes and nuts to round it out.

will hold the trash? Try to imagine all the necessities in advance.

Make a shopping list and a timeline of when each chore needs to be accomplished.

If you plan a menu with items that can be made ahead, this spreads the work out over a week or so.

Enlist the help of everyone in the family, even if it’s only a spouse or sibling. No excuses! Even non-cooks can vacuum, dust and help decorate. Let them choose what tasks they like. And, if you give the house a heavy cleaning several weeks before, it only needs a light going-over the week of the party or dinner.

I like to do a buffet of appetizers and some simple dishes, with lots of easy or makeahead items, such as spiced nuts, paté, a cheese and fruit platter, sables, cocktail meatballs or franks, maybe a spiral cut ham with little biscuits, roasted veggies, and platters of cookies and desserts. I make one or two hot items that get passed on a tray, so I can wander around and mingle with my guests.

Lots of dips and spreads can be prepared in advance, along with holiday cookies and a nutbread or other make-ahead desserts.

For some recipe ideas, visit our website at www.eastbayri.com.

Some entertaining tips n Make your lists: Guests, menu, shopping, chores and timeline. Note next to each item who can help. n The day before, set the table. Set out all the serving dishes (and utensils). Drop paper tags into each dish identifying its contents. Then, if you have help, they know what to do. n Dim the lights a little for a cozy atmosphere. If you don’t have dimmers, turn off overhead lights and rely on small lamps, Christmas lights and candles. But, be careful with open flames, especially near curtains or doors that will be opening. n Dig out the holiday CDs or whatever form of entertainment you use; but, don’t crank it too loud. People want to socialize. n Settle the pets in a nice, quiet room upstairs with some toys and treats. n I like to keep the bar simple — red and white wine, champagne, and a few types of beer. n Heat up some apple cider with cinnamon sticks, cloves and oranges. It’s easy to do ahead and can be put in a Crockpot or in a pan simmering on the stove (and it makes the house smell great, too). n Make sure you have non-alcoholic drinks, such as eggnog, a punch, soda or juices.

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Get to know your Christmas trees An evergreen tree decked out in lights and ornaments is one of the universal symbols of the holiday season. The Christmas tree tradition is believed to have originated in Germany in the 15th or 16th centuries, when trees were decorated with edibles, such as nuts and fruits. They were later decorated with candles and eventually lights.

Through the centuries, people have trekked to forests, Christmas tree farms and commercial lots to pick the perfect trees for their holiday displays. The National Christmas Tree Association says more than 33 million real trees are purchased each year, making the tree business a billion-dollar industry. While there are scores of evergreen varieties, certain tree types are more popular than others and thus more available for purchase. The following are some of the more popular trees come Christmastime.

• Eastern Redcedar: Branches of the tree are compact and form a pyramid-shaped crown. The trees should be a dark, shiny green color. The eastern redcedar is not a true cedar tree, but a member of the juniper family. This tree can make a great cut tree with a homespun look and a pungent fragrance.

• Leyland Cypress: This cypress is one of the more popular Christmas trees in the

southeastern United States. The tree will be very dark green to almost gray in color. It has little aroma. Some people choose the Leyland because it does not produce sap, which is great for those with sap allergies.

• Colorado Blue Spruce: An attractive blue-green foliage and a good symmetrical form is what attracts many people to the blue spruce. The Colorado Blue Spruce has an excellent natural shape and requires little pruning to look like the perfect Christmas tree. It’s not very fragrant, but the tree needles may give off an unpleasant odor when crushed.

• Scotch Pine: A classic conical shape and very good needle retention help make the Scotch pine a popular tree to cut for the holidays. Scotch pines also are quite prevalent thanks to the tree’s adaptability to a wide range of climates.

• Eastern White Pine: A delicate green color and long needles are found on this tree. Another popular pine, the rich fragrance of the white pine may make it preferable to those who like their homes to smell of evergreen.

• Douglas Fir: The Douglas fir is one of the foremost Christmas tree species in the United States. It has soft needles that are dark green in color. Those needles radiate in

all directions from the branches to give the tree a full look. The needles, when crushed, have a sweet fragrance. Douglas firs tend to live long when cut.

• Fraser Fir: Another popular fir for Christmas is the Fraser fir. The needles are bicolored, with dark green on top and silver on the bottom. More fragrant than its cousin, the Douglas, the Fraser also boasts a slender profile, which makes it suitable for smaller rooms.

Christmas tree maintenance Nothing can guarantee the health and appearance of a tree after it is brought into a home. But choosing a recently cut tree that has good needle retention can help. Here are other tips for a long-lasting tree.

• Use a sharp saw to cut an inch off of the trunk base to remove the sappy covering that forms from cutting. This will improve water intake.

• Fill a tree stand reservoir with warm water. Expect the tree to drink heavily in the beginning.

• Keep the reservoir filled every day and check to see how much water the tree is using.

• Place the tree far from heaters or other drying sources.

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Holiday plans and preparations are well underway at Linden Place and Blithewold mansions

BY CHRISTY NADALIN cnadalin@eastbaynewspapers.com

D

ecorating crews began planning and prepping for the holiday season even before Halloween at Linden Place Mansion & Museum and Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum.

Decorating plans have been conceived and mapped out, supplies purchased, and programming schedules finalized — all that's left now is execution for a season set to open after Thanksgiving and continue into the New Year.

Evelyn Monea of Bristol and Boston is cochair of Blithewold's decorating committee this year, along with Pan Degan of Cumberland and Susan Gimblet of Fall River. The year's theme is "A Garden For All Seasons." Twelve spaces in the mansion have been assigned to individuals or teams

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of decorators who pitched a concept for a unique, but thematic treatment of each space.

"We've just gotten started, but it's already coming together nicely," says Monea. She offered a sneak peek: "Augustine's room will have a garden fairy theme, while the dining room will be full of magnolias, in honor of the tree that was planted for Marjorie's (Van Wickle Lyon, the last owner of Blithewold) 90th birthday.

"The billiard room will be made to look like the family's favorite New Hampshire ski lodge, where they spent their winter holidays, and the big tree will be decorated more traditionally, with reds, greens, pinecones and other natural ornaments."

The all-season theme allowed decorators much flexibility, so the entire house won't necessarily have a traditional holiday look and feel. "The living room theme is 'summer by the sea,' " says Monea. "Guests will see lots of hydrangeas and shells in that design."

A 'home' for the holidays A recent Friday at Linden Place found a crew hard at work prepping Christmas fin-

ery for the 1810 Federal mansion. Dan Wallace of Newton, Mass., led the charge, along with Bristol residents Mary Ellen Dwyer, Elena Obelenus and Mary Millard.

"Merry Christmas is the theme," Wallace joked, sorting through recent purchases of dried flowers and fruits, including pomegranate, artichokes, wood ear mushroom, and protea. "We're making arrangements today; the actual decorating will happen just before Thanksgiving with a larger crew."

This year's plan includes more color, including some bold copper and tangerine hues. The big tree that has traditionally dominated the conservatory on the south end of the house will still be visible from Hope Street, but will be scaled back to allow guests to enjoy the recent acquisition of a statue of Bacchus that was at Colt Farm before being acquired by a private collector, who sold it back to Linden Place earlier this year.

Wallace, a landscape architect who has anchored the decorating crew for the past seven years along with Millard and David Harrington of East Providence, says "I treat decorating as if the family is coming home for Christmas. You don't want there to be so

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much that you can't imagine a family sitting down in the home. It should still look like a livable space."

Concerts, teas and much more The decor is just one small part of what goes into planning Christmas at Bristol's grand homes. Open to the public all season, programming and events staff at both venues have packed their calendars with offerings ranging from classical concerts and teas, to crafting and fun events for children.

There's something for all ages.

This year, scavenger hunt tours will be part of the celebration at Linden Place, offering children and adults the opportunity to see this historical house museum in a whole new light. The holiday concert series includes a concert and sing-along with Josh Groban-style pianist and singer, Michael DiMucci, as well as The Clancy Legacy Celtic Christmas, a concert honoring both the holidays and winter solstice.

At Blithewold, you can enjoy fun and informal afternoon teas, Santa sing-alongs, and creative workshops for both children and adults, as well as their marshmallowroasting-Christmas-carol-singing-strolling-

RICHARD W. DIONNE JR.

Elena Obelenus works on wreaths and floral arrangements for Linden Place mansion.

through-the-twinkling-garden-paths event called Sparkle, Friday nights in the Enclosed Garden and Greenhouse.

Both venues have outstanding museum stores with beautiful one-of-a-kind gifts, where a portion of your Christmas shop-

ping dollars will go to support programming and preservation of these architectural gems.

For more information and detailed schedules, visit www.lindenplace.org and www.blithewold.org.

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Save energy with holiday decorations The holiday season allows people to transform their homes into wonderlands of lights, garlands and poinsettias. Each family has its own holiday traditions, and decorations are a part of many of those traditions.

Decorations might be awe-inspiring, but those that include lights often lead to substantially higher energy bills. Fortunately, there are ways for homeowners, whether they prefer subtle displays or more overthe-top arrangements, to save money and still celebrate the holiday season in style.

• Switch to more efficient lights. A great way to ensure holiday displays consume less energy is to change the bulbs being strung. Incandescent lights can use 80 to 90 percent more energy than LED lights.

Gradually replace older light strands with newer, energy-efficient LEDs. Not only do LEDs require less energy, but they also can 28

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last longer than incandescent bulbs, meaning you won’t have to replace them as frequently as more traditional bulbs.

Furthermore, lower wattage usage means you can attach more strands of lights together safely.

• Use timers. Timers can be set to turn lights on and off at specific times, ensuring lights aren’t turning on during the daytime or being left on into the night by forgetful homeowners. Timers also are a good safety precaution. A dark house that is normally lit up can advertise to thieves that no one is home. When lights turn on with a timer, it will create the illusion that it is business as usual in your residence.

• Use homemade decorations. You also can save energy and money by recycling materials into holiday décor. Trim branches from trees and use them in vases for an instant wintry look. Prune an evergreen on

your property and make your own wreath with some wire and twine. Shop yard sales for gently used decorations that still have years of utility left. Sew ornaments from scraps of fabric or clothing that no longer fits. Each of these ideas reduces reliance on manufactured decorations that consume energy during production and fuel while being transported from factories to store shelves.

• Rely on extension cords. You can extend the length of displays without using more lights by spacing out light strands with extension cords. Intersperse spotlights to add attention to key elements of your display as well.

• Turn off interior lights. If a Christmas tree is illuminating a front window, turn off the lights in your home, as the tree may provide enough light to make a living room or den extra cozy.

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