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Home / Lifestyle

Christmas tree decorations explained

Joanna Hunkin
By Joanna Hunkin
4 Dec, 2006 10:30 PM2 mins to read

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KEY POINTS:

The Christmas season is upon us and people everywhere are digging out decorations, choosing trees and checking fairy lights.

When it comes to decorating your tree, there are no hard and fast rules, but just what statement are you making when you hang that golden tinsel and purple
baubles?

Speaking in general terms, Mindworks psychologist Sara Chatwin says people that stick to a conventional red and gold theme are more likely to be traditionalists, who buy into the concept of Christmas and have done for many years.

If your tree is dressed in all one colour, you might have a streak of obsessive-compulsiveness in your system. Alternatively, you may be a perfectionist that takes extreme care to co-ordinate your tree.

For those that subscribe to the "anything goes" method of tree decoration, Chatwin says you probably love Christmas but aren't that concerned with conventions and may be a little bit disorganised.

As for the age-old "real vs. fake" debate, Chatwin says a fake Christmas tree could be the sign of a person on-the-go, without time to "muck around with the real stuff". You still enjoy celebrating Christmas but perhaps don't have time to deal with the mess and fuss of a real tree.

On the other hand, Chatwin says those that opt for a real tree may be more family oriented, who want to bring children and family members into the equation and have the time to put some extra effort into a real tree.

>>What does your Christmas tree say about you?

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