Decorating your home for the Holidays: Keep safety in mind
By Landon Biehl
If you haven’t decorated your home for the holiday season yet, don’t worry, it’s not too late to get into the holiday and festive spirit. Here are some safety tips to consider when decorating your home for the holidays, as well as a few holiday attractions you don’t want to miss in Madison County.
Decorating the Inside of Your House
Christmas trees are quintessential holiday decorations, and whether you choose an artificial or real tree, there are plenty of options for decorating your home for the holidays. Artificial trees are a popular choice for households with allergies or for those who want something low-maintenance.
If you want a real tree in your home and want to cut your own,there are several places in Madison County to select your own tree to cut. Critzs Farm in Cazenovia, Romagnoli’s Christmas Tree Farm in Canastota and Henderberg’s Christmas Tree Farm just over the Madison County border in Rome are just a few of the “cut-your-own” options in Madison County.
If you’re looking for farms that truly give back, Dewey Romagnoli partners with Jay Henderberg to provide trees for enlisted men and women and their families all over the globe through Trees for Troops. The pair provided 324 trees toward the effort this year.
Call ahead or check out their social media pages to see what’s available and their hours.
Whether you have an artificial or real tree in your home, it’s important to consider these safety tips while decorating:
- Always keep a real tree watered to reduce fire hazards
- Never leave the lights on your tree plugged in overnight or while unattended
- Keep fragile ornaments away from small children
- Consider LED lights over older Christmas lights to avoid burns
- Keep your tree away from heat sources, like wood stoves and fireplaces
Getting Festive Outdoors
With the right decorations, you can keep the outside of your home decorated well after the holidays.
Before you string up some lights outdoors, always make sure they’re in good condition, and they are also rated for outdoor use. If you use a ladder to hang lights, always use a wooden or fiberglass ladder than a metal ladder (as metal can conduct electricity). It’s always best to have a “spotter” when you’re working outside on a ladder. Never tack lights on to your home with nails, but instead use clips designed just for lights.
If you are using any extension cords across your yard, try to keep them out of the way of foot traffic so that no delivery people, postal workers, or other visitors have an accident.
If your neighborhood is a favorite place for people to view Christmas lights and other decorations, don’t forget to keep your sidewalks clear of ice and snow (you should do this all season long).
Upcoming Events in Madison County
Want to get out and celebrate the holidays in Madison County? Here are some events to check out that everyone can enjoy:
- Public Skate in Morrisville at the SUNY Morrisville Ice Plex
- Parry’s Indoor Winter Farmer’s Market in Hamilton (great for last-minute shopping)
- Madison County is also home to Colgate University and SUNY Morrisville, both of which have a full slate of winter spectator sports. Check their websites for schedules and more information.
Whether you are walking or driving, dress for the weather and always pay attention to motorists and pedestrians, as many holiday events are busy. With increased pedestrian traffic and motorists driving more slowly, keep a watch out to avoid an accident.
Landon Biehl is a freelance writer who enjoys sharing his research on personal safety topics.