In the modern world, holidays have become too much about spending money, being glitzy, and acquiring possessions. The world is fast and shiny, with new doodads appearing in stores each week, and the latest gadget swimming in our dreams. We have forgotten that the traditional purpose of the holidays had little or nothing to do with possessions, namely because in times gone by people didn't have that many possessions. Instead those festival days were times when families, friends, and whole communities could come together and unite, enjoying one another's presence.

The idea of rustic holiday decorating has to do with preserving something of the pure, unsophisticated past, through the use of art in the home. The idea is to demonstrate the values of simplicity, family, and tradition, in the various decorations, and furnishings you use.

The most direct way to do this is through the use of nature itself. For example, the Christmas holiday season is generally marked as being cold, and wintry. It is a time for snuggling by the fireplace, and sipping hot coco. This idea of the seasonal holiday is tied much closer to the true meaning of Christmas than anything you can purchase in a store.

The accessories of such a model are pieces of nature itself. The Christmas tree and the door wreath are traditional ways of exploring this, but the use of decorative pinecones, thatch and straw hangings, or popcorn strings are all ways of incorporating nature into the seasonal décor.

Another facet of rustic holiday decorating is tradition. By drawing yourself closer to the root of the holiday, you are coming in contact with the generations of merry makers in the past, your whole lineage of family Christmases which are connected by the simple beauties and the goodness of the season.

Using antique items which sharpen this connection can help to round out the decorative plan. Relics of a simpler time can be purchased inexpensively at thrift stores, or flea markets, and sometimes at summer yard sales. Just keep your eyes open, and it is easy to round out a collection of historical accessories.

Traditions are also important at this time of the year. This can include ornaments that have been passed down through the generations, a special seasonal recipe, or some ceremony that you all undertake together each year. If you don't already have any special traditions then consider making up some new ones. It's a great way to strengthen your bond with both the past and the future.

One of the best traditional accessories you can use for holiday decorating, are photographs of your family and friends, enjoying the holiday in years gone by. This works for almost any holiday, and it can be a lot of fun to see the costumes everyone wore 5 years ago at Halloween, or your friends and their shining faces from Christmas just last year. You can create a mini art gallery where you and your loved ones are the subjects of the work.

There are still people who believe in the simple, rustic beauty of the holidays. They care about traditions, and connections, and don't focus on the glitz and flash that is so prevalent in our economy based society. Instead they look to love for happiness, and decorate their homes in the treasures of the simple world.

This article was provided by PebbleZ's line of naturally absorbent stone coasters and was written and presented by stone artist Joey Pebble.

Thank you Joey for yet another informative article for our rustic holiday decorating site!

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