Prazdnichnyymirthe festive home: a guide to holiday decor and preparation

An independent guide to preparing and decorating your home for the holidays. We do not sell goods or provide services and are not connected with the former website on this domain. String lights and candles: only per the instructions and under supervision.

How-to

How-to guides

Most holiday jobs are well within your reach: hanging lights, setting up the tree, putting together a wreath. The key is not to leave everything for the last evening, to check your decor in advance and to remember a few simple rules for handling electricity and flame.

String lights get tested on the table, not on the tree minutes before the guests arrive.

— From the guide

How this section works: we describe the steps in general terms. How to plug in a particular string of lights, whether it can be used outdoors and how to assemble a tree stand is set out by the manufacturer in the instructions.

How to hang string lights safely

  1. Read the instructions

    Find out whether the lights are for indoor or outdoor use and how to plug them in correctly. Use outdoor lights only outdoors, and do not take indoor lights out to the balcony or porch.

  2. Inspect the cord and plug

    Lay the lights out on a table and check the insulation along the whole length. Cracks, bare spots, a melted plug or loose sockets mean the string should be retired for good.

  3. Switch on before hanging

    Watch the lights on the table for a while. If they get hot, spark or smell of burning, unplug them at once and do not use them again.

  4. Plan the connection

    Do not plug too many devices into one outlet or extension cord, and do not hide an extension cord under a rug. The cord should not run across a walkway.

  5. Hang without tension

    Attach the lights with hooks and clips, without pulling the cord tight or piercing the insulation with nails or staples. Keep the lights away from curtains and paper decor.

  6. Switch off when leaving and at night

    Unplug the lights when you leave the house or go to bed. They will last longer, and you will have peace of mind.

How to set up a tree

  1. Choose the spot

    Away from radiators, heaters and the fireplace, out of the way of doors and walkways, and near an outlet so you do not have to run a cord across the whole room.

  2. Get the stand ready

    The stand should fit the trunk or the frame of the artificial tree and sit on a level floor. A real tree needs a stand with a water reservoir.

  3. Check that it is stable

    Stand the tree up, secure the trunk and give it a gentle rock. If it leans, fix it now, while there are no ornaments on the branches.

  4. Water a real tree

    A real tree needs water in the stand for the whole holiday, so top it up regularly. Dried-out needles drop and catch fire more easily.

  5. Lights first, then ornaments

    Hang the lights, then the large ornaments, then the small ones. Place fragile and small items higher up if you have toddlers or pets.

How to make a decoration from dried oranges and branches

  1. Slice the citrus

    Cut the oranges into thin rounds with a sharp knife on a cutting board, keeping your fingers away from the blade, and blot the slices with a paper towel.

  2. Dry them completely

    Dry the slices in the oven on a low setting or in a food dehydrator, and do not leave the appliance unattended. Finished slices are dry and slightly translucent.

  3. Prepare the branches

    Take dry branches, evergreen sprigs or pine cones, shake off soil and dust and let them dry further if needed.

  4. Assemble the decoration

    Thread the slices onto strong string together with pine cones and bits of branch, or attach them to a wreath base with thin wire and ribbon.

  5. Hang it away from flame

    A dry decoration catches fire easily, so choose a spot away from candles, hot bulbs and radiators.

  • Tools

    Handy things for decorating your home: a steady stepladder, no-drill hooks, scissors, boxes and LED candles.

  • Planning

    A schedule for getting your home holiday-ready and a budget in general terms: what to do early, a week ahead and on the day.

  • Care

    After the holiday: coiling string lights, taking down the tree, clearing needles and wax and storing decor until next season.

What we rely on

  • Instructions from manufacturers of string lights and electrical appliances
  • Holiday fire-safety guidance from Russia's Emergencies Ministry (in general terms)
  • Editorial materials of the Prazdnichnyymir guide

The advice here is general and based on the instructions of string light and appliance manufacturers and on widely accepted rules of fire safety at home. Always check the instructions for the specific item on how to plug in a particular string of lights, where a stand or candle can go and how to handle the product.