Which Christmas decorations are a must-have this year?

A recent survey has found that the UK's favourite Christmas decoration for 2021 are lights. Christmas craft and clipart resource Design Bundles conducted an analysis of Google searches over a 12 month period and discovered that Christmas lights had been googled an average of 67,000 times each month.

The story of Christmas lights goes back quite a long way. Traditionally, candles were placed on Christmas trees to brighten up the room and highlight the decorations on the branches. The candles were also used to represent the 'light of Jesus'. As time went on and electric lights became more popular, the candles were soon replaced with plug-in string lights, which could be wrapped around the tree and other areas in the home. 

These twinkling lights are available in a variety of colours and are often used to boost the appearance of sparse trees. They help to create a joyful and uplifting space wherever the lights are placed, which is why they are so popular during the dark winter months. 

Appearing as the UK's second-favourite Christmas decoration is the classic garland. The tradition of festive garlands and wreaths started in Europe, sometime around the 16th century. Families would trim the Christmas tree so that it would appear neater and fit into their homes. As a result, they were left with branches of greenery, which they would then weave into garlands.

Christmas garlands were googled 52,000 times each month on average. Along with shopping around for pre-made decorations, internet users could also have been looking for tutorials and ideas in order to make their own garlands.

Garlands are usually made with supple branches from trees and bushes so that they can be bent and entwined in the desired shape. These garlands are also decorated with berries and pinecones, as well as other festive pieces such as bows and lights. They are typically draped over fireplaces, staircase railings and over door frames. 

Rounding up the top three favourite Christmas decorations are baubles. The pretty balls were searched for an average of 35,000 times each month. As with Christmas trees and festive garlands, baubles were originally used in Germany and other European countries.

Families in the 16th century would decorate their evergreen trees with fruits and berries in a similar manner to how the Romans and druids did years before. Over time, the fruits were replaced with glass-blown decorations that could be hung on the tree year after year. 

It has become common practice for households to buy baubles each year to add to their collection. They have since been joined by other hanging decorations that come in all shapes and sizes. 

What are the top ten most googled Christmas decorations?

One of the most romantic types of Christmas decor is mistletoe. This simple plant proved to be one of the best Christmas decorations as it received an average of 27,000 online searches each month. 

Couples can often be found kissing under the evergreen plant over the holiday season. The link between the plant and Christmas can be traced back to Celtic druids around the 1st century. It is believed that the druids were enamoured with mistletoe due to the plant’s ability to grow even in the cold depths of winter. 

From the 1st century through to the middle ages, Mistletoe was believed to increase fertility and vitality. This likely served as the basis for the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe.  

The fifth most popular Christmas decoration is the only edible holiday decor on the list. Candy canes add a splash of colour to the festive season with their iconic red and white stripes. On average, they are googled 22,000 times per month. 

The sweets are often peppermint flavoured, although candy canes also come in many other flavours and colours. It is thought that candy canes originated in Germany, sometime around the 17th century. Sugar sticks were a popular sweet during this time and it is probable that they were fashioned into a staff as a religious reference. Some people also believe that the red stripes on the candy canes represent the blood of Christ. 

Tree skirts and tinsel were both googled an average of 20,000 times each month. These festive decorations have withstood the changing Christmas trends and are staples in homes across the country year after year. 

Along with catching the fallen needles from real trees, tree skirts can also hide the base of an artificial tree. They are often covered in patterns or images of Santa Claus, snowmen and other seasonal designs. 

Tinsel is a common sight wrapped around the Christmas tree, but the shiny metallic strips can be placed anywhere and everywhere. The name originates from the old French word ‘estincele’, which translates to ‘spark’ or ‘sparkle’. 

Other popular Christmas decorations include wreaths, window decorations and table decorations. Wreaths are googled an average of 15,000 times each month, whilst window and table decorations are searched for an average of 13,000 times on a monthly basis. 

Homemade wreaths have risen in popularity over the last few years thanks to social media. There are various tutorials and inspiration online for how individuals can source their own greenery and turn it into a festive decoration. 

Wreaths are usually hung on the door outside of a home so that passersby can admire the decoration. The natural wreaths can be decorated with lights, berries or ornaments. Some people even knit, felt or use other mediums to create their wreaths.  

Outdoor windows can also be decorated using stickers. These stickers come in a variety of designs and can depict anything from a snowy scene to words wishing everyone a ‘merry little Christmas’. 

One of the biggest parts of Christmas Day is the food. As everyone sits down to a turkey dinner, the table is likely to be covered in homemade Christmas crafts and decorations such as a glittery tablecloth or sprigs of holly. 

Below is a table showing the average number of Google searches that each type of Christmas decoration received each month in the UK.

Many people spend Christmas decorating their homes in a way that is both creative and unique to their personal preferences. However, as the survey has shown, there are some decor trends that are more popular than others. 

A spokesperson for Design Bundles commented: “With Christmas approaching it’s a time when people can really enjoy the festivities and get creative with their decorations. The results show us that even though it’s getting darker outside, Brits see Christmas as a festival of lights, and traditional decorations such as garlands and baubles. It looks like people are looking forward to making the most of this year’s festivities after last year’s relatively muted celebrations.”