by Valentina Masciari – national user manager Konsumer Italia – Konsumer Italia.
Practical advice for choosing the right tree, the safest lights and all the dynamics that hide behind the Christmas décor, to live the holidays peacefully, without unnecessary headaches.
December has arrived, the month of Christmas and, consequently, the rush for gifts and home decorations. Are we careful about what we buy to decorate our home? From lights to put in the garden or on the terrace, to decorations for the tree and those for the table, it is essential that these products are safe and certified.
Photo Kieran White.
CHRISTMAS TREE
The tree is the first item to pay attention to. Artificial tree or real tree? Both solutions have pros and cons: if you decide to choose an artificial tree, you need to make sure that it is made of fireproof material, and that it bears the CE mark. It is also important that the choice falls on a tree made of recycled plastic, so to also have an eye for the environment.
If, however, we decide for a real tree, we must bear in mind that it will certainly only last for the duration of the Christmas holidays, because it is difficult for a fir tree to survive inside a house. It is therefore advisable to purchase it from a nursery that also provides for the collection of the tree after the holidays, although it is always better to take those without roots, which come from planned deforestation waste.
Whatever the final choice, it must be positioned on a stable base, away from heat sources, such as radiators or fireplaces, and close to an electrical socket, to prevent light cables from obstructing the passage.
Photo Joanna Kosinska.
LET’S LIGHT THE TREE
Even when choosing the lights that will embellish our tree, we must pay attention. Definitely avoid low-cost products, because they are not safe and most likely do not comply with the requirements set by European legislation.
Christmas lights, however, are included in the electrical equipment, so they must also be accompanied by specific instructions on correct use, for example if they are only for indoors or also for outdoor use, because those for outdoors must be equipped with certain protections against atmospheric agents . In this case, the acronym IPXX must appear on the packaging, which indicates this specific destination.
- Before connecting them, make sure they are in good condition.
- Never leave them on if you are not at home and turn them off when you go to sleep and, if it is not possible to use one socket for each plug, opt for a multiple socket, the famous power strip, which must always be certified.
- Choose LED lights, as they don’t overheat and tolerate humidity and vibrations better, as well as having a lower impact on consumption, and given the period, it’s not bad!
Photo Chuttersnap.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Once the lights have been positioned, our tree must be decorated. As for decorations, if we have children or pets at home, we must avoid those that are too fragile: prefer balls made of unbreakable material or fabric decorations, and also avoid decorations made up of pieces that are too small, which can be ingested by mistake when detached.
Let’s remember that poor quality Christmas decorations can cause short circuits and fires. Giving space to our imagination and creativity, to create an original tree, involving the whole family, because then, the true Christmas spirit is precisely this: being together. So, fabric decorations, dried fruit, bows, cards with greetings and why not, small homemade and specially packaged sweets, will make our tree unique and with a true emotional meaning.
Photo Rob Patterson.
AND UNDER THE TREE?
Once the tree is done, we must complete it with gifts for family and friends but, especially for our children who must be safeguarded, by buying the most suitable and safe gifts. Then, check the age indication for which the toy is recommended;
- do not buy puppets with pieces, such as arms and legs that can be detached, unless they are large enough but in general, the materials must be resistant, otherwise they could become dangerous for children if they break;
- they must not have pointed or sharp parts, everything must be rounded;
- pay attention to the mechanical parts, which must not be easily accessible, as well as the batteries which must not be able to be easily removed.
SMART TIP
All this could be summed up in a simple smart tip: all toys must bear the CE conformity mark – with the C separated from the E – i.e. European conformity, otherwise it is China Export (CE). This certification is mandatory for products distributed in the EU and in the European Economic Area (EEA), and certifies the conformity of the products with community directives guaranteeing product safety. Do not purchase items that do not have provenance information, which must be present on the packaging.
All information must be in Italian and the presence, in addition to the C E mark, of additional safety marks, such as that of the Italian Toy Safety Institute, i.e. the “Giocattoli Sicuri” mark is welcome: do not neglect safety to make room for convenience .
Photo Annie Spratt.
AND NOW, EVERYONE AT THE TABLE!
The Christmas period is waited for all year round and finding yourself at the table with relatives and friends is one of the most joyful moments. Creating a table centerpiece by relying on our imagination and using fresh fruit and flowers, but also berries and pine cones, will make our table more characteristic and with a touch of originality. So, even at the table, let’s think about the environment: no plastic plates and glasses.
We choose to use cloth tablecloths and napkins, glass plates and glasses. If we really don’t have the right accessories, it is better to set the table with recycled paper napkins and plates and glasses made of biodegradable cellulose pulp, and in any case, try to make the most of these objects, for example, by personalizing each glass with a placeholder, so as to avoid excess waste. At this point, let’s turn on the lights on our tree and joyfully await Christmas!
Photo Libby Penner.
On the cover, photo Jason Leung.
