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maltatoday, SUNDAY 10 DECEMBER 2017 II Christmas Five easy ways to add Christmas spirit in your home Visit AMC Malta for all your Christmas packaging needs! T +356 2143 8091/2 E info@amcmalta.com amcmalta COME Christmastime, it can be difficult to carve out some time for holiday cheer and putting up festive decorations. With the hustle and bustle of life, it's important to find a way to celebrate the holidays and feel the Christmas spirit. To get a wonderful Christmas holiday atmosphere, there are a few things you can do to make the home feel cosy, decorative and fun. Below are some ideas for quick and simple ways to add a festive feel to your home that allows you to truly enjoy the holiday season 1. Turn off the lights Arrange a generous amount of candles on the dining table. Even if you're just having leftovers, you can dine by candlelight and feel that your meal is special. When it comes to lighting, you can also burn a fire in the fireplace each evening, and encourage family and friends to gather around. Activities like read- ing, homework, writing Christmas cards, and even a brief snooze are great around the fireplace. In your bathroom, you can also put together a pillar of candles on the sink or around the tub. Take some time to relax, soak, and enjoy. 2. Hang Christmas wreaths Put a wreath or some type of holiday swag on every door you have. Start with the front door to welcome guests, and then go to the back door. You can also hang wreaths in front of windows, and on bedroom doors. With all of these options, you can put wreaths on both sides of the door if you wish. Wreaths can be used in various forms, such as real pine, holly, grapevine, or decorated with bows. They can also be decorated with fruit, pinecones, ornaments, birds, photos, and even sweets. 3. Use festive tableware for December meals For a festive dinner table, look through your cupboards and get out any dishes that fit the holiday theme. Discount stores often carry many name brand China as well as fun winter designs that are not so com- mon. This is a great way to start a set of holiday dishes with dinner plates that coordinate with your everyday dishes. Every year, you can add to your theme by adding pieces like salad plates and mugs. To keep the theme going, purchase one or two place settings every year until you can serve a full feast. If you're feeling adventurous, choose a different pattern and one place setting each year. Then, arrange different dishes around the table and use them as decor when they're not in use. 4. Have something sweet around The edibles of Christmas are an in- tegral part of what makes the season special. Prepare a bowl of fresh fruit or holiday cookies to snack on for yourself and any guests. You can also bake little loaves of tea bread and wrap them in holiday wrap for a festive look. Set them in a pretty basket for decoration and take one when you visit friends or have guests over. Add sweets to your wreaths and keep scissors handy to cut them off when friends and family arrive. You can also fill a pretty basket with traditional candy canes and set it on a coffee or entry table. If you're extra crafty, you can prepare a gingerbread house for decoration and snacks. 5. Compile a Christmas playlist Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit faster than music. Once you hear those familiar notes, those same strains you've been singing along since you were five, the warm and fuzzy Christmas feelings come rushing back.