From USA Today:

For me, holiday decorating is like a yearly trip down memory lane. Two little red carved birds on a thread remind me of my early “Europe through the gutter” days, when I dropped into the trendy Marimekko shop in Helsinki and bought the only thing I could afford. I hate tourist traps, but I couldn’t resist the delightful German-style-painted wax and delicately carved ornaments from the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop in Rothenburg. And the green and red skates with paper-clip blades summon up memories of my grandmother, who hand-knit them 20 years ago before her last Christmas.

Just like these ornaments are a reminder of where I come from, and where I’ve been, holiday decorations in Europe are a celebration of each culture’s history, tradition, and ancestry. From a tiny mountain village in Switzerland to the bustling metropolis of Rome, the spirit of the season can be seen in homes, on squares, and up and down the streets.

Read more here.