ONE of the most exciting aspects of Christmas – for both adults and children – is decorating your home.

Because it is only once a year it is worth making an extra effort to ensure your home helps put you, your family and friends in a festive mood.

There is, of course, a general consensus on when to take your decorations down – Twelfth Night, January 5. This was a tradition invented by the Victorians. Before then, people would keep their decorations of holly, ivy, yew, box, laurel and mistletoe up until Candlemas Day on February 2.

However, there appears to be little agreement over when to put decorations up. Some argue that they should not go up before Christmas Eve, while others prefer a much earlier date – a few days after Halloween, or so most of the high street shops would have us believe. Whenever you decide to decorate your home, the place to start is not at your front door but at your local farmers’ market.

Catherine Thorpe, on the Blue Gecko Plants stall, has plenty to offer at this time of year, including holly wreaths and table decorations, as well as top quality mistletoe and even a few Christmas trees to make your house look special.

She also has some potted arrangements which make excellent gifts. You will find her stall at tomorrow’s Royal Worcester Porcelain Farmers’ Market and the Angel Place, Worcester, market on Sunday, December 20.

Rosabelle Needham, at Chaddesley Growers, makes her own decorative Christmas wreaths, swags and mantelpiece bars.

She said: “Our wreaths are made of fresh evergreens that are all grown locally.”

She has has some fabulous gift sets of Christmas bulbs.

You will find her at Bromsgrove farmers’ market on Saturday, December 12, and Malvern market on Saturday, December 19.

Today’s market is in Victoria Square, Droitwich, from 9am until 2pm, while tomorrow’s is at Royal Worcester Porcelain, from 10am until 2