Buzz
As the Misfit Toys from the classic TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer croon, Christmas is often regarded as 'The Most Wonderful Day of the Year.' For countless people across the globe—men, women, and children alike—Christmas is a time for joy, companionship, generosity, awe, love, faith, hope, and merriment.
Sadly, as this list shows, even Christmas is not immune to danger. While we adorn our homes with holly, don festive attire, and race through the snow in a horse-drawn sleigh, we may face one or more of these 10 unexpected Christmas hazards. However, by staying mindful of these risks, we can do our best to ensure that our own celebrations remain both safe and joyful.
10. Tinsel
Throughout history, a wide range of ornaments have adorned Christmas trees, from bells and stringed cranberries to popcorn, flowers, fruit, glass baubles, and paper cutouts. However, in its earlier forms, tinsel was one such decoration that proved to be a danger to avoid.
Tinsel, also known as ‘icicles,’ was invented in Germany in 1878. Originally crafted from strips of silver foil, this festive decoration was draped over the branches of Christmas trees. However, the beauty of the tinsel began to fade as it tarnished, primarily due to the smoke from fireplaces and kitchens that was common in 19th-century households. In response, tinsel was made from lead foil, and this version continued to be a favorite until the mid-1960s.
In the 1960s, the U.S. government raised concerns about the health risks of lead-based tinsel, particularly for children who might ingest it. This prompted manufacturers to switch to aluminum tinsel, which was brighter but didn’t hang as nicely. Eventually, Mylar—a material that was both lightweight, shiny, and resistant to tarnish—was introduced, becoming the perfect solution for safe, attractive holiday décor.
9. Artificial Snow
Initially, artificial snow was made from dangerous materials, such as ground-up glass fragments that could be sprinkled on Christmas trees or flammable cotton tufts. These early attempts posed a health risk to those using them.
One of the earliest types of artificial snow was 'angel-hair,' made from asbestos. It was fire-resistant and didn't melt, making it ideal for decorating around Christmas trees or for creating wintry scenes. Though initially thought to be safe, the discovery of asbestos's dangers led to the rapid decline of this particular form of fake snow.
8. Candles
The tradition of adorning trees with candles traces back to 17th-century Germany, where people began affixing wax or pins to their trees to hold the flames. In 1832, Professor Charles Follen of Harvard, inspired by Dutch customs, brought this tradition to America when he lit a tree with candles. Although the use of candle holders eventually replaced the wax or pins, the risk of fire remained a serious concern, and many trees decorated with lit candles tragically caught fire.
Despite the introduction of colored electric lights by Thomas Edison in 1882, many still preferred the allure of candles. People were hesitant about electricity and put off by the high cost of Edison's new lights—$12 for just a 16-bulb string in 1900. It wasn’t until 1927, with the advent of 'safe outdoor lights,' that electric lights began to replace candles as the go-to decoration for Christmas trees. This shift came after President Grover Cleveland lit the 1885 White House tree with electric lights, signaling a gradual change.
7. Exploding Ornament
In 2019, Paul Lanphear sought emergency medical help in Mesa, Arizona, after a Christmas ornament—his son's favorite—exploded during installation. The Hallmark ornament, powered by button batteries, suddenly went off in his face, causing fear of eye damage from the debris or potential battery acid.
“I guess from now on I’m going to need to wear face protection when I’m changing the ornament batteries. It’s just crazy,” Lanphear joked.
6. Toys
According to World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.), approximately 240,000 children are injured by toys every year, with some incidents leading to disfigurements or disabilities. From 2016 to 2018, 43 children tragically lost their lives due to toy-related accidents. Each holiday season, unsafe toys often make their way onto store shelves, prompting the organization to issue warnings to parents about hazardous toys.
2020 was no different. Among the dangerous toys sold during Christmas that year, one contained small parts that posed choking risks to young children, another launched a missile that could potentially harm a child's eyes or face, and a third included claws that could cause injury. A fourth toy carried the risk of suffocation or problems related to ingestion of shredded material, while the oversized fists of a fifth toy could lead to blunt force trauma or injury.
Other toys were equally concerning, with some containing toxic chemicals, presenting hazards to the user, bystanders, or animals. Others could cause harm if used near the face, ears, or eyes, block a child’s airway, or result in blunt force injuries and damage to the eyes.
After reading this list, parents might be left wondering, What was Santa thinking?
5. Common Allergy Triggers
Our holiday decorations, which have been tucked away for nearly a year—collecting dust in the attic, mold in the basement, or whatever else might be lurking in the garage—are now being brought into our homes. The scented candles that wives and daughters adore? They're just as likely to spark an allergy flare-up as the wood fire that husbands and sons love.
Christmas trees and wreaths are other potential allergy culprits, often harboring spores, mold, tree sap, or other irritating substances. Holiday treats, too, can trigger allergic reactions, some of which can even be life-threatening.
4. Plants
If allergens don’t get to us, toxic plants might. Just twenty holly berries are enough to be fatal for a child or a pet, and the plant’s bark, leaves, and seeds are also toxic. They contain the caffeine-related alkaloid theobromine, the same poison found in chocolate, which is also harmful to dogs.
The fruit of the Jerusalem cherry, which looks like cherry tomatoes, is toxic. The alkaloid solanocapsine doesn’t pose a threat to humans but can cause gastric discomfort and vomiting, and it can make children ill or be deadly to pets. While the Christmas cactus isn’t toxic to humans, dogs, or cats, if a cat consumes its leaves or flowers, it may experience an irritated digestive system, which could lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
Poinsettias are also poisonous but generally won’t kill people or pets. They can cause illness, vomiting, or an itchy rash if consumed in small amounts. Mistletoe, often seen as romantic, contains phoratoxin, which can lead to blurred vision, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood pressure fluctuations, and even death. All parts of the mistletoe, including its berries, are hazardous when eaten.
Other toxic plants associated with Christmas include amaryllis and daffodils. Eating their bulbs, like those of narcissus, can lead to abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmias, and convulsions. Their leaves, although less harmful, should be avoided as they contain the alkaloid poison lycorine. Additionally, cyclamen plants are particularly dangerous for pets. Their tubers can cause nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and paralysis in animals.
Christmas trees like cedars, pines, and firs are mildly toxic. The real concern lies in their needles, which can puncture the gastrointestinal tract, and their oils, which can irritate the mouth and skin.
3. Christmas Trees
The Christmas tree itself poses several holiday hazards, including the risk of slipping, falling, cuts, fires, electric shocks, and trees toppling over. These dangers are present when setting up or decorating both real and artificial trees, and such incidents are on the rise.
Accidents can occur when ladders are placed on uneven or icy ground, or when makeshift ladders such as chairs are used. The resulting falls can lead to severe injuries or even fatalities. Tree skirts create slippery surfaces that increase the chance of losing balance, leading to falls and potential bruises, fractures, or worse. In some cases, victims have injured themselves on broken ornaments that were knocked off the tree during a fall.
Leaving tree lights burning unattended or overnight can cause devastating fires. In British Columbia, Canada alone, 113 'Christmas-related fires' were reported between 2010 and 2020. The combination of electric lights and metal trees heightens the risk of both fires and electric shocks.
With these dangers all around, you'd better stay alert! Merry Christmas!
2. Laser Lights
Laser lights may appear stunning, but they carry potential risks. Simply positioning them around our homes gives the illusion that we’ve gone the extra mile to decorate, even with our packed schedules. However, laser lights can be disorienting, and their intense beams may harm the eyes.
These laser lights can pose dangers to pilots, especially when directed into the sky. Aiming lasers or lights at an aircraft is not only reckless but also illegal, with fines reaching up to $250,000. On top of that, offenders could face a prison sentence of up to 20 years!
1. Chimneys
While Santa might easily slip down chimneys, these structures can pose serious hazards for the rest of us. Creosote, a hazardous substance formed during the burning of solid and liquid fuels like wood and gas, can build up and harden inside chimneys, leading to dangerous fires that may destroy the chimney and even leave us homeless.
If animals take shelter and die in our chimneys or construct nests that block the flues (which can also be obstructed by "falling leaves, debris," or the buildup of creosote), carbon monoxide may accumulate within our homes, causing headaches, nausea, or dizziness. The gas can even be deadly. Furthermore, cracks in the flue, caused by the "normal wear and tear" from fires, can spread "smoke and fumes . . . throughout" the house.
