By Lisa Neff

Contributing writer

Remember that hodge-podge of ornaments adorning the family Christmas tree and the mélange of holiday heirlooms here and there throughout the house?

Most family Christmas trees still follow the mix-and-match fashion, but small theme trees are increasingly playing a supporting role in holiday traditions.

“In the front room,” said Chicago accountant Bill Winnans, “you’ll find my candy-cane tree. In the kitchen, chili peppers. And, in the bedroom, that’s where I keep my tree with all my camp ornaments.”

The “big tree,” agreed Winnans and his partner Marty Taylor, should be reserved for the Christmas ornaments they received as gifts or collected over the years.

The Christmas tree is believed to have originated in the 7th century in Germany, where trees were decorated with simple white lights. Tinsel—pure silver tinsel—was added next. Then, as the tree’s popularity grew and spread, decorations became more ornate.

The Winnans/Taylor big tree includes a number of ornaments designed by Christopher Radko. “Enough,” said Taylor, “to have another small theme tree.”

Radko has been making charity awareness ornaments for almost as long as he’s been designing ornaments—more than 20 years. This year is no different. Radko’s collection includes “Here to Cheer,” the 16th style in his ornaments to promote AIDS education, research and care. The ornament is an animated Santa, with arms wide open and welcoming.

The “High-Button Blooms” represents the 10th ornament created by Radko to support breast cancer research and “Four-Footed Friends” is the eighth collectible raising money for Pet Population. www.christopherradko.com

Light tricks: Get crazy when one bulb goes out and spoils the whole bunch on the line? The Lightkeeper Pro can provide a quick fix. Plug, click and that bad line gives light. www.lightkeeppro.com

Inspired by the vintage ornaments from the 1940s and 1950s, the Martha Stewart Collection’s Winter Whimsies Tree at Macy’s decks the season with homespun cheer.

Another favorite at the department store is the playful “Upside Down Tree” designed by Kurt Adler. Outrageous? Yes. Stunning? Yes? Artificial? You won’t even be thinking about that. The topsy-turvy tree comes pre-wired with clear lights. www.macys.com

Live green and red: The poinsettia’s role in holiday decorating originated in Mexico, where the legend is told that a child wanted to present an offering on Jesus’ birthday but lacked the coin to buy one. So he presented to the church a poinsettia he had seen growing nearby. Schaefer Greenhouses grows its own poinsettias, as well as azaleas, begonias, geraniums and mums in its 200,000-square-foot facility in Montgomery, Ill. www.schaeferwholesaleplantgrower.com

With their rich shades of red and green, Florida fruit growers and the National Mango Board are hoping that mangos make the perfect fruit to decorate the halls this holiday season. Instead of holly, pair mango and garland for a centerpiece or fill clear vases with mangos for an eye-catching and modern twist on holiday décor. And they’re good for the munchies too—try with a touch of salt.

Glad tidings: In 1843, an Englishman tired of handwriting his increasingly numerous holiday greetings commissioned J.C. Horsley to paint a card to convey “A merry Christmas and a happy new year to you.” The card depicted a cheerful family celebrating the holiday—including a kid taking a sip of wine. The Englishman, Sir Henry Cole, like so many who followed, apparently never got around to sending out the cards.

CFP likes a number of designs from Pomegranate that you can either send out in the mail or leave lying around your tabletop to show off your good intentions: Frank Lloyd Wright’s geo-perfect “Decorative Elements,” the richly colored “Japanese Cranes,” the Saturday Evening Post’s morbidly funny “Snowman in a Freezer” and some hometown favorites—“Winter in Millennium Park,” “Chicago Skyline” and the “Chicago” holiday assortment. Does the city ever look better than draped in a holiday gown of soft white snow? www.pomegranate.com

Mood music: Looking for something to add to the carol collection? “Christmas Lullabies to Create Memories” by the Lullaby Lady Paige Stroman is a sweet, slow-down collection of holiday classics for a hectic month.