The beauty of having my own column is I can write about anything I want.
That was my answer when my husband asked me why on God’s green earth I decided to dedicate this piece to my Barbie Christmas tree! I am sure there are a few Barbie fans out there who will appreciate it.
It’s no secret that I’m a Barbie girl with nearly 200 dolls in my collection. My obsession includes Holiday Barbies and their matching Hallmark ornaments. Mattel and Hallmark clearly conspired to make sure Barbie collectors like me would never see financial freedom again.
In case you didn’t know, Barbie has released a Holiday doll every year since 1988. The first in the series is one of the rare ones, and I still am trying to get my hands on one for a decent price.
Do I own all the Holiday Barbies? Not yet. They’re not particularly rare but they are pretty and fun to collect.
Each year brings a different gown, usually with embellished bodices and dazzling earrings to match. There are so many standouts for me, including the 2019 candy cane-striped gown, the 2018 30th anniversary red dress, and the 2009 blush pink beauty.
My absolute favourite though would have to be the 1990 Holiday Barbie, with her hot pink gown adorned with sparkly silver stars and voluminous hairdo.
This year’s Holiday doll is wearing a one-shouldered green and red plaid gown with a slit, long sparkly silver earrings and matching red heels. I only have the ornament so far — my wallet and I are waiting for Boxing Week sales to snag the doll.
And as if one doll and matching ornament for the holidays wasn’t enough to drain my wallet, Mattel and Hallmark come out with not just one, but several keepsake Barbie ornaments every year.
For 2024, the keepsake ornaments include a mermaid, ballerina, Hot Skatin’ Barbie, and milestone pieces 65th Anniversary Barbie and 60th Anniversary Midge.
My collection of ornaments started to become too excessive for our family tree, so a few years ago, I purchased my own pink tree specifically for all my Barbie ornaments. This year, I had to upgrade to a six-footer from my four-footer just to accommodate this growing collection. It’s a pink, sparkly wonderland of nostalgia that takes me right back to my childhood.
It brings me so much joy taking each ornament out of the box each year and placing them carefully on the tree branches.
When I look at all the ornaments and the dolls, it brings me back to my childhood, playing Barbies with my sister and being excited to get a Barbie doll from Santa under the tree.
Barbie’s appeal isn’t just about the glitz and glamour — it’s the memories, the joy, and the connection to simpler times. That’s why she’s still relevant today, and why my Barbie Christmas tree brings me so much happiness. Is it over the top? Probably. But isn’t that what the holidays are all about?
So, cheers to the memories, nostalgia and happiness the season brings! I wish you and yours a very happy holiday filled with Barbie-like magic and sparkle.
Natasha Philpott is a Barbie-loving, cat-obsessed writer who lives in Bradford with her husband and two boys. She's also the former editor at BradfordToday and InnisfilToday.
