A Claus For Celebration - Jo's Jolly Passion
New Zealand Woman's Weekly|December 9 2019
Is this New Zealand’s biggest festive fan?
Lynley Ward
A Claus For Celebration - Jo's Jolly Passion

It’s not hard to believe Jo Haynes loves Christmas – so much so, in fact, that for many years she would put all her household furniture into storage come September and turn her home into a festive wonderland!

These days the home no longer needs to be packed up. Instead, a giant purpose-built shed on her rural Manawatū property means she can indulge in her irrepressible yuletide passion.

Celebrating Christmas has been dear to her heart right from when she was a little girl, when her extended family would gather under one roof.

“I loved it,” she says. “We always used to have Christmas at Foxton Beach because my aunty had a beach house out there. My mum would put a stocking at the end of my bed and I must have been the worst child for going to sleep on Christmas Eve. I was continually waking up and then we’d be awake at four in the morning.

“I’ll never forget those beach-time memories. As I got older and got my own home, I wanted to bring them back.”

The decorations started off low-key at her Palmerston North home but became grander by the year.

“It got to the stage where I decorated one of our homes big-time. I went completely crazy and put all my furniture into storage so I had a blank canvas to work with and decorated the whole house!”

It included themed rooms, complete with sand on the floor of the dining room for a beach setting, bark in the “enchanted forest” in the lounge, and colour-coordinated trees to match each bedroom’s decor.

Jo (61) reckons she had at least a dozen decorated full-size Christmas trees and many other smaller versions, bringing a festive touch to every room.

Esta historia es de la edición December 9 2019 de New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 9 2019 de New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE NEW ZEALAND WOMAN'S WEEKLYVer todo
The perfect GETAWAY
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

The perfect GETAWAY

From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Message in a BOTTLE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Message in a BOTTLE

Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Empowered & thriving!  PERFECT AT ANY AGE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE

Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE

From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT

The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD

After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART

After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро

It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART

The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 11, 2024
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB

The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 11, 2024