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.

This story is from the December 9 2019 edition of New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 9 2019 edition of New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEW ZEALAND WOMAN'S WEEKLYView All
Kate's Heavenly career 'NOW I'M RUNNING A COUNTRY!'
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Kate's Heavenly career 'NOW I'M RUNNING A COUNTRY!'

The Hollywood heavyweight’s calling the shots again

time-read
3 mins  |
April 01, 2024
Smooth OPERATOR
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Smooth OPERATOR

Come winter, Kevin’s going to miss the warmth of his ‘woolly legs’

time-read
2 mins  |
April 01, 2024
Unconditional love 'WHAT BROOKLYN TEACHES US'
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Unconditional love 'WHAT BROOKLYN TEACHES US'

Despite being ‘trapped’ in her body, the wee girl enriches the lives of those she meets

time-read
3 mins  |
April 01, 2024
Freddie's mercury rising! 'MY LIFE IS A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE'
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Freddie's mercury rising! 'MY LIFE IS A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE'

In his quest to be a bett er man, the dad moved his family to New Zealand and set out on a mission near impossible

time-read
3 mins  |
April 01, 2024
You won't be-leaf it! GROW VEGES FROM SCRAPS
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

You won't be-leaf it! GROW VEGES FROM SCRAPS

Turn your kitchen windowsill into a mini hydroponic patch

time-read
3 mins  |
April 01, 2024
How to get fit in JUST 7 MINUTES
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

How to get fit in JUST 7 MINUTES

Don’t sweat it! Bite-sized workouts can transform your body

time-read
3 mins  |
April 01, 2024
SWEET & BUBBLY
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

SWEET & BUBBLY

Dessert on a weeknight? Heck, yes! With these one-pot wonders, you can pull it off with ease

time-read
3 mins  |
April 01, 2024
Burgundy's Debbie 'I STILL ROCK MY
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Burgundy's Debbie 'I STILL ROCK MY

After a lifetime of razzle-dazzle, the gorgeous performer is far from hanging up her dancing shoes

time-read
6 mins  |
April 01, 2024
Dame Susan's secrets & 'IT'S ALL OUT THERE NOW!'
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Dame Susan's secrets & 'IT'S ALL OUT THERE NOW!'

The unstoppable star found time to squash in a book about her amazing life

time-read
5 mins  |
April 01, 2024
Bella's double joy 'DAD PREDICTED TWINS!'
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Bella's double joy 'DAD PREDICTED TWINS!'

Paul Henry’s daughter shares her fertility journey that’s ended in a fairytale

time-read
6 mins  |
April 01, 2024