We’re all dreaming of a white Christmas, but the best we can hope for here in New Zealand is hail. Unlike our northern hemisphere counterparts, we’re more likely to get sunshine on the big day, rather than a smattering of snow.  

To make up for that, we often resort to fake snow products to get our traditional Christmas fix. We spray our windows with tacky, sticky, powdery substances, and purchase artificial snow-laden wreaths to attach to our doors. Even those countries that do get snow over the festive season, such as the United States, will use fake snow in the absence of the real deal - or to complement it. 

You may be wondering how Christmas decorations and traditions relate to asbestos removal services, but they do. A merry Christmas turns into a scary Christmas when you realise our decorations from days gone by used to contain asbestos - and lots of it. And, if you still use those old vintage decorations for a touch of nostalgia, you could be putting your family at risk. 

What should I look out for?

For a good portion of the first half of the 20th century, asbestos was a popular material for Christmas decorations and decor. It was white, fluffy, and flame retardant. As a result, it was sold as fake snow and was also used in the manufacturing of wreaths, bulbs, and baubles. If you own vintage Christmas decorations with a frosty-looking material on it, then there’s a high chance that those, too, contain asbestos. 

But it’s not just decorations that could contain this harmful material. Because of its heat-resistant and fire-retardant properties, it was also a popular option for Christmas tree skirts, patterned table cloths, and Christmas-themed mats. Products produced around the 1930s to 1950s are the most likely to contain asbestos. Around the period of WWII, all valuable materials - asbestos included - were directed toward wartime efforts. 

Examples of asbestos Christmas decorations and decor

It can be hard to believe that something so hazardous for your health would feature in festive products, but at that time, no one was any the wiser. No one thought anything of using asbestos as fake snow during the 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz, featuring Judy Garland, either.

In one of the most famed scenes, the snow fell on Dorothy on her friends. We now know that that particular scene was monumental for a whole host of different reasons than they realised at the time. What’s also not as commonly known is that the Wicked Witch’s broom and the scarecrow’s outfit both contained asbestos as well.  

In recent years, a photo has also made its way onto the internet of a package of fake snow. It’s vintage and contains a label that says Asbestos: Pure White Fire Proof Snow. 

The photo was taken by amateur photographer and industrial hygienist Tony Rich, who uploaded it to the photo-sharing platform Flickr. The asbestos fake snow was sold throughout the 1940s and 1950s by the National Tinsel Manufacturing Company.  

What’s the risk? 

Before you begin to panic about the risk to your family from decorations handed down through the generations, it’s essential to ask yourself how you have handled and used them. For them to be a risk, you need to have inhaled the fibres. Unless they are loose, in the air, or you purposefully breathe them in from the decoration, the risk is minimal. You can now dispose of them appropriately and safely and invest in new, safe Christmas decorations instead. 

Why is asbestos dangerous? 

Hundreds of people die from asbestos-related diseases throughout New Zealand and Australia every year. The seemingly harmless fibres, once inhaled, aggravate your lung tissue and lead to both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions. 

One of the more common conditions is a respiratory disease known as asbestosis. Symptoms include a crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling, and even cardiac failure in its later stages. This condition is non-cancerous. 

Mesothelioma, on the other hand, is cancer that forms on the lining of organs such as your stomach and is directly linked to asbestos exposure. Symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, shortness of breath, chest pain, a dry cough, and respiratory problems. 

What can I do? 

Before you deck the halls with bells and holly, think about the origins of your decorations. Did you pick them up in a garage sale or secondhand shop? Did a family member pass them down to you? If anything from tinsel to tin men looks like they could contain asbestos, then don’t delay in removing them from your home. 

Expert asbestos removal companies in NZ can point you in the direction of a responsible disposal area. They can also assist you with testing and removal of asbestos in your home too.