Mariah Carey for PEOPLE.Photo:Nino Munoz
Nino Munoz
The Queen ofChristmasis opening up about how she makes her holiday season merry and bright.
Mariah Careyspoke to PEOPLE about what festive traditions she celebrates year after year and considers a “slay,” and which ones end up on her naughty list, or get a “nay.”
The pop superstar, who appears on the latestPEOPLE digital cover story, explains that — after herannual defrosting— she starts getting in the spirit on Nov. 1, which is when she considers it appropriate to play holiday music.
Mariah Carey for PEOPLE.Nino Munoz
As for how the singer-songwriter likes to deck the halls, she has quite a few opinions. The “Touch My Body” singer admits that she’s “not really a fan of artificial trees,” but recognizes that “it’s all the way you decorate it and the love you put into the room.”
“I like popcorn garland,” Carey shared, of how she likes to see an evergreen decked out. “Slay — especially with cranberries and popcorn.”
Even the bottom of the tree comes into her consideration. “[Tree skirts] can be cute,” suggests the R&B legend. “It’s all about the way they’re zhuzhed. You got to zhuzh them properly.”
There is one ornament that fans will never see gracing her Christmas centerpiece: “Tinsel, nay,” she says.
“I am not really a tinsel fan,” the pop icon reveals. “But I don’t want to take that away from other people because it’s fun. You could throw it at people. It’s fun for a moment.”
The singer-songwriter also thinks that any inflatable yard decor should be kept to a minimum. “If they have, like, a cute lamb or something like that, it’s more for the pool. I would go with that,” she offered as an alternative.
When it comes to presents, Carey also has thoughts: Gift cards are a nay (“I don’t think people like that anymore”) and lingerie can definitely be a slay (“If people want it”). (She would know, as this year she starred inVictoria’s Secret’s annual Christmas campaign.)
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She would also rather Santa Claus deliver gifts down the chimney than participate in a holiday party exchange. Of Secret Santa, she says, “It’s just like, why?”
And Rudolph’s red nose hasn’t even putthe gag-gift tradition white elephant on her radar. “I don’t know of said white elephant gift party,” she admits.
Opening “one gift on Christmas Eve,” though, she calls, “So slay.”
Before the “We Belong Together” artist gets festive at home, she’s busy rocking around the Christmas tree out on the road this year on herMerry Christmas One and All! tour. The live show, which sees the pop icon performing holiday classics and her own hits in a winter wonderland, kicked off on Nov. 15 in Highland, California and runs until Dec. 17 in New York City.
In her PEOPLE digital cover story about her status as the Queen of Christmas, Carey revealed that this Christmas time feels extra special.
“I’ve been looking forward to this Christmas for, like, the whole year,” she admitted.
For more from Mariah Carey, check out PEOPLE’s latest digital issue here.
source: people.com
