Do you have one? That weirdo in your neighborhood who doesn’t know when the party has ended?
Not the weirdo neighbor like my parents have, who is just too lazy to pick up the spiral Christmas tree next to her porch…even though it fell over during a windstorm in March…and now it’s July. I mean, hey, next Christmas is only five short months from July…so she can just wait it out til then (and, true story, repeat the cycle for the entire next year.)
Uh, no…that “ain’t” me.
There are lots of people who barely hang on ’til New Year’s Day, but when the calendar changes, they are D O N E. I had a family member who could never last the week. In fact, “On the second day of Christmas, you know what you would see? Not a trace of Chri-is-mas tree”).
December 26th, boom. Done. Over.
That’s not me, either……ALTHOUGH….with the temptation all the ornaments and ribbons have been to a certain pair of puppies, this year I was likewise ready by December 26th.
We’re usually the last on our street. We milk celebrate the Christmas season until the traditional end of Christmas: the baptism of the Lord, which occurs on the Sunday after the Epiphany (even though Jesus was into his 30’s by then)…and then the lights come down…. just like they did the first Christmas, after the infant Jesus opened his plethora of presents wrapped in color coordinated, reversible gift wrap, and ate all the cutout cookies (even the ones with anise), while Mary and Joseph–bedecked in matching buffalo-check pajamas–sipped their festive holiday beverages from Santa Mugs.
Not to get into liturgical weeds here, but I’d be willing to bet those weren’t the actual days circled on the calendar in the Blessed Mother’s command center. However, they are the dates circled on ours, which is why I eke it out till then.
So yeah, we’re the weirdos.
This year, we are even WEIRDOer. The dec is staying up an extra week because our holiday was interrupted by the big O. Everyone is fine, and it was generally reminiscent of what would normally be the mildest of colds….BUT…
None of our family could celebrate together last year, and while we shut it down to protect my parents, it was pretty devastating for them. So, at 91 and 85, my parents deserve a “family Christmas” with tree and decorations, and they will have one even if I have to leave it all up until Valentine’s Day.
(Okay, even I can’t last that long!!! Besides, I have LOTS of projects that I can’t wait to tackle once the dec is packed away.)
So, if I’m your neighbor, I’m sorry! Hope you’ll forgive me. I’ll go back to normal weirdo next year. (On the bright side, at least we don’t celebrate until Candlemas!)
Greetings from Melbourne, Australia. I am the ‘bah humbug’ girl who would prefer to take all Xmas decos down by the 26th of Dec. But, my husband gets a bit cranky with that attitude, so I usually leave them up a few days longer. Having said all that, the fairly lights just get moved from the front of the house to the backyard as I like to have them up All Year but the neighbours may think I am a little too crazy if I leave them out the front all that time. We were hit badly with corona this Xmas, and that sure as heck wasn’t on my bucket list for 2021. Or any year for that matter. So, we were stuck in South Aust with my inlaws for days ten days in ‘iso’ thanks to all of us testing positive to corona. We hightailed it home as soon as our ten days of iso had finished. After that debacle, I have never been So Glad to get home.
I searched for “Candlemas” and the Google was like “Hromnice”? and I was like… um… I guess? In any case, I think you’re referring to February 2nd and that’s definitely a very long time to have Christmas decor up. Still, I’d MUCH rather see Christmas decorations displayed well into March than in August, in anticipation of the next Christmas. I can totally relate to procrastination, but something about starting the celebration ‘AUGUST early’ makes me want to flick people in the face.
So, to recap:
In my humble opinion, Christmas decorations should go up right after Thanksgiving and come down whenever one is damned good and ready. (Ideally by April.)
This is a quickie, bc I’m racing to put some things away, now that there will no longer be extended Christmas celebrations as two more nieces have posted omicron caution tape outside their doors.
Anywho, “flick them in the face,” hahaha! Quit wasting your hilarious shit in my comments section and go write your own damn post. I need more.
(Also, thank you for commenting; as you know, it’s blogger fuel.)
Finally, i just wanted to see what was wrong with your Google so i checked and wow, “Hromnice”! Legit.
Whoodaguessed?!
What a wonderful post! I am not alone! My home morphs from Christmas to winter decor…all the angels, holiday tree(s), and santa decor come down. The pine garlands, snowpeople, houses, etc stay up…either til we celebrate Chinese New Year or Valentine’s Day…so, thanks for sharing your thoughts! And know you are not alone! Happy 2022, hoping it’s truly 2022 for your fam and not 2020 two
Agreed! I NEVER want to see 2020 again!
One year, I did keep all the lights up in the back hallway until St. Pat’s, adding Red for Valentine’s and Green for the “high holy day” in March.
You may have just talked me into trying that again this year, but there will be a LOT to pack away before Im forced to decide, haha.
And phew.
Thx for you nice words!! 😘
I have always had it all packed away by the new year – but then i put it up the day after Thanksgiving! And I am ready to decorate for the next holiday a few days later! No wonder time flies by so quickly for me – lol. Happy New Year and stay healthy!
Well, I have to admit that I often wish I was on your timeline. But i could never get ‘er up then down that fast…so I guess im where im supposed to be, haha.
Been enjoying your posts, btw…especially about the photocards and the sugared cranberries. (I wonder if my comments get sorted out as they always disappear the second I submit them…🤔)
Seriously, I think our houses are WAY prettier with all the lights and decorations anyways. SO let’s change the message, to why is everyone against sparkly??
Ours are still up here and I was seriously contemplating the idea of how much longer can we go? LOL!!
XOOX
JOdie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
That’s what Mr says, too!
It works for me since there’s so much to put up and take down. And since it’s 16 degrees right now, i might as well enjoy it inside, bc its not fun outside! Brrrr!