You know what the saddest day of the year is?
The day the Christmas tree comes down.
Or, in my case, trees plural. As in three.
And, yes, I know I’m still clinging to Christmas. And, yes, I know I need to move on …
but it’s so hard to do when all I see for the next three months is a vast, cold, windy, overcast winter.
With nary a twinkle light in sight. 😉
And this Christmas was an especially merry one. As I’ve shared before.
Oh, and the make this Christmas even more magical was the snow. On Christmas Eve day! Blanketing the city in white …
and making Christmas morning just that much more magical.
This is Christmas tree #3.
This the last tree to go up. Waited for someone to return from college.
This was the last tree to get decorated. I added the red balls and ribbon … and waited on college student and high school junior to add the assorted decorations. This happened the eve before Christmas eve.
This tree has no rhyme or reason. No theme. No color story. Just a mishmash of ornaments accumulated over the years. Some I bought early on before kids. Some the kids buy during their annual pilgrimage to the Kristkindlemarket with their aunt. Some given as stocking stuffers from Santa over the years.
And I’m not even counting all the ornaments that did not make their way onto the tree.
We all clearly have our favorites.
Molly has a strong kinship with this lady. And always reserves a branch so she will hang front and center.
Sam likes non-traditional ornaments. Non-traditional colors. Non-traditional Christmas themed …
like what is that?
He even loaded one side of the tree with his favorites so he that he can see them as he sits on his usual perch on the couch.
This one is my favorite.
I’m not yet ready for the saddest day of the year. So I’m holding out until 2018.
Because who wants to ring in the New Year without twinkle lights? 🙂
Why would you take the trees down before the 6th of January? That’s “Old Christmas Day”. We were taught that it was bad luck to take them down before then.
I had no idea about the 6th! Well, that settles it. Don’t want to bring bad luck onto our household. The trees stay up!!! 🙂
I am right there with you on your thoughts. I think the hardest part about living in the Chicago land area is the after Christmas blues. We see lots of white out the windows but that is accompanied with lots of chilling temps. Nothing is alive so the months of January and February are hard for us until we see the hope of new life in Spring time. So I too get the blues to take down the pretty lights and the tree. Lets hope we have some milder days with at least some sun coming out for the next few months.
May the new year bring you joy and some fun days of maybe painting a new piece or finding a fun new treasure for your sweet and pretty home.
xoxo
Kris
Too true Kris! And this week’s sub-zero temps have me holding on even tighter to those twinkle lights! Happy holidays and wishes for a wonderful and crafty New Year to you too!!! 🙂
I think that once I take my trees down I am going to decorate with snowflakes and snowmen and then that way it doesn’t seem so bleak. Happy New Year!!!
Yes, winter decor! And maybe lots of furs and fluffy stuff to keep things warm and cozy inside! 🙂 Happy New Year to you too!
Yep, I need all the good luck I can get! Plus, if you get visitors after Christmas, it makes the house feel warm and inviting
The first day of Christmas is the 25th and 12th day is January 6…It’s called Epiphany and it was in honor of the visit from the Magi or the three kings! And I didn’t know about the “bad luck” but just knew we shouldn’t stress about Christmas being on one day only…there are 12 days! And I miss snow…we live in Southern Oregon and we’ve had cooler temps but none of your white stuff!
How did I not know all this? Perhaps I didn’t pay enough attention in catechism class? Hope you have a happy New Year and wonderful 2018 (and hopefully a little of the white stuff!). 🙂
I totally understand! We got about an inch of snow Christmas Eve….but now the sub-zero temps have hit. I think I’m leaving the tree up til 2018, too…just because! Wishing you many blessings in the New Year! 😉
Happy holidays and a very happy New Year to you too! And I really did enjoy that Christmas Eve snow. It added that last extra merry to my Merry Christmas! 🙂
We generally take our tree down on New Year’s Day. It takes such a light from the house and always makes me a bit sad too.
I can’t imagine taking the tree down so soon!!! Relax and enjoy the ‘entire’ season. There have been years that mine did not come down until Feb. 1! And I’m not one bit ashamed to admit that. Actually, the usual scheme of things here is to begin the decorating/trees, etc. the day after Halloween trick of treating. I too do 3+ trees and in order to get everything up and then clean up takes time. Then the holiday shopping, Thanksgiving and the beloved Christmas season can be truly enjoyed. So just chill out, glass of wine, enjoy the lights, put on some music and give it another week (at least).
With Love,
Deb
I do stretch it to New Year but may stretch it another week! My daughter would love that because we both love the house filled with twinkle lights! Though, the real tree might need to go first. Starts to get pretty messy pretty quickly!
Hope you have a fabulous and happy New Year!
🙂 Linda
Many in South Louisiana leave their decorations up until Twelfth Night, also called Epiphany, January 6, when they have a party and take down the decorations. The dessert for the party includes King Cake. That signals the start of Carnival, leading up to Mardi Gras and Lent.
I didn’t manage a tree this year (long story) but I did do other decorations that I’m leaving up until after Twelfth Night. We will have a small party and I will make King Cake. Then I’ll take down the decorations when I’m good and ready. 😉
So, chill and enjoy, especially in those bleak mid-winter days when the world seems too much with us.
Peace.
I’m learning so much about Twelfth Night and the Epiphany this year! Thanks for adding more to the tale and love the party and the King Cake (which I am going to Google right now to find out what a King Cake is!). Hope you have a wonderful Twelfth Night celebrations! As well as a wonderful New Year! 🙂
I agree your favourite decoration is mine too. Looks expensive.🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲
I’m pretty sure I found it at Pier 1 Imports. And probably in the $3-5 range. It actually was a gift I gave to my son so technically it’s his decoration! 🙂
Hi there, sure hope you and family had wonderful Christmas. We had a sort of white Christmas, had snowed little bit week before so we had what was left on ground. Was first snow of year for us here, very unusual. Am quite envious of all your snow and what PA is getting. Some days are barely cold enuf to wear boots and sweaters/scarves.
Thought your tree you showed was pretty and quite sweet, love the ornaments. Compared to our little 4ft.faux tree yours looks very majestic. We had to dig a table out of shed to put it on, not an exercise Mr.Furry appreciated. I can’t lift the boxes anymore by myself so had to enlist his help, lots of grumbling accompanied his help. I didn’t point out that at time he put tables in shed I requested they be placed in front, not way in back for just that reason. Luckily is a small shed.
I too always feel like house is so drab after tree comes down, all those pretty ornaments and decorations along with lights make things happy in house for all those days. I like Debra’s comment about January 6th., who wants bad luck for the year?
Our granddaughter is home from college also, think she started college same year your son did. Where did he end up going? Now will be time for daughter/hubs youngest to go to college next Fall. They’ve been doing the admissions/scholarship thing and went to see a college in Nov.
Wishing you and yours a very HAPPY NEW YEAR Linda.
Not me. I fully intend to leave mine up through March. Since I didn’t finish decorating before we left town I’m going to do fancy winter decorating and leave it up through winter. I cAme downstairs to twinkle lights this morning for the first time this season and decided that I could live this way for a really long time
Me too! Love the winter decorating idea — think I’ll try that one too! Oh, and I have a Christmas village that usually stays up until the first day of Spring! I just take down the giant Christmas tree piece! Hope you are having a lovely holiday season, my friend! And best wishes for an amazing New Year!!! 🙂
1. Definitely leave the tree up until Epiphany!
2. I once attended a church auction of “goods and services.” By far the most eagerly anticipated bid was for Christmas tree “de-decorating”, offered by a man known to be highly organized. That service went for Big Bucks!
1. Will do! and 2. What a great auction idea! So very clever!!! 🙂 Happy holidays and Happy New Year!!!
I take down the religious or Santa ornaments but leave the evergreens with the lights up until the end of January. Winter is so dark. The twinkle lights give it a festive feel. The days are getting longer by then too. Helps me to deal with winter dreariness. It’s your house. Do as you like and who cares what people think.
Love that idea!!!! And my twinkle lights are still up! 🙂