Taking Down Holiday Decor

[Southernmiss]

I'm with those who just now have time to enjoy Christmas. Dvr is full of movies, I want Christmas music on the radio and time home to bask in the glow of the lights.

Usually our decorations go up Thanksgiving weekend and come down after the first of Jan. We were out of town Thanksgiving so they went up 12/9.

We are out of town now for New Year's. They may or may not come down 1/6 or 1/13 before my college kids head back.

Fortunately, I am also in Mardi Gras region so we'll head right into Carnival. I almost forgot until dil talked about already having King Cake Christmas Eve.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Oh, yes, I have a bunch of movies which I had no time to watch these past few weeks. I love that I have the time now to just and play them with all the lights, tree and decorations up...festive, homey and relaxing at the same time

Christmas just started, so true!

My husband decided to take this week off since no one will be at work really so it's become a Christmas movie watching week since we could only watch movies here and there as we got busy.

It's been brutally cold (especially compared to the above average temps we were getting) since this past weekend (it currently feels like -5 out) and we got a bit of snow (like 2 or so inches between Christmas eve and yesterday) so it just feels great with the decorations still up, the lights still on the house, the gas fireplace going a bit and watching Christmas movies

 

[L&Lfan]

For us the Christmas season is just beginning....in fact it's the 3rd day of Christmas....the 3 French hens day.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'll admit I've never followed the 12 days of Christmas aspect as I didn't grow up that way. But I do find it interesting that when we went to Walmart about an hour ago ALL Christmas decor is 50%. That included quite a bit of decor including plates, glasses, cake stands, etc that have "The 12 Days of Christmas" theme.

And yes Valentine's Day stuff is already going up (all the card section that used to be for Christmas in now Valentine's Day)--my best friend who works at Target was putting up that stuff before Christmas actually.

 

[disneychrista]

I took my tree down about 4 years ago.

 

[mummabear]

My wife is an Atheist and she goes by the 12 days of Christmas.

Christmas means different things to different people.
For us there is a lead up from Dec 1st, but it finishes on Boxing Day.

It may be a difference that here it is summer, kids are part way through a 8 week school break, for those that haven’t already left most will be at Bach’s, beach house or campsites by NYE.

 

[blana]

We keep ours up through Epiphany. And put it up as soon after thanksgiving as I have a chance.

 

[tvguy]

OP back. Thanks everyone for replying. I admit it never occurred to me that people might be going away the day after Christmas and want to dispose of their cut trees before then.

Not only will my decor stay up until January, I actually bought some additional decorations for half price at Walmart yesterday and put them up. Two of those outdoor laser light things that shine against the house and make moving patterns. One has green and red snowflake type patterns, The other has Santa's sleigh and reindeer.

Just got a reminder on NEXTDOOR that the trash collectors do not pickup Christmas trees here. You have to take them to a central pickup point to be made into mulch. And the first day those pickup centers are open is January 7.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We take down all the decorations on the 26th. Our son's birthday is on December 27. I have a sister with the same birthday and she never liked her birthday because it was always lumped with Christmas. We try to make sure that the two days are completely separate. Plus I love the feeling of getting my house back to normal.

We had the same situation, in reverse. My sister's birthday is Dec 17th and our parents decided that she wasn't going to get caught in that "here's one present - Happy Birthday & Merry Christmas" situation. (Our Grandfather's birthday was Dec 24th, so he got that all the time). Our Christmas decorations and preparations did not begin until Dec 18th on our house. IMO, that's plenty of time.

 

[RedAngie]

Just got a reminder on NEXTDOOR that the trash collectors do not pickup Christmas trees here. You have to take them to a central pickup point to be made into mulch. And the first day those pickup centers are open is January 7.

The trees I saw curbside in my neighborhood aren't picked up with regular trash. They'll be laying out there until well into the new year when the county sends a special truck to pick them up for mulch recycling. Or you can drop them off at a few designated locations.

 

[Diznygrl]

January 7th. I'm in the camp of "It's still Christmas even though the retail world and the media says it's not". But really I work hard putting up the dang decorations so I want them to stay up through Epiphany to make it worth it, LOL. It's always a little bit sad after they're down and the house is all bare, so I solve that problem by putting up my Valentine's decorations right after. I'm a holiday decorating nut though, so YMMV.

 

[china mom]

How big is your house? Where do you put 27 trees?

4700 square feet when you include the attached apartment. I put a provision in the tenants lease that I get to put a tree up in her apartment (she is a friend). I am also including the four trees I have outside on various porches.

 

[jevs]

Mine is now all packed away in the shed.

 

[aprilgail]

The trees I saw curbside in my neighborhood aren't picked up with regular trash. They'll be laying out there until well into the new year when the county sends a special truck to pick them up for mulch recycling. Or you can drop them off at a few designated locations.

Ours get picked up with the weekly lawn/yard waste, leaves etc. You can also drive them over to the beach and they will use them to bulk up the dunes for the winter.

 

[DisneyOma]

The tree is a Christmas decoration. In fact, I don't know anyone that puts up a tree but doesn't celebrate Christmas.

Christmas just started.

But what does a tree have to do with Jesus? Isn't it part of the pagan Yule celebration? Why would you keep the pagan tree up for Epiphany?

December 25th starts Christmas. I guess they thought they were Advent Trees.

Still not understanding what the tree has to do with Epiphany?

The actual 12 days of Christmas are between Christmas and Epiphany.

Obviously you can celebrate whatever you want, whenever you want.

But for us, it would be like saying, to me Christmas is in October.

But why is the tree part of it? No one seems to be able to answer?

Only if you are religious

My wife is an Atheist and she goes by the 12 days of Christmas.

So, she has appropriated religion? How can she call herself an atheist then?

 

[moon]

But what does a tree have to do with Jesus? Isn't it part of the pagan Yule celebration? Why would you keep the pagan tree up for Epiphany?

OK, I'll try...it's just that I found your question very strange. It is called a Christmas tree. CHRISTmas. Most Christians put up a Christmas tree as part of the celebration of the birth Baby Jesus. (Christ), so it completely makes sense that the tree stays up until Epiphany.

There are stricter Christians and Christian denominations who/which don't put up trees or garlands because of their Pagan origins. But the tree has been widely accepted by most churches. Even The Vatican has one.

But it would seem strange to me that someone who is Christian would have a Christmas tree on Christmas, but then take it down for Epiphany because "what does the tree have to do with Baby Jesus." You either believe it is part of the joy of celebrating his birth, or you don't. But saying that it belongs on one occasion but not on the other is just bizarre to me.

The Christian celebration of Christmas starts on Christmas day, and ends on Epiphany.

I hope this helps.

ETA: To the Mods. I tried to reply to the question while staying within the board rules. I hope I succeeded.

 

[Snowflakey]

Tree went out the front door Christmas Day! Such a sad situation. We ALWAYS cut our own tree, as we did this year. Always the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Not sure what happened but the entire tree was completely dead. In 30 years of cutting trees this has never happened. Gave it plenty of water, cut the trunk before putting it in the stand, etc. You walked by that tree and all you hear was needles falling. It was not only turning brown but a fire hazard so it had to go. The rest of the house is still decorated. Will put away my set arounds this weekend. The archway greens/lights and greens/lights over my dining room picture window will stay up for a while longer. I love lights!

 

[Southernmiss]

But what does a tree have to do with Jesus? Isn't it part of the pagan Yule celebration? Why would you keep the pagan tree up for Epiphany?



Still not understanding what the tree has to do with Epiphany?



But why is the tree part of it? No one seems to be able to answer?





So, she has appropriated religion? How can she call herself an atheist then?

The wood of the cradle reminds us of the wood of the cross. My tree topper is a pearlized cross.

The tree is also a sign of everlasting life.

Epiphany for Christians marks Jesus' manifestation as savior to all believers all over the world.

Why wouldn't a Christian leave a tree up?

 

[PollyannaMom]

IKR? Why even bother? To me, everything looks so pretty and festive, it makes me somewhat sad to get the house "back to normal"

For me, it depends on how much I over-decorate.
If I've put up so much that I'm feeling like the house is cluttered, it is sort of a relief to get it "back to normal" - but I scaled back a little this year for just that reason, so I'm still OK with them for now.

I'll admit I've never followed the 12 days of Christmas aspect as I didn't grow up that way. But I do find it interesting that when we went to Walmart about an hour ago ALL Christmas decor is 50%. That included quite a bit of decor including plates, glasses, cake stands, etc that have "The 12 Days of Christmas" theme.

And yes Valentine's Day stuff is already going up (all the card section that used to be for Christmas in now Valentine's Day)--my best friend who works at Target was putting up that stuff before Christmas actually.

That's what gets me. I hate rushing the next holiday to start before the previous one even gets here! Christmas stuff at the drugstore near me was already half off well before the holiday - which was kind of nice because I needed something, but still felt not quite right.

 

[StephMK]

I also keep it up until the cluttered feel gets to me. I keep thinking I should pare down the decorations but they are all sentimental in some way.

Ours will come down next Thursday after my parents leave. Possibly before that if we're still having frigid temps and just hanging out inside.