Usually, I decorate my house for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. By no means do I go overboard, but I do like to put up a tree and a few decorations around the house. This year, I didn’t have the time or energy to deal with it after Thanksgiving so now here we are, 2 weeks from Christmas, and I’m still not really in the Christmas spirit.
Since I’m spending Christmas away from home this year, I’ve been kind of bah humbugging it about decorating. I usually have my fill of it by December 25 and end up de-Christmas-ing that night. The thought of putting up decorations that I won’t even be around to enjoy or coming home to a decorated house after the fact is very unappealing. Even though I swoon when visiting or driving past beautifully decorated homes, the motivation to decorate is missing.
While out walking the dog this weekend, a few of my neighbors were out putting lights up on their house. More were put up the previous weekends. Let’s be honest, most of the light hanger-uppers are men. So it struck me funny that at one of the homes, the husband and wife were both outside, but it was the wife climbing up and down the ladder stringing the lights along the roof line. The husband held the ladder. I wanted to shout, “You go girl!” But instead I thought about how impressed I was. I wouldn’t even know where to begin with that task beyond buying the lights at the store. And even then, it’s iffy.
I’ve pretty much resigned myself to the fact that Christmas is not coming to my house this year. Can’t you tell. So other than wrapping gifts, packing a suitcase, and getting on an airplane, I’m all ready for Christmas. How about you?
Here in Ireland the Christmas period goes the other way 'from' the 25th to the 6th of Jan. Little Christmas. Or where Xmas would have been before the Gregorian changes, it's the Orthodox Christmas. Way to cover the bet, eh. They do the very same in the UK. The twelve days of Christmas in other words.
ReplyDeleteAnywoo, the decorations depend very much on if there are kids in the house. Depend that is, on volume, or should I say candlepower. This is really true since the LED's don't even tweak the power meter ergo there are houses festooned with the things and are truly impressive.
We even have battles. Mostly it has to be said between class. Where you have the ALL blue/while LED's or the mix of colours. Where you have a few stars on the lawn or a fricking landing strip for Santa, sled and the full compliment of reindeer with elves, Mama Santa and whatever other Xmas tat can be found all in a mishmash of themes.
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I think you should put something up. You probably don't need to go all out. But I would hang the tree. I have two main reasons for saying so.
Hmm, I'm having difficulty catching the essence. OK, I'll go this way. The only reason I wouldn't hang decorations would be if I was moving house. It would mean I was in the process of disengagement. So more than anything else you do within the house the hanging of decorations for Christmas is affirming your nest.
The other reason is to engage with the process. At the minuet you are outside looking in. You aren't 'of' it.
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I have to fight with myself about the hanging to the decorations. I have them sitting in the bedroom just waiting to go up. But not before the 15th.
Ya know, I’m embarrassed to admit that I just recently realized the 12 days of Christmas meant the time AFTER Christmas to the Epiphany. with Las Posadas being more prominent here I guess I just always assumed the song meant the days leading up to Christmas – even though Posada is NINE days before Christmas not 12. So it was kind of an a-ha or rather a duh! Anyhow…
DeleteWe’ve got the outdoor lights as well. Some, just a string or two while others a display. It was after dark before I took the dog for a walk last night and with all the moving/lighted/musical displays around the neighborhood Rigby almost had a nervous breakdown. I couldn’t get her to go near them. For some, it’s a tradition to go on the search of pretty Christmas lights around town.
As for me, a tree? That’s the hardest one! I leave in a week, so as much as I’d like to, it’s probably not going to get done. So I guess I’m not engaging this year, at my house. School is a holidays around the world extravaganza right now and there will be decorations in Hawaii which I will partake in taking down afterwards. So at least not completely out of the loop.
Is your decorating low key or grand?
I didn't do much this year either. I put up the tree and stockings and a few decorations, but most is still in the attic.
ReplyDeleteYes, another reason. Getting them out of "storage" can be difficult. Mine are on high shelves in the garage; out of the way most of the year.
DeleteThe only thing that I got out are the silly elves and the nutcrackers. That was only because I was looking for that darn elf on a shelf. With Thanksgiving and the wedding I am just floating above water. We actually are staying here and I wish we weren't only so that could be my excuse not to decorate. I have a wreath on my door and that's it. I feel like what's the use now, but boy you should have seen how decked out my house was for Halloween.
ReplyDeleteMele Kalikimaka to you!
Thank goodness for that elf! :) When Christmas actually gets here you will be glad to be home enjoying it. I would imagine you've had more on your plate the last few weeks without Christmas decorating. I wonder if the kids will let you get away without a tree. :) Where will Santa put the presents?
DeleteI am going to put a few decorations up as we are leaving for CA on the 26th for Orthodox Christmas. Since DD2 will be with us on the 25, I will put up the mini-tree. Right now the only thing out is the Christmas Moose who did not get put away the everything else last year. I do have a Xmas rug for the RV.
DeleteIt's hard when you're heading out that's for sure. Since it's going with you, you should definitely decorate the rig!
DeleteI didn't decorate this year either! I usually have a few things around the house and I've even put lights on my tiny balcony in the past. This year, I just didn't feel like doing it. And now it feels like it's too late. I'll just go to someone else's house and enjoy their nice holiday decorations instead.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of lazy Xmas losers we are! It is what it is, but next year we've gotta decorate.
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