Taking Down Christmas Decorations

I can’t believe it. I’m becoming more and more like my Mother.

My Mother took down her Christmas decorations the day after Christmas. She didn’t wait. She figured that Christmas was over and she needed to clean up and prepare for the New Year.

I found myself doing the same thing this year. Of course, my Christmas decorations were put up the weekend of Thanksgiving. I figured my family and myself had enjoyed the decorations long enough. I found it easier to take the ornaments off the tree than put them on. I felt sad that the Christmas holidays were officially over. I don’t know about you, but I love giving gifts and receiving them as well. I love the Christmas music, the lights and all the decorations, but most of all I love the reason for the season – the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I will have to wait another whole year before using those decorations again but I can, each and every day, celebrate the birth of Christ.

I know people who count the days until Christmas starting even in January. They put their Christmas tree up right after Halloween and take it down after the New Year. These people live for Christmas and they love to tell other people how anxious they are that Christmas is right around the corner.

I also know people who purchase gifts all year long. They love the thrill of getting a gift on sale for their relatives or friends. I usually start my Christmas shopping in October. I try to purchase gifts, especially toys for my grandchildren, before they are sold out. And, I always purchase wrapping paper or gift bags as soon as they are in the store. Don’t want to suddenly have to wrap a gift and I do not have enough wrapping paper to do the job. I refrain from purchasing gifts all year long mainly because I do not have enough place to store the gifts until Christmas.

And, some people leave their Christmas lights up on the outside of their home all year long. I have to draw the line there. Our lights are taken down and stored away till the next Christmas. I have wondered, many times, if those people who leave their lights up worry about the lights working worry about the lights working the following Christmas. If you noticed, this year, more people decorated the outside of their homes with Christmas lights and decor. I came to the conclusion, since most people have to stay home due to COVID, decorating their yards and homes gave them something to do. They were bored so they decorated. Once again, all of it has to come down and be stored away till next year. To me, the clean-up is sad. Outside lights and décor are so festive and it unites people. Who doesn’t enjoy driving around and looking at Christmas lights?

You know Christmas is officially over when you go into a store, two days after Christmas, and see some shelves already decorated for Valentine’s Day. To me, that is rushing it. I’m still waiting for the Christmas pictures to arrive in the mail.

It’s sad taking down all those Christmas decorations but it is also sad looking back at 2020. It was a tough year. We will never forget those we lost in 2020. The New Year is a chance for a new beginning, a time to look ahead and to think positively.

Happy New Year!