Today I took down the Christmas tree and all of the holiday decorations. I carefully packed away the delicate glass icicles first, followed by our most treasured and fragile ornaments, then the sturdier wooden/fabric/shatterproof ornaments, then the tree itself. Next came the candleholders, the decorative plates, the candy dishes, the lighted garlands and wreath. All that's left to do is to have my husband crawl up into the attic when he gets home tonight so I can hand the boxes up to him. Christmas 2021 will be in the books.
The house looks so dark and devoid of sparkle, now. It's a relief to get everything packed away, but I'll miss the warm light in the house. We still have the rest of the winter to get through. Speaking of which, it's been a freakishly warm Christmas this year. An old Southern (originally English) proverb says, "Warm Christmas, fat graveyard". With Covid cases spiking dramatically again it's (sadly) almost bound to come true next year. So many people still refuse to get vaccinated or to take proper precautions. Winter weather should return by this weekend, with below-freezing temperatures at night. I, for one, will be glad to see normal January temperatures. It just seems wrong to run your air conditioner over Christmas!
Tomorrow night will be our typically quiet New Year's Eve. We'll be at home, staying safe from Covid and drunk drivers, watching movies and maybe opening a bottle of champagne around 11pm. Since I'm the only one who drinks, part of the bottle will be saved for mimosas New Year's morning. I bought black eyed peas to cook (with the bone I saved from our Christmas ham) along with two large bunches of fresh collards for our dinner. That's supposed to take care of our luck and money for next year.
When do you take down holiday decorations? Do you have plans for tomorrow night? I'd love to hear about it!
We stay in on NYE because the crazies are the ones headed out.
ReplyDeleteOur Christmas decorations go up the weekend after Thanksgiving, and go down the weekend after new Years ... so they've got seven days left!
I haven't gone out for NYE since (possibly?) college? I like drinks, snacks and games at my own place. I am hoping to have a few friends over but it depends on my boyfriend's PCR test. If he's positive then I'll be by myself since I saw him on Monday night. I hate worrying about stuff like this! :( I took down my decorations on Tuesday which was a day without appointments for my mom. I leave out my daughters' winter snow globes and my snowmen lit lantern because they are seasonal and not holiday. They add some cheer to the gloom! It's very cold and snowy here, freakishly so. I'm very over it and it's only the end of December.
ReplyDeleteRunning an errand today, I see the streets are already crazy. So, on Eve, I'll be binge watching YOU on Netflix, perhaps have a glass of champagne, begin putting the patio decorations back in storage New Year's Day.
ReplyDeleteUp here in Central Pa it too is going to be a quiet night. If you look at how long the world's been here, it really is just another day. And Covid is spiking, probably to stay, so we shall just have to adapt. Those who can't? Well, sayonara Conservatives.
ReplyDeleteI once left my Christmas tree up until June. But in my defence, I was working crazy, crazy hours at the law office in those days and just didn't have time to take it down.
ReplyDeleteWe're planning a VERY quiet New Year's Eve tomorrow too. Sheesh, who can even stay up until midnight any more? I certainly can't!
That reminds me of a Covid saying from last year. 'Have fun over Christmas, die in the new year'. Unfortunately for many it came true.
ReplyDeleteOur decorations will come down on the morning on the 6th Jan. I would love to stay up to welcome 2022, but as some poem says 'my eyes are old and full of sleep'.
Congratulations on already having your Christmas packed away! Ours will be packed away slowly this year, a little each day. We never go out on New Year's Eve anymore but definitely not this year. We have snow and single digit temps expected on New Year's Eve and day. Just a week ago we broke some records with high temperatures. What crazy weather! Happy New Year to you and Gregg! (We'll be having black eyed peas too!)
ReplyDeleteI think mine will come down tomorrow. Always feel a little flat after that.
ReplyDeleteNew years at the neighbors, just the 4 of us, being safe as we can without being complete hermits.
Happy New Years!
When I put up holiday decorations, I usually take them down the first week in January. Here in Spain, we wait until after Three Kings Day, which is when we open our presents brought by the Three Kings (as opposed to Santa Claus who traditionally isn’t a part of things here). So, this year, I’ll pack up the new gnome, my one concession to Christmas decorating.
ReplyDeleteToday I shall meet a friend for a morning dog walk, and then we are meeting up with an old school pal of P's for a lunchtime drink...I hope that we can be in the pub garden, as it is very warm for this time of year. Later in the afternoon one of my sons and DIL and the nearly 4 yr old grandson are coming round for a couple of hours for an early NYE party! Decorations will come down bit by bit sometime next week. Happy New Year to you and Gregg ( and George and Marco of course)
ReplyDeleteHere, Christmas decorations come down traditionally on Jan. 6th (Epiphany), and that is usally the day I do that at my flat, too - provided I'm home, which is not certain yet. O.K. and I have next week off and are going to spend it at his place, and we have not yet decided on what day we drive back up to my place; the 6th, or 7th.
ReplyDeleteMy catsitting duty officially ends today, but I know that my successor will not start until Jan. 2, and so I am probably going to squeeze in a very quick visit with Hobbes tomorrow, before we set off to wish first my parents a Happy New Year and then drive down to the village, where O.K.'s parents are waiting.
Tonight, there will just be the three of us - my sister, O.K. and I - at my sister's place. We will eat Raclette and have plenty of booze!! No fireworks have been sold here this year (2nd time in a row), but there will always be someone who has somehow managed to get hold of some, so we'll probably be out on my sister's balcony in time for clinking glasses at midnight and watching whatever will be sparkle in the sky.
We used to take down the decorations on Twelfth Night but now I only put up a few. I love cards and have plenty of them around but little else. This year I have plenty of bulbs - mainly hyacinths - and they have suddenly burst into bloom over Christmas so that the house smells delightful.mmmI always have a Poinsettia too. As to New Year's Eve - the farmer and I always threw a huge party for all our friends - over forty most years and I loved the preparation. Now I rarely stay up unless there is a good film to watch.
ReplyDeleteWe typically take down our decorations around mid January. With winter being here and the days so short, it's nice to have some festive colours and bright lights to focus on. New Year's eve is going to be very quiet. We'll pick up some food and put on a nice movie to watch. Long gone are the days of partying and staying up really late! Happy 2022 to you!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any set time to take hte tree down, although I will likely do it either today or tomorrow. Our plans for tonight? We'll probably find a good movie on television, and watch in our most festive PJs. I will drink wine. At midnight, we'll watch the ball drop, do the traditional smooch, and then go to bed.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you. I wish you the best for 2022! Since I never really put up any decorations, there are none for me to take down. Tonight I plan to spend it quietly, avoiding crowds.
ReplyDeleteI guess I should put my tiny tree back on the porch in its pot!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you- I'm so ready for some cooler temperatures. I am tired of this muggy weather.
Black-eyed peas and greens here too tomorrow. I seriously doubt either Glen or I will stay awake until midnight. We're going to have grandchildren here most of the day. But happy New Year's to you and Gregg!
No plans for New Years Eve or New Years Day. I am taking the decoration down bit by bit. The tree and the Nativity scene are the last to get put away. Wishing you and Gregg a happy, healthy New Year filled with lots of love and fun adventures.
ReplyDeleteI'm leaving the lights on the avocado tree for the next week or so. Someone once told me that decorations should stay up until Jan. 6, so I milk it until then!
ReplyDeleteMine go up between 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve, and come down on New Years Day. I would miss the sparkle on New Years Eve! I used to leave them up until Epiphany, but the last few years have had too many household projects going on. Of course most of my neighbors put them up before Thanksgiving (some before Halloween!) and most have them down shortly after noon on Christmas Day. I know because I observe the discarded trees all rolling around at the ends of driveways on my Christmas afternoon walks. I'm sad for them that they can't enjoy Christmas in its own time but rush the season so they're sick of it by the middle of December. On New Years Eve I always have a special snack and wee toast to auld lang syne on my own, and on New Years Day I clean up and organize with hope and optimism for the new year.
ReplyDeleteThis is where I admit I hardly put up any decorations this year. Celebrated Christmas (Eve) with family at DD's home. She decorated. The few items I did put out will get put away today. Quiet times here this weekend. Won't bother waiting for midnight (unless I still happen to be reading). :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Jennifer and Gregg. George and Marco, too. Wishing you all the best.
I'm taking the decorations down today. I never look forward to starting but it is so satisfying when it's done. Tonight, I plan to watch a funny movie. My favourite is Shirley Valentine. My husband has already declared he'll watch sports in the basement until my movie is over. We'll be together to watch the ball drop and to clink glasses at the big moment though. Happy new Year!
ReplyDeleteI've taken down the inside decorations anywhere between Dec. 26 and whatever weekend New Years day is on. It's somewhat dependent on weather so I'm not hauling it to the attic when it's bitter cold out. This year they were down Wednesday, and will go to the attic this afternoon. If my hip cooperates. Outside decorations are even more weather dependent, those are not my doings so I have no clue when the last of lights will be taken down.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't gone out on NY eve for decades. Remembering to write the proper year on the first check is about all the excitement I can stand. I'll probably watch the Twilight Zone marathon again.
Happy New Year!
I keep the decorations up to right after New Years day then take down and deep clean the house...and ready for another year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Jennifer!!!!!!
Growing up it was Epiphany January 6th. When the 3 kings come.
ReplyDeleteWhen I had children when school started or on New Years Day. It always seemed that I was cleaning up and putting things away on my Birthday. Witch the X always forgot.
Happy Happy New Years !
We take our Xmas decorations down on the twelfth night - January 5th. It is a tradition for many English families.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ratty.
ReplyDeleteIt's Jan 2, and our decorations and tree are still up. I'm not sure what I'm waiting for, but I'm reluctant to take them down. Probably just because I'm lazy and it's such an ordeal to put everything away. Okay, maybe it's the lights. They make me happy.
ReplyDeleteAfter an unexpectedly difficultly December - as much logistical as anything - I'm finally catching up on some of my regular blog list to send good wishes and say thanks for reading and commenting on mine. It is perhaps the sharing and connecting of little things in our lives - however remotely and small - that I like the most.
ReplyDeleteI so hope that next year brings us better times and plenty of words (and pictures) to inspire and entertain us again.
Best wishes
Mark
Happy new year from me as well!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing what you post/happens this year.
My-oh-my, you do get around Ratty!
ReplyDeleteit's the 11th and the gg's trees are still up...I said they were going to take them down..but since I'm on lockdown..guess it will be me...soon...no really..pretty soon..in a week maybe...or not..
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