to feel gutted about packing away the Christmas things?

[kitnkaboodle]

Think I must be menopausal. I actually feel a bit tearful today. I know some MNetters pack up the Christmas stuff on Boxing Day, but I don't put decorations up until around the 20th, and the kids like it left up until their first day at school.

We had an uneventful but nice Christmas - one big Groundhog day of walks, food, games, films, drink. Weather was appalling but ...

Find myself longing for next Christmas! (which could, of course, be awful, given that you never know what's round the corner!)

Someone pass me a grip ...

I feel sad too. I'm working from home today and I told DP I'd get them down on my lunch break, but now I don't want to. I love Christmas, especially the run up to it, all the preparations and the pressie buying and the anticipation.

I hate Xmas ending too.

I even get upset on the day itself as I know it's almost over. The best bit is the build up; the excitement, the happy faces, the hustle and bustle of buying presents in town, the decorations.

I'm already counting down to this years.

I want to take mine down now and have got fed up with them but I understand why people don't.

Last year, what I found helpful was to put the decorations and the tree up over two days, and take them down over two days. It was more gradual and helped with that 'bare' feeling the rooms have after Christmas and New Year. Today I will take down and pack away the smaller items and leave the big tree up, then tomorrow I will take down and pack away that, and DH will help with putting everything in the loft.

I felt sad before Christmas and it was hard to summon the enthusiasm to put any decorations up, it's normally something I enjoy doing.

I don't think the weather helps when its miserable, at least if it's bright and dry you can get out for a brisk half hour walk to make you feel a bit better. And going back to the old routine, less people around etc makes people feel low.

Over on the Christmas topic, lots of people are already planning their next Christmas, stocking up on things in the sales, might doing something like that lift your spirits a bit?

Someone on here had the lovely suggestion of making it a special day to say goodbye to Christmas so having music playing while you remove the decorations, chat about what fun things had happened etc. We did that this year and it was much nicer. We also went out to for a meal to finish off the day and it was lovely. Definitely something we will do again next time, it made it less of an ending and more of a gratitude day.

We've started taking ours down on New Year's Day - might seem a bit early to some people but I actually find it rather therapeutic; it feels like a positive thing, clearing space and starting afresh. Christmas deccos hanging around too long after Christmas depress me anyway.

DS (he's 4) said "Poor Christmas tree - it will be lonely" when we took the decorations off. I told him that the tree was happy because it had fulfilled its Christmas destiny pinched that from Friends.

He was happy enough after that, even when DH hacked the branches off, bagged it and took it to the recycling centre.

I always wait until after the 6th. To be honest, I'm usually dying to take them down once we've rung in the New Year but traditionally that's always been the way it was done when I was growing up.

I knew about that rule as a kid, sort of, but always understood it was bad luck to have them up after 6th January rather than bad luck to take them down before. Anyway, I wasn't aware this was a "new thing", more something I personally do.

Seems I wasn't wrong, either:
www.timeanddate.com/holidays/uk/epiphany

I used to leave things up until 12th Night but now have two dogs who would love nothing better than playing with the tree when we are all at work so they come down on the day before everyone is back at work.

I felt sad too, it was our last Christmas before my daughter leaves home but I also feel eager anticipation to see what future Christmases will hold.

I took mine down January 1st in a fit after the cat yet again made a beeline for the tree.

Felt much better and the cat has gone back to normal

I wish I could just click my fingers and all the sodding decorations would be back in their box in the loft! So on that basis, yes YABU. In the meantime, come on round as I still have mine up

I have felt tearful since yesterday when I realised everything was about to go back to normal. It's not that 'normal' isn't fine, I just love that period between Christmas and New Year where you forget what day of the week it is, stay in your pyjamas until midday eating leftover chocolate and ordering things online in the sale, cosying up watching movies all afternoon in new onesies and slippers, or going for bracing walks wrapped in new scarves and gloves.

I just love it and wish it would last forever. My waistline is pleased its over though.

I feel the same. It's been a lovely low key family Christmas. DC have been lovely and have enjoying choosing and buying gifts as much as receiving. DD 13 went out shopping with a friend and chose and wrapped all our gifts on her own for the first time. Nothing expensive or fancy obviously, but so lovingly chosen to appeal to each person, I nearly howled!

Feel sad we are all back to school & work this week and life will go back to the usual rat race. Also worrying that DD will be 14 next year and well into teenage angst so things won't be the same.

Have you been watching toy story by any chance.

That film got to me. Where woody says it will be ok up the attic as we have the Christmas things.

I always buy myself a lovely bunch of spring flowers, to remind me spring will eventually arrive

I took the decorations down last night.

Music on, anally carefully wrapping all the breakables in tissue before putting everything back in their boxes/set shelves/special cupboard.

I second the idea of taking them down in stages. I took my cards and everything in the hall down on new years eve. Then some more on NY day. Then the tree yesterday.

We might be moving before next xmas, and as i was putting the things in their boxes i was trying to be all psychic and picture where i'll be when i stand and get them back out again.

(it didn't work)

I love Christmas but ours came down on the 1st. Ds struggles with change and was very resltess/didn't sleep will until they were down, house always looks sp tidy and clean afterwards and if I left it til the 6th it would also be when we went back to work and I'd be too miserable :-)

We're supposed to be taking our things down today, dh has got all the boxes and tissue paper ready.

But like you OP I'm feeling really sad about it. I think I'm going to try to persuade him to do the tree but leave the other decks and cards up until the 6th.

I took mine down this morning. I'm glad to see the back of them as the house looks spacious and tidy now.

YANBU, we took ours down yesterday, the room looks so empty now.

Such a sad feeling. This Christmas has truly been the most magical one yet. All kids old enough to be excited and understand, no norovirus (unlike last year) and all the prep, attention to detail and organisation was 100% worth it. I'm the one tidying / sorting and packing away and mopping up the tears of "I'm so sad it's all over, Mummy!" and putting a brave front on, but I'm really down about it too! It's been a precious time.