Is it still Christmas with you?

[OpheIiaBaIIs]

Definitely is here! I've just had Christmas cake and coffee from my shiny new machine for breakfast with the tree twinkling away. This weekend we'll be catching up on Christmas TV we've missed, eating the rest of the Christmas food and having our Twelfth Night Party before we reluctantly pack everything away and DH goes back to work on Monday. It still feels very festive here!

So many of our neighbours have taken their decorations and lights down - the street that was so twinkly and pretty a few days ago looks so bare and dreary now, the spoilsports . I leave lots of fairy lights up through January because I think the darkest part of the year needs them. And I leave some up all year, with extras at Easter which we 'do' like a mini-Christmas. Very much of the belief that Christmas is a season, not a day!

Feeling a tad griefy that it's coming to an end but looking forward to a last lovely weekend! How about you?

Nope.

We de-Christmased the house yesterday, as the tree was droopy and it was all feeling a bit tired.

No Christmas food or booze left, and I started dry January on the 1st and a diet overhaul yesterday, so just as well!

I don’t go back to work until Monday, though, so it’s still The Holidays as far as I’m concerned.

Our last visitors left this morning so we are taking the decorations down right now. Then I can have the weekend with a clean and tidy house and start focussing on my goals for the year ahead.

A* total blast, not an. So many typos I'm making today

Thanks Polly I think I will!

There's Easter eggs in our co-op. Crazy

I'm hanging on to Christmas as long as I can. Last year was shit, I hate winter, and I just want to hang on to a little of the festive feeling for as long as possible. Decs staying up till at least Twelfth Night, my cut tree till whenever the needles drop off as it was expensive and looks so pretty all lit up.

It’s still Christmas at ours! And will be til twelfth night. Then the overtly Christmassy things (tree and other specific decorations) will come down but candleholders and other decorations that are ‘wintery’ rather than Christmassy will stay out through January and February. It’s such a dreary and dull time of year and I love creating extra hygge to cast some cheer in the darkness.

Feeling mixed. Had such a lovely one (last!) year and wanting to prolong the joy and Christmas feels. Still feel out of step with calendar (what day is it?) and tree still up!
Will feel blue when it's down, and seriously starting a countdown to THIS years event!
Will be starting a new tradition (for us) of a 12th Night Cake for Sunday as the decs come down - a final flourish!
Will be watching Crimbo movies avidly until I've absorbed all of Hallmarks current crop - could be as long as Easter!!

Decs still up here.
But in my mind its spring, I have noticed the odd song thrush singing this week and saw collated doves getting frisky.
I hate the bleak winter when no birds sing except Robin's (and they're miserable little buggers).
Tomorrow I'm going to sort out my seed trays and get the greenhouse prepped.

Collared not collated

It would normally, however DH has been unwell the last week and he's the only one who can get the boxes out of the loft! I'm hoping he'll be feeling better over the weekend so we can have a good tidy up!

Decs still up here. Will gradually pack things away over next two days ready for womens christmas on monday. Also thinking I might leave some fairy lights up. May have to get some twigs to put them in

Still Christmas for sure.
The people I know who have taken everything down and were sick at the sight of their tree were the ones who put it up in November. There is a connection but each to their own I guess.
I'll keep my tree up till at least Epiphany. It only went up on the 20th Dec and I am still enjoying it very much. It's still Winter in nature terms and January is long enough without cutting the celebrations short.

I think Christmas comes earlier every year, it is a pity. I know I sound like Victor Meldrew but it's led by the shops who want us to spend early, spend often and spend more.
The number of people I heard asking "All set for Christmas? Shopping all done?" in late November/ early Dec was baffling to me. Maybe they meant online stuff or maybe they were just making conversation. I'm really organised but they were asking this with over 4 weeks of shopping time left.

Still Christmas here.
We opened Christmas chocolates, the tree is still twinkling (I adore my new tree), my fireplaces are still twinkling with their garlands. My staircase garland lights are on timer, I'm going to miss them. Wreath still on my front door.

It took so long to decorate the house for Christmas .... I'm leaving everything up until as long as possible.

Next year I'll be starting earlier too. This year, new house, new tree, new garlands it was a bit rushed but I'm quietly thinking about next year and how to be even bolder, clearly the house can take it, I just have to be bold too and go with it.

Our decorations go up mid December (always after DS Birthday) and taken down on January 1st .
Except our tree which survived three days !. Our lovely female cat kept chewing it . I have been planning The Tree since May when they came to live with us ( no baubles, pre-lit tree , extra lights, no twinkling setting) so I was prepared for Low Key or No Tree .

Some decorations in the hallway , porch and front door .

My DC are adult/teen so the decorations have got more tasteful over the years but we still do them, I love the tradition of decorating and even putting it all away safely .

Does anyone leave them up after the 12th?

Does anyone leave them up after the 12th?blush

I take it you mean Twelfth Night? I'd be interested in hearing if anyone does. This year I'm hanging on to my tree until it drops too many needles to be worth keeping, and I don't feel ready to part with the decs yet either, so may very well just keep everything up until whenever I decide I'm 'over' it. (DH isn't fussed either way, quite right too as he doesn't help me decorate or take them down )

I've had to work Christmas and New Year so ekeing it out until 12th night.I may keep the fairy lights up though as I find January depressing.
I love the smell of the tree and just sitting with the main light off just peacefully enjoying it .

My window/patio door lights stay up all year (just not lit).

All decorations apart from the tree came down 2 days ago. The tree will be coming down tonight. Can't wait as I enjoy having the space back.

It’s a class thing.

Posh people start and finish Christmas later.

I have found my people! Over the last few years I've really got into the Christmas season and this year am trying to eke it out as much as I can. Partly because I worked right up to and including Christmas Day, then got ill along with most of the family so spent a few days not feeling great. Therefore no one really ate the Christmas food (sore throats) and now we're into new year I'm feeling a lot better, I have a weeks annual leave and so I'll be wandering around the house keeping the festive spirit alive.
This will be me :
This will be my family:

Our Christmas is the 6th Jan, 12th night 18th, tree down on 19th. More modern: up max two weeks before, 23/24 Dec traditional, but we too have the 'creep forward' around convenience.
Many friends celebrating Jan 5/6 or 7th and one lot 18th!
Lots of rather different traditions and focus, but some the same as those doing Dec 25th, and some of us do both!

We've always appreciated people who keep their lights up and families play 'Christmas lights' spotting when driving/traveling. It's always joyous to spot someone with an unashamed tree up past the 6th. (not all of us feel confidant to show off our differences. )

Brexit's brought concerns for many, so many with different traditions are making special effort's this year for each other, and hope those done by the 6th will be tolerant, or better still light up, enjoy it, and know it's being appreciated by those of us still at it!

It's still Xmas at our house. We always celebrate the 12 days of Xmas. Always feel sad when it's over it's such a special time. I love the idea of a 12th night party!

Our tree went up on 1 Dec and other decs gradually over that week. It will all come down tomorrow night and I will feel sad 😔