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Original poster

Anyone else feel a little bit emotional when they take the decorations down?

84 replies

IwtHs · 03/01/2023 08:17

I always do.

I think I've felt it more so this year as my eldest is at an age where by next year they will be less of a child and more of a teenager. I remember watching that McDonald's Christmas ad a few years back ( forever young song) and thinking soon that will be how my eldest will act.
This year they quickly threw some tinsel on the tree then picked up their phone to go call their friend.

Also, I don't like the uncertainty of what the year can bring. As I'm getting older, more people I know are passing away. 2021 I lost 3 people and 2022 I lost 4. Not all family but people I knew and talked to.

Anyone else get this feeling?

OP posts:
Original poster
IwtHs · 03/01/2023 08:20

What I'm trying to say is that by next year when I'm putting the decorations back up, things could be a lot different and that makes me feel emotional.

OP posts:
Notateacheranymore · 03/01/2023 08:22

I hate it and often resist decorations simply because I don’t want to take them down, especially at work because you either do it before you go off or between Christmas & New Year, if you work then ( so it’s depressingly early) OR you have to do it first day back after NY. Equally depressing.

We did have some dec’s in the lounge but DH took them down yesterday while I was doing other things. Even so, the lounge is looking pretty sad. Needing redecorating doesn’t help but we finish paying the mortgage in less than 3 years, so we’re waiting for that.

FlickFlackTrap · 03/01/2023 08:23

I don’t feel that way OP but didn’t want to read and run. I like January and can’t wait to get the house tidy again!
it sounds like you’ve had a rough few years and I can see why you’d feel that way. Do you have people to talk to? Could you consider therapy. Unmumsnetty hugs to you. Be kind to yourself 💐

Sunshineismyfriend · 03/01/2023 08:23

Yes. I don’t feel it so much with Xmas decs but do with New Year’s Eve. Everyone out celebrating the year ahead which I used to do as well but as I get older I think that we are celebrating a new year of uncertainty. We don’t know if we will lose someone, face health problems, financial problems etc etc. sounds miserable but I’m not so keen on new year as I get older!

Forever42 · 03/01/2023 08:24

Yes, I love the Christmas period. January and February are bleak and depressing.

Brightstar84 · 03/01/2023 08:24

I agree, a lovely feeling putting them up, depressing taking them down, although there is something nice about a fresh, uncluttered living room, could you move some furniture around or buy a new plant, or a new mirror, just something to change it up a bit?

Greensleevevssnotnose · 03/01/2023 08:25

We took them down early this year, on NYE. It was sad and I miss the beauty of the tree. We decided to keep the candles and the fireplace us still cheery. Perhaps you could do similar.

FeinCuroxiVooz · 03/01/2023 08:26

Last year we kept the decorations up till Candlemas (40 days after Christmas which is the official church ending of the Christmas season) by which time there are the first signs of spring and everything feels less bleak. I don't put decorations up until a week before Christmas because I don't want to get to the point of having had "enough" while there is still a long stretch of depressing winter darkness still ahead.

Yes every year is different but that will bring new joys, new things to be proud and happy about. Life isn't about every year getting further and further away from some perfect ideal year that is in the past - your favourite Christmas may yet be in the future.

cptartapp · 03/01/2023 08:29

I feel like this too. Like when I'm next getting these decorations out and putting them up, who knows what will have happened. Who will still be here.
I've lost people suddenly and tragically, maybe this is at the heart of it.

lightand · 03/01/2023 08:30

I know what you mean.
I found I said very few Happy New Years this year. I suspect it wont be a good one for many. But that could be me being in a bit of a negative mood lately.

Original poster
IwtHs · 03/01/2023 08:32

cptartapp · 03/01/2023 08:29

I feel like this too. Like when I'm next getting these decorations out and putting them up, who knows what will have happened. Who will still be here.
I've lost people suddenly and tragically, maybe this is at the heart of it.

Exactly this.

I must admit it is nicer to have the space back in the room.

OP posts:
MaverickSnoopy · 03/01/2023 08:35

I'm a very mixed bag. I absolutely adore Christmas. The last few years I've been ill at Christmas so I always feel sad when it's time for the decorations to come down because I feel like I've missed Christmas and don't want it to go.

We always wait until 12th night for the decorations to come down. I'm doing it Thursday which is when the children are back to school and I'll be home all day. I'll hate doing it but will deep clean and it cleanses my soul and makes me feel optimistic somehow.

I have close family with serious health issues and I feel anxious about that. I also take tablets for anxiety generally but I don't feel how you feel in terms of wondering if people will be here next Christmas. I don't let myself think about that. No wonder you feel so blue about it.

Positives I do in the NY to try to feel less miserable about Christmas ending. Sit with my calendar and plan out the year - school holidays, family holidays/day trips. I think about what I want to achieve the next year and plan how to do that. I reflect on my organisational systems and think about what I can do differently to make life easier. In January I pull out blankets and light candles every night and sit with a warm drink. I do this with my children (and dh if he's here) and we chat about our day. It makes us feel cosy and like winter isn't doom and gloom. It's a bit of a bridge from the Christmas family time and a comforting routine. February I buy flowers weekly to remind me spring is coming. Somehow it all lifts me.

lollipoprainbow · 03/01/2023 08:42

Yes, I hate taking my beautiful real tree down and placing the decs back in their tissue paper. Seeing the tree left out for the recycling 😢 wondering what shit the universe has in store for me this year !!

Octopus45 · 03/01/2023 09:02

Yes, funnily enough I'm just about to take mine down now. 2022 was a hard year, I lost my Dad at the end of October, so I was very glad to see the back of it. However, I love having decorations up and whilst I get the whole new start element of tidying up etc, I do always feel a bit maudlin when Christmas is over. Know what you mean about uncertainty as well, I'm hoping this year we dont have any deaths (three parents of friends, my Dad and Uncle in 2022), but wonder how realistic that is.

1000yellowdaisies · 03/01/2023 09:09

Yes, i always feel quite depressed and emotional taking them down, mainly because it means the holidays off work doing lovely things with my children is over and its back to the slog.
But likewise i get depressed when i see decorations up well into January so i think its just an emotional time of year for me. I feel better by booking stuff for us to do, shows and day out etc, throughout the year so i have stuff to look forward to :)

LilyGlobe · 03/01/2023 09:14

I feel emotional putting my decorations up - we’ve lost so many relatives in the last few years, that Christmas no longer has the magic it once did.
I do always feel emotional taking the decorations down too because I miss the warmth of the lights and the sparkle of the glittery baubles. January is such a difficult month.

I now keep fairy lights on my fireplace all year and this year I’ve put some pine cones on a tray around some battery operated LED candles, both have helped keep the warm, cosy feeling in the room.

inappropriateraspberry · 03/01/2023 09:16

No, I love having the decorations up, but not sad to take them down. It's nice to get back to normal and look to a fresh start and the new year.

HerkyBaby · 03/01/2023 09:28

I feel exactly the same. My big worry is that I won’t be around the following year to put them up which is irrational as I’m not ill. I’ve already put the date on the calendar when the Christmas decorations start going up in 2023.

plugin12 · 03/01/2023 09:29

Yes I have the exact same thoughts taking them down , I'm not even the biggest Xmas and decorations fan in the first place and I'm glad for the space back but packing them away and knowing I won't open the box/bag up for a year I do mull over and think about how my children will be another year older , what will life bring us , who will I be when I bring these decorations back out, will I look back to this moment and think god I didn't know what was coming - I think because it coincides with the new year it feels kind of like metaphorically packing away the year and that just sets me off into overthinking Grin

HandMini · 03/01/2023 09:48

I love the Christmas take down. Clearing out the decorations is refreshing and everything looks clean and neat (for a day!) and packing away all the decorations carefully is a real act of love as we have lots of old family ones and I can’t wait to get them out again next year.

Love and light to you all especially those feeling anxious about the year ahead.

PacificState · 03/01/2023 09:57

I don't like the first week of January at all - suspect that's fairly common!

Just wanted to say though that older kids and teenagers can still love Christmas and really add to the joy. We had a wonderful Christmas this year with my two (19 and 17) - they chose the tree with me, helped decorate, did lots of Christmas cooking, came on a family shopping trip/lunch out, and were generally a delight (and were still excited and happy about Christmas itself). Tweens/young teens are often the worst for pretending to find sentimental stuff or family occasions 'dumb' - they don't (usually) mean it and they grow out of it!

GimmeBiscuits · 03/01/2023 10:02

FeinCuroxiVooz · 03/01/2023 08:26

Last year we kept the decorations up till Candlemas (40 days after Christmas which is the official church ending of the Christmas season) by which time there are the first signs of spring and everything feels less bleak. I don't put decorations up until a week before Christmas because I don't want to get to the point of having had "enough" while there is still a long stretch of depressing winter darkness still ahead.

Yes every year is different but that will bring new joys, new things to be proud and happy about. Life isn't about every year getting further and further away from some perfect ideal year that is in the past - your favourite Christmas may yet be in the future.

Love this idea. I often buy decorations in the sale, so they go on the tree after Christmas day.
At the moment, tree is still up. Probably taking it down this weekend, although DC has a January birthday so perhaps we could take off obviously festive things and decorate the tree with a birthday theme and leave it up longer.

Scotabroad24 · 03/01/2023 10:07

Yes. I absolutely adore Christmas, partly because it's the only time me and dh get off work to spend with ds so it signifies family time for us. We took ours down yesterday and I feel quite sad today. I always hate January and feel quite down about it, but this year more so. Dreading the work year we have ahead of us tbh, stuck in a job I detest but need to pay the bills.
Countdown to next December is on alread.

FuzzyPenguin · 03/01/2023 10:31

I get this and find taking them down before new year helps. This way I still have some time off work and I don’t feel everything ends at the same time. I treat myself to warm winter lights and a new candle to keep the cozy going.

Bogglebrain · 03/01/2023 10:38

Yes, I feel the same OP. I shed a little tear yesterday as I packed ours away, feeling VERY nostalgic over a singing polar bear toy! I bought it when the DC were small and they loved it then but now, as teenagers, they barely took any notice of it!!

Ive decided to keep up some lights in the hallway to cheer me up during January.