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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:
WickedSerious · 05/01/2023 12:40

We had lights all over the house this year,walking into a pitch black dining room last night was a bit of a shock.

TheRubyRedshoes · 07/01/2023 21:20

@Notateacheranymore

But you can do it whenever you like?

Ours go up mid December and will stay up untill I really feel the need to put them away!

TheRubyRedshoes · 07/01/2023 21:20

Which I imagine will be a minimum of another week possibly two

Feelallright · 07/01/2023 21:26

We keep ours till Candlemas, which is, I think, 3rd Feb. We have to remove the tree sooner, though, because the council only has a two-week period after 6th Jan where they will pick them up for recycling. We definitely keep the lights up and most, not all, of the decorations. We only decorate just before Christmas.

tsmainsqueeze · 07/01/2023 21:55

Feelallright · 07/01/2023 21:26

We keep ours till Candlemas, which is, I think, 3rd Feb. We have to remove the tree sooner, though, because the council only has a two-week period after 6th Jan where they will pick them up for recycling. We definitely keep the lights up and most, not all, of the decorations. We only decorate just before Christmas.

Mine our down except for fairy lights which are up all year and a twig tree which is so sparkly ,i will take that down when the days are longer and brighter.
I love knowing that some people still have full blown christmas going on .
I totally relate to the worries of the unknown that previous posters have mentioned and even though i'm usually quite positive i find myself down and gloomy at this time of year.
Its a constant battle to look for the positive , i did see some tiny buds on my lilac today which was quite uplifting and i plan to buy some lovely fresh tulips tomorrow.
Also even though the weather has been atrocious here today i noticed it was still light enough to see at 4.45pm so hopefully not too long until sunny days again.

Intheroommadeasy · 07/01/2023 22:34

I always look at the decorations as I'm taking them out and putting them away thinking what will happen in-between. Will our lives change drastically before I see them again? It makes me a bit anxious but I do love Christmas and I do also love the new Year. Hate NYE as always feel your supposed to do something but NYD is fab and full of promise!

DuncanBiscuits · 07/01/2023 22:37

I always shed a tear and thank the tree.

BleuBlueBlueWinter · 07/01/2023 22:38

There is now a corner of my sitting room which feels completely empty now the tree has gone. Hate taking everything down. Feels like all the fun is over and now back to the grindstone.

Jakeyachey · 07/01/2023 22:45

I always feel a little sad it’s over, and so quickly, but eagerly anticipate the year, In fact I commented to my family I can’t wait for spring and summer as I was taking it down. For me that’s exciting and worth looking forward to. Sunshine, flowers, long balmy evenings.

there is always something to look forward to, even if it’s just a change in the weather, spring creeping in, snow drops and crocuses, lighter mornings, lighter evenings, hopefully a long hot summer, lots of flowers, daffodils, camelias, then roses blooming, lavender and jasmine scenting the air, with morning coffee and dinner outside, windows open, letting the warm air in.

SimSam · 07/01/2023 22:56

I put our decs up 1 week before Xmas and take them down on 12th night tomorrow I think. I really enjoy seeing the familiar decs, the warmth of family traditions and the general good spirit from everybody at this time of year.
We had a really hard Xmas, with lots of tension & anxiety due to mental health issues of one of our kids.
On top of the health worries, i feel really sad that this year our Xmas wasn’t so great. Yes that sounds so awful but I usually love Xmas and the kids do too. this year was not a good time. I appreciate it could have been worse and hope next year will be different.
For now, I hope that everyone who needs a hug or kind word to get through testing times finds a ray of sunshine.

Trinity65 · 07/01/2023 22:58

Yes
Which is why, this Year, I have trailed the clear white Christmas tree lights along my windowsill and my units below the TV. I have also left out a glittery tray, a glass cat Tree decoration, a Robin and Angel Wings Tree decoration around the framed picture of dried flowers from my Wreath to my Dad.
It looks lovely and as I have no lamps it gives just enough light, with the TV, to be nice.

Trinity65 · 07/01/2023 22:59

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?

Oh that Advert broke my Heart.

stargirl1701 · 07/01/2023 23:06

I am missing the tree tonight. I would love to keep everything up until Candlemas but DH is NOT keen.

I'm planning for Burns' Night and decorating the dining room. Not quite the same but something!

piedbeauty · 08/01/2023 00:00

Our tree is still up. It makes me happy...

piedbeauty · 08/01/2023 00:01

Trinity65 · 07/01/2023 22:58

Yes
Which is why, this Year, I have trailed the clear white Christmas tree lights along my windowsill and my units below the TV. I have also left out a glittery tray, a glass cat Tree decoration, a Robin and Angel Wings Tree decoration around the framed picture of dried flowers from my Wreath to my Dad.
It looks lovely and as I have no lamps it gives just enough light, with the TV, to be nice.

Great idea!

lollipoprainbow · 08/01/2023 00:03

Was supposed to take down today but am poorly so looks like it's here to stay until next weekend !!

Totallyaddictedtoshoes · 08/01/2023 00:32

I've only just taken Christmas down, had planned on doing it Tuesday but I've been in bed ill all week so it had to be later than usual. This Christmas hasn't been great, the year has been dreadful, despite some good moments, it has been the first year we have really started to see losses, changes and sobering realisations that things really won't be the same from one year to the next. So packing everything away this time has been much more sombre, as other posters have said, who knows what will have happened between boxing up now and unboxing next year? After the 2022 we have had I'm filled with trepidation. Usually it is just a bit of doom and gloom that we are back on the work/school treadmill, yet this year seems worse. Fingers crossed for a happy and healthy 2023 for you all.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/01/2023 08:41

@IwtHs , we only took ours down yesterday - away for a little Gdd’s birthday on the 6th. Our tree still looked beautiful so it was sad to see it go.

Dh and I are getting on a bit so for the first time I did have uncharacteristically morbid thoughts about whether we’d both still be here for next Christmas. Too many old friends - all male - have died in the past 6 or 7 years.

WickedSerious · 08/01/2023 10:11

We still have lights on the magnolia in the front garden,I'll take them in as soon as it stops raining.

Mischance · 08/01/2023 10:14

For the first time ever, I put them away with a huge sense of relief. Christmas brings up so many emotions (e.g. that my late OH is no longer with us) that it feels easier to return to normal life.

Wanderingowl · 08/01/2023 11:15

I sobbed putting stuff up in the attic this year. Not through the whole lot of it but I felt so sad that at one stage I suddenly started to sob involuntarily. Though I did feel a bit better once I let it out. My DS is 10 and the loss of his wonder at Christmas really hit me hard. He's a very innocent kid when it comes to magical things and while he believes in Santa still it's kind of a case of 'choosing to believe' rather than just automatically believing like he did when he was little. And on some level he knows that belief won't continue.

I didn't choose to have an only child but had very much come to terms with it. But the thought now that these last few Christmas full of magic and excitement are coming to an end whereas if he had younger siblings I'd still have years of amazing Christmases to look forward to is hitting me so hard. My baby, toddler, pre-schooler, young child is gone and while the 10 year old I have now is an amazing, I miss my younger child so much and would give anything to live it all over. And I have a very full life, hobbies I'm looking to sinking my teeth into on a whole new level as I get more freedom when he's older. (And an XH that I'm really looking forward to being less entangled with.) And I'd give it all up to go back in time and have all of those truly magical Christmasses all over again.

Trinity65 · 08/01/2023 12:40

piedbeauty · 08/01/2023 00:01

Great idea!

Show quote history

Thank You

Sonyac · 06/01/2024 11:29

Im the same,, i love the decorations so much. as they have sentimental value.. especially the tree witht he gorgeous baubels brought over the years and some older than me.. I love them... i love the lights too.. I think Light should be an alround thing to cheer people up.. It certainly lifts my spirits.

Sonyac · 06/01/2024 11:33

Yes it makes me happy too. I love the tree. People say its bad luck to take it down before the 6th or after... im not sure some people say the 5th but 12th night im sure its the 6th.. oops i should know this. Someone said they thanked the Tree. which i think is the most gorgeous thing to do. I will thank my lovely tree too. xx

SirVixofVixHall · 06/01/2024 11:41

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.

I feel like this, more each year.