I never really get to enjoy our Christmas decorations until after Christmas. Things are always so busy and hectic before. I am one of those who leave their tree and decorations up until after New Years. It's so nice now, to sit at night and look at them and experience their beauty and joy.
A friend of mine remarked that Christmas was actually a season, not just a day. My grandparents celebrated the twelve old days. It wasn't about religious beliefs, just interesting ways of looking at each day including planting winter crops. One of my favorite Christmas memories of my dad's parents was standing in front of their fire, eating a peppermint stick while my grandmother peeled an orange for me. Those smells of peppermint, orange and coal burning in the fireplace are etched in my brain.
The Christmas cookies that I bake with our nieces and nephews, I often bake those at Valentine's .
Unlike the frenzy of all the kids decorating and sugar crystals filling the air, at Valentine's I get to savor the rhythm of baking, and the house smelling of cloves and ginger and cinnamon.
For me, I have come to realize that I often enjoy Christmas at different times of the year. After the actual holiday I will sit with December issues of magazines and savor the decorating tips and recipes, storing them away in my memory, with plans to enjoy them next year. Often in late summer I think about designs for cards. During the oppressive heat and humidity of July and August I will watch Christmas movies with the hope that one day I too will have a white Christmas.
I sometimes dream about spending Christmas in Ireland or Prague or Italy, absorbing different holiday cultures and traditions and foods.
It's warm here in Alabama tonight. More storms coming our way tomorrow. Stay safe, warm and dry.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams
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I always leave my decorations up until January 6th. I hate to take them down. Everything looks so bare.
ReplyDeleteMy decorations come down the first weekend in January they go up first of December.
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