Friday, December 31, 2010

Goodbye, Christmas

The cold last day of the year
And I put away the ornaments,
Pack up the Nativities,
Return the Santas to the old trunk
And, as my grandmother taught,
Make sure that the tree is out of the house
Before the New Year comes in.
Posted by Picasa

24 comments:

Marilyn & Jeff said...

We pack Christmas away before New Year too - this is because 1st January is our daughter's birthday. We wanted her to have a day that was especially her's with no lingering of Christmas in sight.

Marilyn & Jeff said...

I meant to wish you all the best for the near year, may 2011 be a great year for you and your family.

RNSANE said...

Some people leave all the Christmas stuff up till January
6th, the feast of the Epiphany. I think it is good the put it away by the New Year...since it's often up way before Thanksgiving.

Pat in east TN said...

Ours is packed up and put away and the house seems to have a whole new look to it. Happy New Year to your and yours Vicki ... may 2011 be a good one!

Brian Miller said...

that is a really cool gourd ornament...our schedules must be similar we took down everything yesterday as well...

Martin said...

The decorations, over here, seem to be up for weeks. I guess it's something bright and cheerful for people to hold on to, during uncertain times.

Ours are coming down today.

Happy new year, Vicki!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

As much as I love Christmas and the tree, I'm always sad to put away the ornaments. Happy new year Vicki.
Sam

Stella Jones said...

I take mine down on the Sunday after Christmas, which will be this coming Sunday. I hate packing it away. I wish that Christmas could last all year because I have never finished with the glow of it. There is a sense of relief too though when Christmas is over and all has gone well.

I love looking at other people's tree ornaments. Yours are very pretty.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Blessings, Star

BB said...

Your Grandma and my Grandma must have had Grandma's from the same school!!! Happy New Year Vicki!

Rainsong said...

Usually we put away everything except the tree and the lights right after Christmas. All the doo-dah's go back into the box but we leave the lights on the tree and set it in its stand on the back porch. The lights come down (if it is safe to climb on the roof) and off the tree on the 1st after being lit for one last hurrah on the 31st.

I just realized that everything is still sitting out today. I don't know what happened but I do know I'm going to be busy today.

God give you His Grace in this New Year.

Elora said...

The little toadstool ornament reminds me of the Depression-era creations that my mom saved over the years, Vicki. Lovely, isn't it, to handle those delightful pieces of tradition just once more before packing it away. The excitement of seeing them each year, never diminishes! And Happy New Year...the BEST!...to you and your family!

Elora

Christine said...

Here's wishing you a great New Year Vicki! My tree came down Christmas night, still have the wreath on the door.

Vagabonde said...

We did not celebrate Christmas at home this year but went to my daughter, so we did not decorate. My father’s family who is Eastern Orthodox celebrates Christmas per the Julian calendar on 6 January. There are many Eastern Orthodox in this country and one of them, a Russian émigré, told me they are sad that they are forgotten in the US and that everyone thinks that after the 25th Christmas is over. When I was in Cairo, Egypt, I celebrated with them on the 6th. It was nice to buy the presents in the after Christmas sale.

Louise said...

There's always a little bit of sadness, packing all of that tradition away for another year. But, I think it's a good idea to put it away before the New Year, so you can start everything fresh and clear. Happy New Year to you!

Brenda said...

I love that cupboard with the decorations - are those old Christmas books? I love that! I may have to steal that idea. :)
My mom always said it was bad luck to leave your tree up on New Years, but my dad and I rejected that notion and campaigned to leave the decorations up just as long as possible. "Twelth Night" has been more my custom as an adult. The twinkling lights add such coziness to the living room, hard to let that go!

chiccoreal said...

Dear Vicki: The tradition of quickly and quietly taking down the Christmas tree is understood by me in this way; my folks did this Jan 1 without fail. But I didnt know it should be done prior to the 1st of the year. Huh. We usually keep ours up way past over-due sometimes past my daughter's birthday in mid-January. Everything looks "naked as a bluejay" after New Years, save for the left-over confetti. Life must go on...it should...Happy New Year 2011~!!!Love Joy Bliss Always Wishing All Wonderful Moments to Find and Follow~~~ Much Love Much Life Much Laughing!!!

Tess Kincaid said...

After a month of snow cover, it finally melted today. A significant closing to Christmas.

Warm and woolly wishes for 2011, to you and yours, Vicki! xx

tony said...

Hi Vicki
Wishing You & Yours A Fine 2011. Best Wishes
Tony.

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Hi, Vicki - Happiest of New Year's to you and yours!

Donald and Harley and I have been traveling for the holidays and are happy to now be back home.

I'm playing "catch-up" with all my favorite blogs. I have missed you and your wonderful pieces, including all the beautiful photography.

I'm trying to get all the suitcases unpacked and the Christmas gifts sorted and put away before I start dismantling Christmas. I'm afraid it's going to run into tomorrow. Laws, I hope that doesn't mean bad luck for 2011 ! ! !

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I've got everything Christmas put up and out of sight, and I am looking forward to ringing in the New Year. May you and yours have a wonderful 2011!

Folkways Note Book said...

Interesting grandmother custom -- do you know the reason why she felt this was important? -- barbara

joanna said...

Love all the snowy scenes out your window,,,,in the silence of the snow is the song for peace -- may creativity , love and beauty surround you and your loved ones every moment of 2011; your future has not been written so write yourself a good one,,,

cheers,
joanny

gayle said...

When I take down my decorations changes from year to year. This year I decided to leave everything up. I think I will probably take everything down next weekend.

Happy New Year to you!

Vicki Lane said...

That makes good sense, Marilyn!

There are all sorts of traditions about when to put up and when to take down the Christmas stuff. As for me, I like following my grandmother's tradition - then I don't have to decide -- I just do it.

But though the tree goes out the door and all the red and green Christmas stuff is put away, I leave up lots of lights throughout January -- when it's apt to be rather dark and dreary.

That little toadstool was inherited from my mother, Elora -- not sure how old it is -- I think I remember it from the Fifties and maybe the Forties.

Vagabonde -- they used to celebrate Old Christmas --January -- here in the mountains -- I don't know if anyone still does.

Brenda -- those are Christmas cards and tins that I particularly like.

Barbara - I expect that it was simply thhe custom in her family -- possibly in the community (southern Alabama.)