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I know a woman who has a tree in her house that stays up all year. However, she changes it for various holidays. After Christmas she might hang hearts and such for Valentines Day, etc. Mardi Gras, St. Pat's, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving...you could justify it.
That's a great idea! I've known people who keep their tree up as well. Some take it down at Spring Equinox. When I lived in New Mexico I noticed that a lot of people leave their outdoor Christmas lights on the house all year long. I like it.
We never decorated, as we don't observe holidays and such. We may do a token pumpkin or wreath, but that's it. Several of our retired neighbors have garages and attics full of carefully organized and labeled boxes and bins of holiday decorations, special plates and dishes, lights, flags, and more for every occasion. Their poor husbands are drafted to pack/unpack, and put up/take down these items. The only concession to age is that some hire people to deal with outside lights and ladders. Many don't have family locally, either. But it must give them joy, so good for them.
You've described my 85-year-old MIL perfectly. I don't know how she does it at her age, but she does. Huge display indoors and out for every holiday, year after year after year. A Christmas bash for 75 guests with hand-made party favors for every person who attends. She amazes me! I'm not quite retired yet, and I'm already scaling back.
For the first few years of retirement we still put up an small tree, lights in the windows, a wooden sleigh made by my grandfather, lots more stuff too. BUT it's the taking it all down and putting it away that got to me.
When we moved to this apartment dh strung lights on the balcony, I put lights in the windows, we brought out the sleigh and that was it.
Last year we just didn't care. I did get out a little ceramic house that lights up, supposed to be some Charles Dickens type thing, an olde taven.
I always hang a fake wreath on the front door. Now I'm more into making Christmas foods and buying Christmas cake but I feel guilty knowing that those pretty decorations lie in a plastic tote in the closet.
That's a great idea! I've known people who keep their tree up as well. Some take it down at Spring Equinox. When I lived in New Mexico I noticed that a lot of people leave their outdoor Christmas lights on the house all year long. I like it.
Throw in birthdays, anniversaries, and other special dates that may mean something to you (Cinco de Mayo, San Gennaro, May Day, Chinese New Year, Presidents Day, April Fool, Groundhog Day...) and you have an ongoing canvas. The downside is that if you think you don't have enough room to store Christmas decorations, multiply that by several holidays.
The last two Christmases saw no decorations as we were living between two different locations almost 1k miles apart. But now that we are both retired and back to living in one house, we are looking forward to decorating a tree and putting out a few items we purchased when we lived in Germany. Not sure yet if any family members will visit during the holiday season, but that's ok. We still enjoy the season anyway.
We actually purchased some Halloween outdoor decorations for the first time. Actually looking forward to putting them out in a few weeks. I guess the kids inside both of us are still hanging on..........
Throw in birthdays, anniversaries, and other special dates that may mean something to you (Cinco de Mayo, San Gennaro, May Day, Chinese New Year, Presidents Day, April Fool, Groundhog Day...) and you have an ongoing canvas. The downside is that if you think you don't have enough room to store Christmas decorations, multiply that by several holidays.
Oh yeah... that's crazy!
in_newengland, my father is from Western Mass, and my grandparents lived in coastal Connecticut until their death. I always begged my parents to "take us to the snow for Christmas" but they never did. Too expensive to take the whole famdamily on the aeroplane clear across the country. When I was a kid I used to brag to my grandmother that we went barefoot on Christmas Day. Big deal.
I do but only for Christmas, and I live alone -- but at a lower intensity than in years past.
Not for any other holiday.
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