Now that Christmas has been done and over for a few days, I feel like my house is finally back in order. Yes, I'm one of those people that will "De-Christmas" the house mere hours after the big day. We have a wonderful tradition of putting up our tree the weekend of Thanksgiving and let's be honest, it's no fun stepping on the sharp needles of a real tree for over a month.
Besides the piles of pine needles, the entire house seems to be upended for several weeks. Our house is never spotless, but there is a certain order to it and an OCD person like myself wants everything in its place. During Christmas, that is not the case. I love my decorations, the smell of the tree and the anticipation that builds during that time. However, once it's done, it's done.
There are a million new items that need to find their new home after the chaos of unwrapping has commenced. The day after Christmas inevitably becomes a day for crazy purges, cleaning projects and moving furniture. Last year one of my kids changed bedrooms December 26th. Is anyone else this nuts? The day after Christmas is usually a day of rest and recovery (or it should be) after the running from here to there and toting cookies, casseroles and cakes. No, the day after Christmas for me is like a mini New Year. It's a day for me to get my house back in order and to get a fresh start to the new year.
I'm certain my Christmas cleaning ways can be traced back to my mom's ways. She's even been known to take the tree down late some Christmas evenings. I have only done that once, and I had twin 2 year olds and had my reasons that year. The kids have protested a time of two, asking that the tree live to see another day, but that's not often. We had a few years with goats where we gleefully tossed in the tree for them to munch on. In fact, one year, we discovered an important ornament frozen in the ground of the goat pen some two months later (whoops! It was saved!).
However, in the past few years, as I've gotten older, I've tried to slow down and enjoy the holiday. As the kids get older and I realize that the years are limited. I think all parents go through that. While I don't think I'll ever be persuaded to let the tree linger, we have taken up the tradition of leaving the Christmas houses and Nativity scene until at least epiphany. We should not erase all traces of such a special holiday so soon after its departure. After all, the church's Christmas season truly has just begun on the 25th and the gift of Christmas is with us all year long and can never be "put away" in a box until next year!
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