It’s Not Over Yet
Dec 30th, 2009 by Kathy
Now that Christmas is over, we have one more huge celebration facing us, before we can finally relax. Most of us also have to deal with the chore of taking down the decorations; and, as is the case when putting them up, everyone has a different idea of the proper time for this task.
Just as some people deck the halls – and much more – even before Thanksgiving, there are those who can’t wait to get rid of all signs of Christmas. Some will have everything, including their trees, gone by the 26th; but most people will wait, at least, until New Year’s Day, unless they observe Christmas on a later date. Then, there are those who hate to see the holidays end, and leave everything up for weeks – or even months – after Christmas, which is a bit (okay, more than a bit) strange.
On the other hand, if you, like millions of others, have put a tree in your gazebo as part of an outdoor display, by all means, keep it there. Just take everything off, except the lights; and leave any other lights that you’ve put on the gazebo in place as well.
After all, if your gazebo is not enclosed with windows, doors, or screens, you won’t have your patio chairs, porch swing, picnic table, glider, or hammock in it now, so why let it stand there looking dark and forlorn? With everything else so drab and dull in the winter, nothing brightens the landscape like a charming gazebo sparkling with lights. To make things even cheerier, leave the lights on your pergolas, trellises, and arbors, too.
Naturally, a real tree may not last the entire season; but, at least, you can easily sweep away the needles that it sheds. If it’s an artificial tree, you can leave it up for a few months, and decorate it for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter.
Now, there are those who do leave their trees up permanently, and decorate them for every holiday, major and minor, throughout the year; but I think that would take the novelty out of it for the Christmas season. Like having fireworks every weekend, or turkey every Thursday, or champagne every day, it just wouldn’t be anything special.
Of course, that champagne thing might not be too unbearable!
Yours Outdoors,
Kathy
