And now a moment of tribute to a Christmas tree that has been very dear to me.
Christmas Tree # 27 in a long line of holiday adornments. You’ve been a good tree, tree.
Sadly, all good things must end.
The lights and wreaths are coming down all over the neighborhood, and discarded trees have begun to line the sidewalks. The roommates and I sat around last night and agreed the time has come to take down our tree as well. It still stands bravely in its corner by the sofa, though its needles have started to fall off and its branches droop.
I have never been an advocate of leaving Christmas trees standing until spring. I know some households that keep them up at least until February, and even that strikes me as a little much. The Christmas feast officially ended on Sunday, didn’t it? Granted, the season continues, but the time for decorated trees has past.
I will admit to a little tinge of sadness, though. Letting go of Christmas and drifting back into ordinary time gets harder every year. Who was it that said, “Heaven can wait?”
He clearly never got much out of Christmas.
Eh, “Christmas” ended with Epiphany, but this is still the “week following Epiphany” in the liturgical year (not classified as Ordinary Time, quite yet) – so you could justify leaving it up through THIS Sunday : )
Which is the plan!
We took ours down Sunday night. Everyday Isaac asks when we’re going to the farm to cut down a new one.
Awww! Time for the traditional Valentine’s Day tree. =)
Of course, the traditional end of the Christmas season is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, this year on February 2. More here: http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2013-02-02.
RIght–differentiating “season” and “feast.” Unfortunately, dead trees don’t keep for two months, and ours is very close to becoming a fire hazard.
I can just about perfectly picture you saying, “You’ve been a good tree, tree.”