Christmas morning here in Maine was as relaxed as it’s ever been yesterday with cinnamon rolls for breakfast and old fashioned Christmas tunes on in the background.
Once Miss Lucy discovered Santa had came, it was all over with and we sat in the family room and opened presents. Lucy went first of course. 😉
And then helped everyone else open their gifts.
Mrs. HB sent me the best fake plant ever!! When I was back in Washington in November we had seen these really cool sedum plants at Watson’s Greenhouse and I must have stood there a good minute or two trying to figure out how I’d get them back home in my carry on before getting distracted by something else.
Well Mrs. HB remembered! And sent me the exact one I had my eye on.
A new mug from Sue Tirrell! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Christmas linner: Steak, potato salad, broccoli cashew salad and….
The best homemade coconut cream pie on the planet earth. Just look at that pie! The HH kept bugging me about what I wanted for Christmas {we usually don’t do presents to each other} and all I could come up with was an old school, diner type coconut cream pie {I have been craving all things coconut lately}.
And he delivered!
It was a good day. We slept in, all took a nap, and went to bed early. What more could you ask for. And today? It’s all about the leftovers. And ice skating. And probably a few old lady pills. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Here’s to a restful day after… and hopefully no broken bones.
~Mavis
P.S. I tried to pack up the leg lamp last night and my husband wouldn’t let me. He said the Christmas decorations should stay up until New Year’s Day. I argued that NO, it was okay to start putting them away the day after Christmas. And then he told me to ask YOU, on the blog. Because apparently you’re the voice of reason.
So which is it? Can I put the decorations {LEG LAMP INCLUDED!} today, or do I have to wait until New Year’s Day? And if not New Year’s Day, then when? When do you pack it all up? Curious minds want to know.
Peggy says
Packing away Christmas here today!
Sue says
We leave all Christmas decorations up at least through 7 January.
Nancy says
Same here, Sue! Having said that, Mavis, though I would hate to go ahead and pack up all the Christmas decorations today, I believe I might argue for clearing it all up to go into the New Year with a fresh palette to be able to pack up the leg lamp!
Jen M says
Same here, or late on the sixth. 12 days of Christmas, Epiphany, etc. 🙂
Joyce says
We do, too! Jan 7 it is. By then, I am tired of all things Christmas!
Joyce
Diana says
Decorations stay up at least through New Year’s. That’s what I’ve always thought was the traditional time. Don’t be a Scrooge (HA!) and let him have his leg lamp for a few more days. You won’t have to see it until next year, lol.
LOVE that new mug. Using your link to head over and see what else she has…
Mary Ann says
I’d tell him it can stay up until January 1. That would give me extra time to try to figure out a way to make an accident happen (like in the movie), so I didn’t have to see it every Christmas!
MEM says
We leave most of the decorations up until right after New Year’s. However, most of my decorations this year, including the tree, are themed to Winter rather than Christmas. I might put away the Nativity scene but that’s about it. There are no rules, really, its personal preference.
Alice Damsteegt says
When the out-of-town grown kids leave….after New Year’s Day, like Jan. 4ish.
When we are all alone, it’s day after Christmas but before New Year’s.
So, you are both correct, as I see it!
Alice
Mrs. C. says
We leave them up at least until Jan. 7, but the manger scene stays up through January until Candlemas. This is the time of year to let folks have a little fun!
jj says
Definitely day after Christmas, I want things in the house back to normal. Need normal.
Sharon says
Definitely leave up at least until January 1st. It’s still Christmas until then.
Leanna says
After Epiphany (January 6th). My hubby would love the tree up all year.
Gina says
Jan. 6, Epiphany/Thee Kings Day
Robin in WI says
Took our Christmas decorations down this morning. 😉 I don’t care if we have snow and cold ahead; no winter stuff indoors now.
Belinda says
Mavis,
In our household we take our decorations down the first weekend after New Year’s Day. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’s to you and your family. Belinda
Pat says
That’s what we do also.
Deborah says
We usually take ours down the week between Christmas and New Years. This year we’ll keep it up until our guests leave. I might add that it is a pre-lot porch tree. Maybe 3 feet tall. It’s sitting on my treadle sewing machine that has a sheet covering it. The decorations are leis from Hawaii, felt handmade Cardinals, with the topper being a Santa hat. Oh, it also has my felt elf on a shelf, that I made in it. And 2 ornaments. One is an angel that I bought from a craft fair, and a beaded humming bird that I bought in Cozumel, Mexico for my late MIL. She enjoyed it only for a few days before God called her home. Easy Peasy to take down.
I keep my electronic tree that hubby made me out all year.
Jenny says
I live in SE Louisiana, and it’s tradition here to leave them up no later than January 6th which is Epiphany- or the start of the Carnival season
HeatherS says
We take ours down somewhere between New Years Day and the first day back to school from Christmas break. I need to start back to school with the house back in its usual order!
Lanie says
I want my tree down as soon as possible.
Linda says
Take Christmas down after New year. Bad luck to take them down early. Have a great new year. Is he sharing the coconut cream pie recipe.
Rachel says
New Year’s Day or earlier if I get tired of the chaos. Lol.
Mel says
I pack up our Christmas stuff in early January, but I leave the winter stuff (wreaths, snowmen, deer, berry garlands, etc.) up longer. I need to get or make some Valentine’s decorations to break it up a bit in February, but the red and white of the winter-themed stuff works nicely.
I suppose the lamp could have an unfortunate accident while you water the fake sedum plant, but I saw a Leg Lamp Halloween costume on Pinterest the other day, so it could be worse—it could work its way into other holidays as well!
Melanie C says
I’m in the Mavis camp, day after Christmas. I like to start the New Year with a clean relaxing environment.
Carolina Cooper says
Before I read any comments, I was thinking of the 12 days of Christmas—the day after the 12th day–January 6th, also known as Epiphany or the day the 3 wise men arrived. It looks like the majority of these comments (so far) lean to January 6th. But hey, if your HH does not read your blog, and takes your word for what we say….then you can tell him whatever suits you—LOL
Kim says
If I had a leg lamp to endure, I would pack it up asap…….unless, of course, it accidentally got broken. Otherwise, I would wait until next week.
Nancy from mass says
My stuff will be put away by Sunday. I usually pack everything up a couple days after Christmas. I love Christmas but my house is not very big so all of these decorations just take room. But, I would leave my window candles up all year if I could.
Susan Webster says
We leave them up until after the first of the new year! Sorry!
Glenda says
December 26, without a doubt.
Linda says
If my husband went all out for a pie like that, I’d definitely let him keep his lamp up for a few more days.
Linda says
I was thinking the same thing!!! A leg lamp is a small price to pay for a pie.
Linda says
Different Linda btw!!
chickengrandma says
We usually keep the Christmas things up until mid-January. The “winter decorations” stay up longer. If I had a leg lamp to deal with, I would take down asap. This year our tree will come down early January since my husband is having surgery and I can’t take it down myself.
Kat says
We love the holidays and cut down our tree about a week before Christmas. That tree stays up as long as we can possibly keep it, usually around the end of January. My HH would likely keep it up all year if it didn’t dry out and need to be ditched for safety.
We’ve discussed a fake one and decided no way. Also discussed birch branches to decoate, but, no, we like Chriatmas, so, up it remains.
Holley says
It is considered bad luck to take your tree down until the Epiphany! Then it’s Mardi Gras season – Twelfth Night! So you then decorate for Mardi Gras!
Cathy says
All Santa stuff is down
We leave the lights up till New Years
Leg lamp down
That’s a Santa item
Sue says
I like to relax and enjoy the house decorated after Christmas Day.
Grand girls fly out on Friday, but others coming in so we wait until the New Year.
Leave the lamp in the window, I just have to smile at his passion for it. My son-in-law has one also.
Christine says
I will be packing up decorations tomorrow. We put them up at Thanksgiving so they have been up a month. It’s time.
coleen crisanti says
We packed it all up on New Year’s Day. I’m too tired the day after Christmas to do much of anything.
Deb K says
Dec. 30-31. Sorry.
Heidi says
After January 6th as we do the 12 days of Christmas
Karen says
The 12 days of. Christmas starts on Christmas Day. Maybe take the Santa related stuff down, but keep the rest. It is really only a short time in the year, I think a bit of color and lights is nice. Then into the winter!
Joanna says
We keep all until January 6th!
Kelly E says
We keep ours up until the day after old Christmas day in January. I am from Newfoundland and it is often thought to be bad luck to take your tree down before old Christmas day, so we take ours down on January 7th.
Krista says
I took mine down Christmas morning since we celebrate the night before. I need the space in our tiny apartment.
Granny B says
We celebrate Christmas Eve also with our sons and their families. Then we take all decorations, tree, and even the outside lights down after they leave and before we go to bed. Then we rest and relax on Christmas Day and get our lives back to normal.
Pamela says
I don’t put anything away until mid-January at least. I work retail and really don’t get to enjoy the decorations until after Christmas.
Rita says
Mine stay up till New Years Day.
Love those skates! Do you have a rink nearby?
Linda says
Day after New Years! Sorry Mavis
Mary Wasley says
Tree stays up till Epiphany. I gradually start putting things away but some items are geared towards a winter theme and stay till I switch to the next theme.
Cecile says
In our house the Christmas decorations stay up until Epiphany, the day the Wise men found Jesus (because they are men and didn’t ask for directions it too that long to find him!). I know you want to put the Leg Lamp away but in the true meaning of Christmas I think you should let your HH have his way until at least January 6th! Merry Christmas Mavis & Family!
Lea Ann H says
We normally leave ours up until the new year. This year though, we’re taking down today. Expecting our first grand child any day now, so need to get the house in order 🙂
Mechelle says
Definitely not till January!!
Jules says
We leave everything up until the day after school starts or about then. Enjoy it as long as we can
Jayme says
I usually start the day after Christmas and will sometimes leave up the tree without ornaments because I enjoy the lights so much in the morning. Maybe compromise? Pack everything up except the lamp? It’s only 1 more week and it makes him happy…maybe you’ll get another pie out of the deal?
Kari says
Because the 12 days of Christmas starts on Christmas Day and goes until Epiphany, I try to leave my stuff up until then, unless the tree appears to be on the verge of spontaneous combustion. He he. As for the leg lamp, though, I may be tempted to at least pack that one up early.
Brianna says
I usually take the tree down right after Christmas. When the water starts sprouting mold and needles start dropping, then I am done. After I take it down I fix what needs to be fixed before putting things away. I put every Christmas and seasonal decoration away, wash the seasonal tableware, and put the tree and wreath out for the wildlife to enjoy for awhile. I think the leg lamp is lovely and the envy of my hubby as A Christmas Story is his favorite holiday movie. If you need to accidentally rehome it, let me know.
Kristen says
I am in camp “12 Days of Christmas” (thru Epiphany Jan 6th), but sooooo very anti leg lamp. Tell the HH he should be ever-so-grateful to have it up at all. Don’t push it, hubby!
Annie says
We leave stuff up until after New Year’s Day. The lights we keep plugged in until mid-January. What can I say. I like Christmas lights. We also don’t put up decorations until December sometime, so they really haven’t been up for that long.
Mama Je says
Mavis, your HH is such a sweet & good man, let he decide when to take them down.
Lana says
We pack up Christmas on New Year’s Day.
nancy grimsley says
Sorry but I agree with your husband. We leave everything until the Feast of the Epiphany. Plus champagne, appetizers, and the twinkling of the tree are all part of New Years Eve. I wouldn’t even consider taking anything down this early.
Paula Reed says
We leave our decorations up until late January. As you know, here in the PNW it is awful dark and the lights make it happier when it is dark at 4:30 pm.
Nanci says
While the black-eyed peas and collard greens are cooking on New Years Day is when I put Christmas away. That’s my tradition….it’s a fresh start to a new year!
Happy New Year, everyone.
Vicki says
We leave ours up until after New Years Day. The Snowmen stay out through January.
Laura says
We like to keep up until the Epiphany or, barring that , the Sunday before school starts again in January. I love Christmas but by January I am ready to return to normal and order.
Lynne says
When I lived next door to an Orthodox Church they stayed up until their Christmas. But the church is now “Holy Rollers” so today is the day it starts coming down. (I love the variety of people in my neighborhood-it’s probably my favorite thing about this place! Well, no steps is maybe a tie lol.)
Athena says
We wait until at least new year’s. Sometimes later when we can’t find the time to pack it all up. I love having them up though so…
Laura Z. says
The twelve days of Christmas begin on Christmas and end on Epiphany, which is January 6 of this year. I don’t take down decorations until then.
I know that’s not what you want to hear! Still, I don’t think the baby Jesus would mind if you pack that leg away early. 🙂
Kelly E says
Ours come down the day after Christmas! While I enjoy Christmas, I am happy to put all of the extra “things” away and have a decluttered space again.
Theresa says
Had all my christmas decor put away by noon today. In my book, when Christmas is over, it is OVER!
Lj says
Totally different subject…..is your chair my joss and main?
Mavis Butterfield says
No. Stone and Beam. Absolutely love it. Excellent quality. Here is the link: https://amzn.to/2Zsa2OX
Donna Braun says
Inside Christmas is down already but outside lights stay up until New Years.
Jenny Young says
I put my decorations away when I feel motivated to do it…& that is never before vacation is over because who wants to do housework on vacation? Mine will come down sometime between the 1st & the 3rd this year.
Erin in IA says
In Ukraine they celebrate Christmas on January 6/7. We were to have a guest from ukraine in our home over the holidays but is now delayed till the end of January. This young girl has never celebrated Christmas with a family so all things Christmas stay up till 2/1. Never left it up past 1/1 before so this ought to be interesting.
Pauline in Upstate NY says
Miss Mavis, Miss Mavis… Have you not married one of the world’s truly great guys?? Did he not pull up stakes and move cross-country with you, build you a Taj Mahal of chicken coops, help you dig up new gardens, build you a produce stand, learn how to plow snow, run a chairsaw, split and stack firewood, and then move AGAIN to a different house? All in less than two years?? PLUS the man cooks??? And you want to throw out, drop, or otherwise lose his leg lamp?? Woman, get a grip! Yes, it’s a little weird, but let the man have his leg lamp up for a while longer! Or, maybe make him move it to his office? Oh wait, you stole his office last week… Hmmm… 🙂
DebbieB says
Agree, lol!
Mavis Butterfield says
Can’t stop laughing at this comment!!
jenn says
I wonder if HH has an alter screen name “Pauline in Upstate NY” .,. Because this comment hits close to home and hits close to home. The only reference missing is the cherished smoker.
Mavis Butterfield says
Hilarious! But no, Pauline has been around long before the HH ever paid attention to my little blog. Funny though.
Rita says
Agree! He seems like a great guy!
Tina says
I understand the way you feel. I have had enough of the clutter and stuff and want to pack up Christmas too. We’re compromising and waiting for the weekend.
Delores says
The 12 days start on Christmas Day for us, so we leave them up until Jan 5 and then take them down Jan 6.
Katherine says
I never take our decorations down until New Years Day. This year they are coming down early only because I have workmen coming early Saturday morning to make some repairs make come cosmetic updates to in the public space in our house. I’m leaving our outside lights up until New Years day though.
DotRot says
Considering that everything leading up to yesterday was NOT Christmas, but Advent, Christmas did no actually start until December 25. The Christmas season lasts until the Day of Epiphany on January 6 (also the 12th day of Christmas). After the 12th night celebration (which starts at sunset on January 5th and lasts until sunset on January 6, the decorations should come down to end the season.
Kim says
Learn to enjoy the leg lamp. It’s proof that HH has a sense of humor and as we get older, that’s very important. Like I always say, “You can be right OR You can be happy!” (Pick your battles).
judy says
We leave our decorations up until Jan2. Your HH seems to be a nice guy, it would;t hurt to leave it out a little longer and make him happy. Right?
Gigi says
I generally get mine down before New Year’s – simply because I know I won’t want to deal with it after I go back to work. So mine will probably come down this weekend.
Diana says
Always on 7th of January, is a family tradition. I find it depressing when the Christmas decorations have to be put back in storage so why hurry?
Kimberly O'Donoghue says
I agree I finally get to enjoy my decorations after Christmas no rush here
Barbara Dougherty says
Through Epiphany, January 6th. ☺️
Rosaleen says
Maybe Christmas decoration timing follows whether one is looking at Christmas as a holiday or holy day. My parents put up the tree on Christmas Eve. Before then we observed the season of Advent. The tree stayed up 12_days until the feast of the Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men visited the newborn Christ. My husband’s family of up their tree Thanksgiving weekend and took it down the day after Christmas or maybe New Year’s day if they had company for the holidays.
Mimi says
I’ll put the tree ornaments away later tonight and maybe the tree will be pitched outside but I like the twinkly lights to stay up during the dark days. I’m celebrating my birthday today – Christmas is so yesterday. 🙂
Missy says
Christmas Decorations stay up until at least the 1st, then come down as our work schedule permits.
Lace Faerie says
When the kids were little we left everything up and decorated until Epiphany. Before bed every night between Christmas and then, the new toys were put neatly under the tree and it helped the season last. My HH regularly worked 60 hours in a 6day week, changed to 13 hours with no days off between Thanksgiving and Christmas. So we have always taken the week off between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day as vacation time to do the Christmas activities most people do leading up to the day. Our tree went up the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so the tree was quite crunchy at the end of New Year’s Day. We only plugged in the tree lights in for pre bedtime stories that last week/10 days.
This was our first of 35 Christmas together that we had an artificial tree. Now we are debating leaving it up till family arrives New Year’s Day? This sister has never been able to come at Christmas time and has never seen my special decorations…or do we put the tree away so we have more room? I’m waffling.
Rebecca Briscoe says
I wait until Jan. 2. The holiday season doesn’t end til New Year’s, and it is good luck to keep your tree up until the New Year!
Nancy Sadewater says
We celebrate each season and holiday at its time. Our tree doesn’t go up until the middle of December so that we can focus on Advent. Christmas begins the 25th and doesn’t conclude until the Epiphany on January 6th.
Lynda says
New Years Day at the earliest! I like the extra lights through the winter….
Jacqui Gauld says
Belated Christmas Wishes to one and all! Tree and decorations appear on Christmas Eve and disappear again on Jan 6th, after the 12 days of Christmas, even though I’m not at all religious. That was what I grew up with, so have always done the same. And if the leg lamp puts a smile on your husband’s face, surely you don’t mind it being on show for a few more days?
SandyF says
Most of the decorations are down-I am sick of clutter and need order! And it is time to celebrate Hankkuh today.
Then I am DONE with holidays and want to clean and purge.
Today I watched (and cried the entire time) Call the Midwife Christmas special.
Now it’s potato latkes, apple sauce, brisket and kasha time. MMMMMM.
Leslie says
12 days of Christmas are to Epiphany. That said, I sometimes take down some of the decorations on Jan. 1. Probably because I’m off and am getting tired of the decor. But I leave up the white fairy lights and any others on mantle as long as I want. give me pleasure during the dark winter. Also sometimes greenery. Taking stuff down the day after Christmas seems very commercial to me.
Tracy says
Christmas decorations stay up until Jan 1, of COURSE! That’s to permit lots of casual, no pressure get together with neighbors and friends while everyone is off from work, but the time crunch of Xmas prep is over. It’s the best week of the year….it’s why you decorated in the first place!
Mary says
Ours is up all year long. It is, however, in a bedroom
Kris says
We don’t cut our tree down until a week before Christmas so it remains fresh/green through the twelve days of Christmas.
I have never seen any dog like presents better than Miss Lucy does!!! Ha-ha!
Lori says
Pack them up!! Christmas decorations come out after the thanksgiving meal. So the day after Christmas they get packed up and put away. By then I have had enough of the clutter and I’m ready to get my house back in order. Sorry to Mavis’s HH that includes the leg lamp!
Pj says
Siding with hubby… can’t take them down until New Year’s Day!
Mary Pearce says
The Season Of Christmas begins on Christmas Day and lasts 12 days ending Jan. 6. So, if you’re going to be technical, you have 10 more days with the leg lamp. Next year don’t put it up until Christmas Day and you won’t have to look at it as long.
Bonnie says
On a different topic, is there any place to go to order a Sue Terrill mug? All I see is Instagram photos. I just live her designs. Thanks, Mavis!
Mavis Butterfield says
She mostly sells her pieces at a few art shows a year and at galleries, so you’d need to message her via Instagram.
Karen says
It depends on the tree for my family when it comes to when we get rid of it due to being a “real” or a “fake” tree. We used to have a “real” one but we got tired of picking up the needles that came with it and keeping little hands from getting hurt so we switched to a “fake” tree. Now we keep it up until January 2nd because it is part of our holiday tradition.
Claudia says
Merry Christmas to you and yours..
When I was growing up (many moons ago) my mother always kept the decorations up until January 6th the start of Epiphany that is when Christmas ended and according to the Christian Bible January 6th (Epiphany) was the baptism of baby Jesus. I follow this most of the time. I am itching to get cards put away and decorations boxed. I want to get on with the new year.
Happy New Year! 2020 how did that happen??
Nancy says
We observe the 12 days of Christmas so everything except the tree stays up until Epiphany. The tree is I decorated on New Year’s Eve so we can throw it off our balcony right at 12am while yelling “Happy New Year’s!” We’ve startled a few neighbors over the years but my grown kids still live it.
Linda Practical Parsimony says
New Years Day is right for me to pack up Christmas. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I took things down the day after Christmas. I love the mug.
E in Upstate NY says
Follow the Epiphany time table in my household for Christmas things. The more “Winter” items stay out much longer.
A plea for keeping outdoor lights on through February! For a few years, I commuted over an hour each way. The drive was primarily through rural areas. I so enjoyed the occasional home with outdoor lighting. It made the drive so much more enjoyable. Looked forward to certain displays and was disappointed when they were no longer turned on. Remember there was one home that kept their star in a tree lit til March. There was no way that I could thank them directly, but I often said a thank you as I passed by.
Ja says
My husband’s leg lamp is used in our bedroom year round. I have never thought of it as a Christmas decoration.