I get into it when we go on Christmas break. This year our last day is next Friday, the 14th.

One of my daughters is a school teacher with two young kids. She has all she can handle until the break.

I work at a university that goes dark each year. This year, we get out on Friday, 12/21 and don't come back until after January 1st. Can't wait!

When we're finished, I'll make a wreath and put up some other decorations - around the 15th next weekend.

But Mueller can get things going tomorrow.

Ever. . . .

I had to move from San Francisco to the deep south in 2012 (I didn't last very long and ended up fleeing back to SF). . . I always thought that wishing somebody "Happy Holidays" was the polite thing to say, as I never know who is Christian or who celebrates what holiday. . . Furthermore, as a nominal, middle aged Jew, I kind of felt that it wasn't MY holiday to play around with. . . .
OMG. . . People got OFFENDED that I didn't wish THEM a Merry Christmas. . . I am still baffled about what exactly bothered them???????

but I've used it this year for a snow shovel handle.

Once my kids were teens, I stopped with the tree and home dec. It just doesn't interest me. I do send my 4 grandkids xmas gifts, but that's it.

The feeling passes in about 10 minutes.

It's amazing how raw sexual attraction can bring people of diverse and conflicting faiths together.

My own "Christmas Spirit" looks a lot like PTSD.

My best Christmas ever I got the Hong Kong flu and everyone temporarily put their religious differences aside because they were afraid I was literally going to die. My dad's sister, and my mom's cousin had died as children in similar circumstances.

Alas my anoxic self did not get the Heathkit radio I most desired for that Christmas.

That may have been for the best. I later built a similar radio from scratch and that was immensely empowering.

My personal religion is equally scratch-built.

We had chocolate covered cherries under the tree. I ate one, my mom said, "You're gonna get sick. You didn't eat breakfast." 5 minutes later, I got sick.

something I had never heard of.

and I was swept up in it right then and thought oh boy. Now I'm all burned out and could care less. Now I'm ready for Valentines Day.

...who were evacuated to my brother's place. Hooray for Barnes & Noble, who will mail books for you. I did not manage to decorate -- I was just happy to still have a house.

December really has had its ups and downs over the years, but I made up my mind long ago that children should be the focus and that helps a lot.

This year I dragged out all the decorations I could find and put them up December 1. The fireplace hearth in the family room has all the Hanukkah stuff, and the smallish tree is on a table in another corner. Strings of colored lights are plugged in. On the second day of Hanukkah we took a Hanukkah Basket over to our daughter's, lit candles and spun dreidels for gold chocolate coins while she fried latkes. Her stepchildren were at their mother's, so they missed out.

Next weekend we'll have our daughter, her 3 kids and 2 stepkids, and our son over for brunch and Christmas gift giving. If her husband is not working, he'll come too.

When does "the season" start? When I buy a gift for someone else, and when I unpack the first box of ornaments.

Happy Holidays to all.

Happy Holidays to you too!

We have our family Christmas on the 22nd and my tree will come down on the 23rd.

I like the symbolism of the triumph of light over darkness, which Christianity borrowed from pagan traditions.

This year, it's rough. My father is in poor health. We're going to stay with my parents for the week of Christmas. I fear that this may be the last one with all of us together...

I had a really rough November. Some family members are coming over on Saturday for a decorating party. Then we are going to the Botanical Garden and dinner after. I was going to do it myself last weekend but I just stared at the boxes with lights and decorations. I couldn’t do it. I have to do it as I have a young son so I aske a family member to come help me. She gave me the biggest smile. Within a day multiple other members of my family called or texted and asked if they could get their name on the guest list for the decorating party. It’s done a lot for me and I’m really excited.

Having help with decorations is quite nice.

The first family member I asked to come over lives on the edge of a community park. Each year she asks the guy who heads up the park what kind of tree he wants for the park. She then buys it, decorated and cares for it, and gives it to him after the new year. One year she had the best Charlie Brown Christmas tree. I don’t remember what it was but it was around four feet tall with just a couple of bare branches. Normal for it this time of year if winter shows up a little early.

I love hearing unique ideas about Christmas trees.

The late great Carrie Fisher also kept her tree up year-round.

just celebrates good thoughts. Not necessarily a religious thing. At least in my view. It could be candles or whatever. Doesn't matter.

If I don't see that particular special, it's just December all month

before even thinking about Christmas after that I can get into the spirit. I guess it goes back to my childhood when it all started after Thanksgiving and it seemed more special and exciting then, instead of seeing Christmas decorations starting to come out around Halloween. I like each holiday to have it's own time instead of being all jumbled up and overlapping.

All retail capitalistic primacy, all the time! SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!!!!

when kids were 3 and newborn. But husb was a holiday 'fanatic,' started planning/shopping for their gifts in October, and it got a bit much for me. BUT we got the best tree in the best house, so that was good.

Mine is just what works in this house. The dog and cat could care less. My Op was just about what others think and the responses are very different. Many different strokes on here, which is good.

Have sent Hanukkah gifts thru mail for 3, 4, and 5 year old grands, and leaving for 5 year old's Saturday b'day party tomorrow. MY home is peaceful (and empty, for a few days any way!)

that I'm getting into the season spirit of friendship and warm fires and polishing the silver for the mid winter gleam. I recorded 8 hours of a fire burning the other night and no to the christmas music except maybe on the day, but probably not; but great jazz sounds good with a crackling fire I don't have to tend with friends dropping by and cozy nights. Yeah, that's the spirit for me.

I get two channels that have the yule log thing. Great for sitting and reading a book. Plus no ashes...

I always get bogged down in memories of the big happy noisy gatherings when my family was alive. Xmas was a huge deal. It hurts my heart.

The husband is going to be gone most of that week to visit his family for his once-a-year trek. He hates xmas anyway.

I have the tree he bought last weekend set up in the stand, but still un-decorated. Just not in the mood.

Bah, humbug.

I didn't really care about Christmas. Too many other things to be concerned about. I had a few days where I perked up and that was enough. I hope you find some time to enjoy the holiday in your own way.

Friends would come over and help decorate and put up the simple string of lights that went around our small front porch. And all the other decorations... village on the mantle piece... one of those cherub candle carousel thingies...

And then everything came back down on New Years Day.

Ours goes up tomorrow, after I give the living room a good cleaning. It’s beginning to look a bit “lived-in”, as my mother would have said. Between two messy children, two working adults, a shedding cat, and an absurd number of books, board games, and card games it can all become quite disordered.

Most years, December 25 is just another day. This year my niece and her husband are driving up from Florida and they let me know they'd be over for Christmas Eve dinner, AND that I am expected at her Dad's for Christmas Day dinner. I'm a real softie where my sister's kids are involved, so I caved.

My only request is, no gifts - just food, drink and conversation.

The Landlady(!) has a performance of "The Nutcracker" this evening and I plan to surprise decorate our apartment while she's out.

It'll make her happy!