It’s four days before Thanksgiving and I’m contemplating taking down the pumpkins, the cornucopia and the orange tidbits that are scattered around my house. I’m not hosting Thanksgiving this year so I don’t feel the need to keep the stuffed turkey doll that sings, ‘eat chicken’ displayed. LOL
My usual custom has been to begin decorating for the holidays right after Thanksgiving. It used to be that I was told to only decorate in a winter motif with no Santas out until December first, but this year, there are no restrictions. And I’m feeling a bit of holly jolly in the crisp weather.
So I’m asking…what do you think? What are your traditions? Do you think I’m rushing the fa la la la la like the stores? Or should I just go for it and do what I feel in my heart I want to do?
For me, the love and joy of Christmas is contagious. It’s in the twinkle in the lights, the joyful greens and reds that make me smile. It’s in the giving of traditional gifts and the giving of ourselves to others. It’s in the joy in singing hymns which evoke memories of precious happy times and Christmas carols which bond us in peace.
I love the season and wish it could last all year long. Perhaps that’s why decorating early has such an appeal. I never tire of the sparkle and simple joys that the holidays bring.
Thanks for reading and for allowing me to process how I feel. I’m off to gently put away Mr. Turkey and begin to shine my heartlight. ‘Tis the season you know to shine!
Shine On!
xo
My tradition is usually to decorate on Thanksgiving weekend. it’s nice because I have my family here and it’s more fun with everyone lending a hand ❤ But let's face it, I would leave my lights up all year long if I could!
That’s my tradition too Susan, but I just wanted to jingle a bit here, so I did!
I think you should decorate whenever/how you want Yvonne. Enjoy the season! ❤
Diana xo
Thanks Diana! I did just that today! ♥ I was inspired by your snow already where you live! 🙂
You go sparkle everywhere you feel the urge! Why deny or suppress that joy? Love it!
Joyously sparkling here! Thank you! ♥
Go for it sweetie! A little secret….I leave my tree up year round. Yup, I do. I remove the ornaments and tuck the tree into a darker corner of my living room and in the evening, it becomes ambient light. 🙂 I’ve brought it out into the foyer for Thanksgiving, as I’m hosting this year, and while I haven’t put the ornaments on, it does lend that added festive touch and makes my oranges, yellows, and reds, sparkle just that much more. But…by the end of this week, Christmas will be more than evident!!!
I love that you shared your secret with me xo I did a little bit of ‘elfing’ here and put a few festive pieces out, lit a balsam candle and just enjoyed the peace of decorating a little at a time. ♥
Yankee Balsam and Cedar is the ONLY candle I light during the holidays. And I love ‘decorating a little at a time’ It makes it last that much longer. xoxo
Love the smell of a real tree candle~ yummers! There’s nothing like it. I had a cranberry one burning but kids didn’t like the smell. But they do love the balsam. Happy Thanksgiving dear Rhonda! xoxo
Happy Thanksgiving Yvonne. I hope the day is filled with all good things, lots of love, and laughter. Love you my friend. xoxo
Love you too Rhonda! I hope you had a lovely time with your family. I know Superman isn’t physically here, but don’t doubt that he isn’t all around you. xoxo
Whatever makes you happy. The hounds of convention bite too sharply. Enjoy what you enjoy. Happy Thanksgiving.
Oh my Wendy ~ what an awesome phrase ~ “the hounds of convention bite too sharply” ~ sad but true. Happy Merry Thanksgiving to you dear friend! ♥
When I was a kid, Christmas didn’t arrive at our house until Christmas Eve. Mom would have dad get out the decorations, we’d cut a tree and place it in the corner of the living room. Then after supper, when mom was finished work, we’d decorate the tree and the house. Then we would sit around, drinking hot chocolate and sing Christmas carols. During the next twelve days, we’d celebrate the season with family and friends. No one decorated early and so, Christmas arrived, on time and stayed its course. I really miss those days.
Sorry, got a little nostalgic.
I say, decorate when you want…it’s your house and you know what makes you happy 🙂
I love that you shared your nostalgia with me. Thank you. I love your memories of Christmas. I decided to just do a little bit here and there that made me happy so I took your advice. Many merry thanks!
you are kindly welcome; I love sharing memories from childhood, especially Christmas,,,hopefully, in the coming weeks I can share more and read more of yours 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful plan to me! Happy Thanksgiving! Can’t wait to hear your memories of that holiday as well.
🙂 will be happy to share them!!
Awesome! I’m looking forward to reading them!
🙂
I usually decorate the day after Thanksgiving and it stays up until the day after New Year’s. That being said…decorate anytime you want!!!!! If it brings you joy why not prolong it.
I love your phrase ~ if it brings you joy, why not prolong it! Thank you!!!
You’re already well behind the malls and the stores – go for it.
You are right Dan! Thank you. ♥
Never too early!
Thanks xo
I think the best time is whenever you want to do it. We used to do it the day after Thanksgiving. This year we are kind of boycotting traditions – donating to favorite charities instead of exchanging gifts with family and not sure if we’ll put up decorations or not. As I’ve gotten older Christmas isn’t what it used to be.
Thanks for taking your time to write. I always began right after Thanksgiving, but I felt the desire to begin decorating so and so I began. It takes awhile for me anyway to do it, so I jus started a little bit today. I hope that you feel a bit of the joy of the holiday season as the days go on. Big hugs to you ~ I love the charity donations. Do what makes you feel great! ♥
We always put our tree up in the first week of December. I love the preparation of Christmas. I think you have stirred us all, to get started and enjoy this season! Thanks Yvonne and Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Karen! I just love the festive love that Christmas brings. The smiles and laughter are what I’m after! Twinkling lights and cozy nights. Woo Hoo! May have to go unpack another Christmas box of goodies to decorate! Big hugs to you! xo
I love your excitement!
Thanks! Are you decorating yet? Do you decorate Ants room too?
Isn’t it a wonderful blessing that you can hold the beauty of of the spirit of Christmas in your heart all year long, my friend?
I HEARTily agree Russ. It is a blessing. Thank you for being my friend. I wish you and your beloved a very Happy Thanksgiving! ♥
Don’t forget those twinkle lights Yvonne ✨✨
Oh Val, you know me so well! xoxo
I feel as if I do Yvonne! Happy Thanksgiving 💛
Happy Thanksgiving Val! ♥
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It is never too early to decorate! When the weather is nice you have to get out there to get the outside stuff up. Our family always put up our decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving and I kept it up, sometimes it may be before Thanksgiving. Now music and movies always in September although I am known to listen to Christmas music any time of the year and a good Christmas movie whenever the mood strikes. I am not held down by what we have to do or should not do according to others opinions…I even white after Labor day!! lol My love for Jesus and our Father allows me to free to who I was created to be even if it means decorating early and taking down later…but because of work I usually take it down right after New Years, but watch out when I retire I may leave it up till Feb!!
Patty, your comment is exactly why I love you! Thanks for being you and for blazing the path ahead for me. xoxo Happy Thanksgiving! ♥
I love you too – I always seem to recieve a comment from you just when I need it. Thank you for lifting me up, been sort of down because I am having a bad reaction to a medication the dr put me on and your lovely message reminded me of Gods love shown in His people –
Oh Patty, you make my heart sing as you are special. I’m so happy that you are reminded that you are loved. I hope you are feeling better. Sending you healing hugs xoxo
Yvonne,
Sounds like your mind is made up. As it should be without any outside influence. I’m sure that those who may pop in before Dec.1st will not be able to contain their joy in seeing yours.
-Alan
Happy Thanksgiving
Alan, I am just so grateful for you and the way you look at things. Thank you. I actually only did a bit, but I was feeling like Auntie Mame ~ we need a little Christmas now! ♥ May you and yours have the loveliest Thanksgiving! God Bless.
Thank you so much, Yvonne.
I’ve heard it said: “When man loses sight of God, he loses sight of himself.” My view of things are always guided by His.
A wonderful Thanksgiving to you and your family, and a Blessed early start on Christmas.
-Alan
Beautifully repeated Alan! Blessings back to you and yours! ♥
You should decorate when you feel inspired to decorate. In my family we put our tree up the weekend before Christmas and kept it up until Little Christmas ( which is the Feast of the Epiphany). Little Christmas is the traditional name in Ireland. It is January 6th. I’m thinking of decorating on Black Friday!! Good way to avoid shopping.
Thanks Kathleen for stopping by! I held off a bit (ok, only put out a few trinkets) and will put up lights tomorrow (black Friday) and start my Christmas music. I just love the joy the season brings! ♥
Thanks giving weekend is OK.
Well, I started slowly so as not to upset the apple/thanksgiving cart. Lights go up tomorrow outside because that will be after Thanksgiving. Have you begun to decorate?
Will be doing the decoration today as we cook. Kind of a tradition with us. Enjoy the holidays. Best wishes to you and yours.
My best wishes to you and yours as well. Enjoy every minute of your feast and decorating! Fa la la la la ♥
Thanks