Already?

[msconduct]

All you people are terrifying me with your stories of putting up Christmas decorations. I was thinking "But Christmas isn't even a thing yet!" and then I looked at the date. Huh. Okay. Normally I'm a first day of December girl but I'm way too busy this year to be dragging out the tree during the week, so this weekend it is.

Fortunately decorating isn't exactly a huge deal chez Msconduct. I do fancy decorating mid-year at Matariki, which is a midwinter festival the way Christmas is in the northern hemisphere. The lights look a lot better in the lower light at that time of year. In December I celebrate the summer solstice, so it's just flowers and a pre-lit white birch that I hang little toy woodland animals on. Down from the loft, unfold, hang, insert batteries, done. Ten minutes tops. Joy to the world.

Comments

[kaishin108]

That sounds like lovely decorations and with woodland animals, I love that. I understand what you mean about the lights and it being a mid-winter thing.

Not sure how many lights I will get up this year. We (I) usually decorate this weekend and I haven't done anything yet. Maybe a string of lights up on the mantle. :)

[spiffikins]

Growing up, we always had to wait till after December 1st - my mom's birthday, before we were allowed to put up Christmas stuff.

Now that I'm in the US though, it just seems like it makes sense to do it, the long weekend after Thanksgiving - if I get around to it, LOL

And honestly, anything that involves twinkly lights for LONGER - can't be bad, right?

[msconduct]

Yes, it makes a lot of sense that Americans just move onto the next holiday when the previous one is over. The balance I have to strike with my birch tree is that if I start it too early, the 4 C batteries it uses will give up the ghost before Christmas week rolls around. Then if I put in new ones, I don't want to just toss them out partly used but if I don't the tree will have to stay up longer than I want it. I wish I could just plug it in! Unfortunately the wire is built in so there's not much I can do about it and I like the tree otherwise.

[spiffikins]

Oh yeah C batteries are ridiculous! Do they make rechargeable ones?

[msconduct]

Turns out they do! I'll look into that as I use C batteries in my cat door (it reads their RFDs) as well. Thanks.

[spiffikins]

Oh yay!

[echomyst]

I had to look up Matariki. Yes! Twinkling lights are much prettier in midwinter, or at least not when the sun is still shining at 9pm :)

Yeah, it just makes sense in the U.S. to set up Christmas trees during Thanksgiving break. We actually have the time and energy to do it. At least those of us not travelling!

[msconduct]

Exactly! Matariki only came in as a public holiday last year, and we've all really embraced it. Christmas here is a very casual affair, often a barbecue and/or eaten outside, which is relaxing and appropriate to the season, but it's also great to have a midwinter celebration. Last year I had my tree and lights up all through an endlessly rainy and miserable August and it was so cheering - which I guess is the point!

[spiffikins]

Oh I like the description of Matariki "this is a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate the present, and plan for the year ahead" - I didn't know the Maori New Year started in June - but it makes sense - wherever you are, the celebration of the shortest day of the year and going forward days getting longer/brighter - makes sense to coincide with thinking about beginnings and new starts!

[msconduct]

Yes, and I also like that it includes a time to think about people who have passed on and honour them. Of course we all do that already, but it's nice to have a special time for it.

[spiffikins]

It's always good to have a reminder to take time to do that!