My tree stays up. At least until January 6. I have no idea why. It just must stay there.
When I was younger, Our Christmas tree was out the door by the new year. It didn’t matter where it went, it was no longer welcome inside. Usually, it was the first Saturday after Christmas that the tree would be stripped of ornaments and lights and heaved into a snowbank.
But my wife has other plans. She demands that the tree stay until old Christmas Day.
I can see no real reason for this. There is no attachment to old Christmas Day. We don’t celebrate the twelve days of Christmas. I have never been able to afford five gold rings, let alone all those lords a leaping and drummers drumming and all the rest. There is no great family tradition of keeping the old ways. She just decided it must be that way.
There have been years when the tree was cut too early, dried too well and still stayed. To be honest, I was scared to touch it by the time early January rolled around. Needles would come raining down upon whoever happened to get too close and the slightest spark would have been the end of it. But the tree stayed until the 6th.
Honestly, I like having the tree around. I enjoy having it in the house. But there comes a time when all good trees must leave.
For some, as soon as the day itself is over the tree is out the door. Others keep them as long as they can. I know the exact date ours will be leaving. Although many of its needles will hang around for weeks to come.
