One of the things that has always struck me funny about Christmas in the USA,
is that the majority of people put their tree up so early,
but then, right after Christmas day is over,
everything is taken down so quickly.
There is actually a song about the 12 Days of Christmas.
That would be the 12 days after Christmas.
We like to celebrate Advent throughout the month of December.
Advent means "coming",
the coming of Jesus to earth as a baby.
Then the 12 days after Christmas is to celebrate the birth and
ultimately the arrival of the 3 Wise men
that brought gifts to Jesus.
The Epiphany,
January 6.
Today.
Today in other parts of the world,
is when the children receive their stocking.
And so we carry the tradition on.
The excitement as the children pulled things out of their stockings.
Fruit, chocolate, nuts and stickers for our children.
Just like the good ole' days of when I was growing up.
We will be taking down the tree this weekend,
complete with
"take the Christmas decorations down Party".
So, party on.
Daniela
16 comments:
I have noticed the same thing!! So early up and jerked right now! Mine are still up but I'll take them down when we get home. It is so much work to put it all up I want to leave it awhile!
When we were young kids at home, we wanted that tree to last for ever. It was a lovely bright spot in our lives. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
Dearest Daniela,
LOVE this Old World Tradition too. We always kept the Christmas tree up till AFTER Epiphany.
That's the most pure way of celebrating it and it makes sense for extending it those extra days.
Enjoy with your family!
Hugs,
Mariette
I like your tradition, Dani. Growing up, we celebrated with stockings on Dec 6 - feast of St. Nicholas - but never put the tree up until Advent began (and sometimes as late as Christmas Eve, just because my dad was so frugal and he haggled best at that deadline, lol). We always celebrated the Epiphany, but typically just with going to church. Our tree stayed up through the 12 days too. I bet your kids were excited this morning. Cute stockings, too. Happy New Year.
Rita
I so agree. I hate to see Christmas trees thrown to the curve the day or two after Christmas Day. Happy New Year!
I've heard of the advent before but I didn't know about the stockings tradition. I love the history behind it! Your kids stockings are cute too. Be on the lookout for a big box to be delivered to your door soon! Jimmy just shipped your presents yesterday. You'll get them from the mailman.
I keep our decorations up until Epiphany too - I always just assumed it was a Catholic thing !
I keep the outdoor decor up even longer because of the cold LOL !
Happy New Year Dani - to you and yours !
XOX
Brava Daniela che porti avanti le tradizioni italiane! E' vero che in America c'è l'usanza di togliere subito l'albero. Spero che avete trascorso una buona befana :-))
Beautiful tradition, Daniela! As long as I have my tree down before my February birthday, I'm happy!
It drives me nuts... it's a SEASON, not just a day. We start at St Nicholas as we celebrated that while living in Belgium, then advent and all twelves days AFTER Smas,opening a present each day. I don't understand the rush to throw it all out. It makes me sad, truthfully. I like the stocking tradition.
Also my Italian friend says they have an old lady that distributes presents to the kiddies much like St Claus. The tradition sounded like fun and so old. She's from a small village near Pisa.
I also grew up with the tradition of keeping the tree and decorations up until the Epiphany. My sister and I always received a small present from the Three Kings. Now my grown up children are passing on the tradition to my grandchildren. It was wonderful yesterday to receive a call from my seven-year old grandson telling me The Three Kings had brought him presents!
What a lovely post this is! I liked the idea of what was put in the children's stockings! I always leave my decorations and tree up until after today and only take them down slowly, a little each day, until the middle of the month.
Then I decorate the house for St. Valentine's Day which will be less than 4 weeks away and long enough for me to savor it!
We leave ours up through the sixth as well. It's still up. I might have time on Sunday to take it down. When my daughter was little, we use to have a party to take it down. Your stockings are so sweet. xoxo Su
Hi,
We leave our tree up as well. We will take our Christmas down this weekend. We have a party too. It helps make it all go smooth. We are always a little sad to see the tree come down.
Carla
I believe the English tradition is also to keep decorations until Twelfth Night. I don't like the fact that blogs are always ahead on things and seem to never be living in the present, like now when so many blogs are decorating for Valentine's day...
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