The twelfth day of Christmas was January 5th. Husby and I had guests over that evening and as luck would have it our tree still looked healthy and bright, and the decorations around the house were still spreading Christmas cheer, naturally. Never take down the decorations before the twelfth day of Christmas.
On January 6th (the thirteenth day of Christmas?) Husby and I were basking in the last evening of Christmas tree glow when – bink! – half of the tree lights were suddenly unlit. I was disappointed, of course, but so grateful they didn’t blink out while we had company the night before.
We unplugged the tree lights, because of course I’d go completely mad looking at a half-lit tree. The ornaments and tinsel shimmered in the ordinary lamp light of the room, but the corner that held the tree still seemed so dark without the twinkly lights.
Today I undecorated the tree. The tinsel was removed and the ornaments safely stored. The lights, well, I found the offending string that caused half of the tree to go dark and cast them aside. Then Husby took the tree out to the “back forty” to deal with in the summer.
Now, not only is the corner of the room dark, it’s empty.
I didn’t have the inclination to take down all of the Christmas decorations today, nor did Husby and I wish to move the furniture back to “real life” positions. The Christmas decorations will be put away bit by bit throughout the week. The furniture will return to its usual positions and the empty corner will be filled once again.
Then begins a bright new year.
I hope you all had a merry holiday season and that the new year brings health, happiness, and peace to you all.
Auntie B's Wax 
Happy New Year to you, Sara! Here’s wishing you the best of everything in 2018!
Thank you, Cindy! I hope 2018 is a great year for you too. Stay warm!
Your tree was fabulously merry and bright! So happy we got a chance to bask in it’s holiday aura! I’m considering taking the ornaments off our tree yet today, but so far have only accomplished moving the small 2 foot tree out of the kitchen window over to the table to be wrapped up and put away! Hope you have a very bright new year!
I’m so glad you and The Professor could join us the other night! De-decking the halls takes about as much time as it takes to deck them, so be kind to yourself. As a benefit to you who loves snowmen, they don’t have to be packed away until springtime!
Happy New Year to you too, and all of those you love.
We also took down some decorations today. I wrapped up the mini tree lights and decorations. The lower level is mostly done. There are a couple of bins that need to be closed but the upper level has not even been started. The big tree needs some attention as the last branches (on the bottom) have lights but none of them are on. We just have 1 gift to deliver that didn’t get here in time for actual day and it will really be over
Have a warm and happy new year!
Good luck with the de-decking, Connie! I’ll tackle some more today. At least all of my gifts have been distributed! Stay warm.
I sometimes get the ‘dark corner’ feeling when I take down the tree. That’s why I always wait til the 12th day. Just occurred to me we’re there, aren’t we. Oh well, maybe a few more days….
I wish I could have kept my tree up a few more days, but that dang string of lights that went out (taking many more strings with it) drove me crazy. Nothing worse than a half-lit Christmas tree. Enjoy it as long as you can!
Ha, Susan has been annoyed with an unlit string all season long. Fortunately it was at the bottom of the tree so not too obvious. Love that you leave the tree up twelve days. We do too. Happy New Year to you and yours!!
Oh that would drive me crazy!! We were so lucky our string (and all of those attached to it) waited until the end of the season to blink out. Plus, unless the tree dries up to be an extreme fire hazard (ours are always real trees) it stays up the whole 12 days, of course!
Nice to hear from you, and best wishes for a fabulous new year to you and your family!