My favorite holiday is not Christmas, it is Christmas Eve. As a child, the anticipation was always better than the reality. Don’t get me wrong, I had pretty good Christmases as a child with a few not so great ones thrown in. But over all, they were fine.
But once I was an adult I realized that the night before Christmas, when all things are possible and you don’t really know what the next day holds, has become my favorite. Going to late church on Christmas Eve, hearing the Christmas story, lighting candles and seeing all of the tiny lights held high as we sing “Silent Night” together, then walking home with my guys in the cold night air (well, not this year- it was warm) just as the clock strikes midnight has become my favorite night of the year.
Honestly though, the day I look forward to the most is the day after Christmas. I know that this is probably wrong and it has no deep inner meaning that I can think of. The day after Christmas I put it all away. The tree comes down, the wreaths go away and except for our creche (I leave it up until January 5) Christmas is a thing of the past.
I guess I do this because my mom did this. She thought the tree looked sad and lonely with all of the presents gone. She saw no purpose in it and hated to just watch it dry up and wither away. I guess hearing her say that all of my years growing up, that is all I can see now once the big day is past. It all looks sad and lonely.
So now the day after is something I look forward to. All of the things that have filled my house with joy and color suddenly feel like a guest who has overstayed their welcome. I am ready for clear table tops and more floor space. I am ready to put it all carefully away, making any repairs, reliving memories old and new as I work and then boxing it all back up.
I clean house too and usually rearrange so that I can start the new year clean, bright and uncluttered. I incorporate the new items I received for Christmas into my life and discard any old stuff that no longer has a purpose. I end the day exhausted, but feeling very accomplished and renewed. I hold tight to my memories of Christmas, but the “stuff” that goes with it is back in the attic.
I guess I am not one to hang on for too long and I do love change. When the day is over, I am ready to move on. Move on to the new year, move on to the future. I love my Christmas things and I have wallowed in them for a month. When December 26 comes along, I am ready to move on, I am in need of a change. I want to take what I have learned during the season and the things and ideas I have received and move out into the world, ready to go forward.
I know that most people leave their trees up for days, maybe even weeks after the holiday. I know there are probably rules that people follow to tell them when to take it all down. I am sure I am not doing it properly. But I do feel pretty good at the end of the day on December 26 when I have my house in order and I am ready to tackle whatever is around the corner. I feel at peace with what is behind me and I am excited to see what lies ahead.
