Ahhhh, December.  The merriment and joy of the holiday season is all around us – and after a full day of lugging down box after box of Christmas decorations from my attic, my house is finally adorned in its annual holiday splendor.  There’s nothing better than sitting in my living room in the evenings, the room aglow with just the lights of the tree (and elsewhere in the room) providing all of the illumination.  It’s cold outside, my fireplace is lit (it’s a fake one, but still) – presents are slowly taking up space under the tree – and all is right with the world.  Add in the smooth sounds of Nat King Cole or Bing Crosby softly crooning holiday favorites in the background and it’s like a living Thomas Kinkade painting.

Although it is a lengthy process, I don’t mind putting up all of the decorations and seasonal décor.  I still have yet to add my outside stuff (which I have to make sure is secure from the howling December winds that come down off the nearby mountain), but I’ll have it all up and ready when you read this – just in time for my daughters to arrive home from college.

As to decorating, there are many schools of thought.  Some folks insist on a real tree (I go the artificial route).  Some folks like twinkling, multi-colored lights (I prefer white), and some folks go all out on their interior and exterior adornments (with multiple trees, for example).  Others opt for simple and austere.  Some people fill their yards and porches with inflatable holiday characters, and some cover their outdoor trees, bushes and fences with strings of lights, creating a holiday wonderland outside as well as in.

My house is a craftsman style home built in 1927, so classic works best for our design and décor.  I do a single candle in each window, with a lit fireplace mantle and lights added to the hung wreaths and wrapped around the stair banister.  Lots of green garlands, red ribbons, white lights, and family knick-knacks – which set off beautifully against the dark chestnut wood accents and trim of my home’s interior.  Honestly, my house shows off its best face during the holidays, and we all love this time of year.

There are also different schools of thought as to “when” to decorate.  Some people (myself included) like to get things started early and decorate right after Thanksgiving.  Some people prefer to wait until the 1^st or 2^nd week of December.  I still know some families who don’t even decorate their tree until Christmas Eve (and old tradition). Don’t forget, the “twelve days of Christmas” don’t really start until Christmas Day.

Just as with decorating, there is also the decision on when to “tear it down”.  I know some people who have their stuff down and back in storage on December 26^th – still others keep up their trimmings until late January.  At my house, we generally keep things jolly until after Epiphany (or Three King’s Day) – the 6^th of January.

Then I get the most dreaded task of all – putting it all away until next year.  Ugggggghhhhhh.