BS: What do you do when it's all over?

Subject: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 01:51 PM

The last turkey has left the building. All the mince pies have been smoked. The cracker jokes all forgotten...

At the end of the season what do YOU do? Yes, yes, I know orthodoxy has not celebrated it yet but even that will be over in a few days.

A couple of Gnomish traditions.

Carefully take down the tree lights and wrap them all up so they will be easy to get out next Christmas. Why the hell do they always come out as a mass of spagetti and have to be thrown away?

Give up drinking for at least a month to purge the body in anticipation of the Swinton Hardy Intrepid Trecking Society (SHITS for short) annual pilgramage to Yorkshire in February.

Anyone else? Any true humorous or serious traditions that go with the end of the festivities?

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 01:57 PM

Play 'Breaking up Christmas'.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 02:07 PM

I get a serious case of the blues in January, which I anticipate will be worse than ever this year. I always buy myself fresh flowers once the decorations are gone, try new recipes, play good music, go to a contra dance, whatever I can.
As this will be my first January without Byron, I'm going to have to work extra hard at staving off the deep dark indigos.

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 02:10 PM

When it's all over? I normally pour myself a stiff shot of whisky, peel a fresh banana, light up a Cuban cigar, and just sit back and take it easy for awhile. Maybe I play out a little chess gambit to relax my mind.

One thing you can be sure of. When one sticky situation ends another one is waitin' in the wings, so enjoy the peace and quiet while you can, I say. Nobody's gonna pay you for it, so you might as well enjoy it.

CC

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 02:40 PM

I heave a huge sigh of relief....

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 02:47 PM

Black humor, to stave off the Freaky Febbies due next!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 02:48 PM

I smile at the general folly and wonder of human existence, and get ready for winter's long stretch which is now just getting started. They really should have Christmas at the end of January, I think. It would break up the season much more effectively that way.

But it was originally a solstice event, and the solstice is on Dec 22nd, so there you have it.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 03:13 PM

Actually, I don't think it was originally a solstice event. The Church moved what had been a minor feast day to December so the unstopable festivities of Saturnalia could have a Christian underpinning. This article by Dale A. Robbins, a person with whose work I have no familiarity, seems to contain the central points.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Cluin
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 03:19 PM

Buy the DVD and wait for the new Harry Potter film in the summer.

Oh, you mean Christmas?...

Put away the decorations, heave the tree out in the snowbank and break out the skiis.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 03:20 PM

I go back to work, try to enjoy the "darker" months and GET ON WITH IT !!

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Tinker
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 03:20 PM

Over??? We have five family birthdays spread between solstice and February 9th ask me again sometime after Valentines day....

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 03:29 PM

We don't take ANYTHING down until January 6.

Then we'll take the tree down (that's all we put up this year, but it's a sign of ownership of the house!), store it, and with any luck and a crick that don't rise, MOVE INTO OUR HOUSE!!!

Of course, I must say that those who don't like February can hardly be living life to the fullest. February is, without any doubt at all, the greatest month in the year. Even this year it will be the shortest month, many great women and men were born then, February 1 is Imbolc and St. Bridgit's Day, it's the traditional start of Spring, and it's the month I was born (see comment about great women and men, above).

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: RangerSteve
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 03:41 PM

One more party tonight, then back to work on Monday, and I'm almost relieved that it's over. It was expensive, but fun while it lasted.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Peg
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 03:52 PM

that article suspiciously barely even mentions the winter solstice! (it is also a fairly Christian-biased article)
Saturnalia always falls on December 17th, while the solstice almost always falls between the 20th-23rd.
In the Celtic countries and England, there is a fair amount of archeological evidence suggesting pre-Christian observance of the solstices..and earlier myths paralleling the birth of the Christ were centered on solar gods; the appellations of 'god of light' and the 'light of the world' suggest the solar origin of this date as well. Also,the secular use of evergreen and lights for decoration which has continued for centuries until this day suggests a more likely connection to these solar-derived seasonal festivities, and not to Saturnalia...
I recommend a book by historian Ronald Hutton, Stations of the Sun, for specific explorations of folk custom and archeological evidence as the bases for Christmas (and other holidays).

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 04:03 PM

I've got a stack of books THIS high to read now, and I'm starting a new job on Monday, so lots to do!

Also, in Wales we can celebrate Christmas until Candlemas (Gwyl Fair y Canhwyllau) and I'm hoping that I'll be able to join up with a Mari Llwyd party before I have to pack up the wassail bowl for another year!

Hwyl!
sian

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 04:13 PM

What do you mean 'The Cracker Jokes are all forgotten'?? They are all filed away for recycling as intro jojes for bookings !!!! THe OLD jokes are always the best. apart from the Cracker Jokes.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 04:23 PM

Trying to figure out where to put everything in this tiny 'wee hoose' (travel trailer/caravan). But the weather's fantastic (70s F during the day). I was outside raking leaves in shorts and a t-shirt day before yesterday. We've got the windows wide open today, and we might have a fire in our little outside chiminea later today.

I put the tree away today and it's good to have the space it was occupying for other things now. It feels good to have the holidays behind us. I'm very ready to get back to regular everyday life (which for us isn't all that 'regular'), and get back to working on all of the gazillion things we need to get done.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 05:56 PM

Come to think of it, in years gone by we used to keep some of the stuff up until Februrary 2.

Why not? Especially the more troublesome decorations to take down. Leave 'em up all year! Keep the spirit of Christmas...what, Dear? Take them down NOW? --sigh---

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 06:50 PM

Have a smoke... no well I don't smoke (I've checked) - and that's not what we were talking about, sorry...

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 02:27 AM

I start to clear out the vast loads of crap I've assembled over the past year. I also try to spend a week sewing so I've got some trousers to wear that you can't actually read a paper through! Need to do something drastic this year - someone is coming to stay at the end of this month and his bed is covered in fabric bolts and piles of paper!

As for the decorations, this year I might actually manage to take them all down - although the dining room will look strange without it, there's one garland that's been up for 3 years now.... I just change the decorations on it!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 05:21 AM

Don't forget though - If you haven't taken your deccies down by Jan 6 you have to leave them up until Pancake Tuesday!

No - don't worry. I can't figure it out either but someone told me that once and who am I to argue...

:D

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 06:51 AM

I collect bears & other things so leave a lot of supposed chrissy decorations up forever, at home & at work.

At work the decorations include Flat Santa, a (no-longer) inflatable Santa. He got his name when I rescued him from the rubbish skip 10 years ago when the office was rebuilt.

The bookshelf next to the table where I am working now will look rather empty when I (eventually) put away my little 6" tree & the dozens of miniature decorations that surround it. I also have a lot of embroidered/crafted items I've made over the years & other assorted things I've bought, however it all fits in 2 shoe-boxes. Of course if all the bears & other chrissy things that live out all year were put away, I'd need a lot more storage.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Emma B
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 08:22 AM

Tomorrow, old Christmas eve/Wassail eve/Festival of the three Kings
Monday, Old Christmas day, - take the decorations down (shame)
Sunday, Plough Sunday - going to burn a bear! (sorry Sandra - it's only a straw one)
Sunday 25th, Burns night - crack open the whiskey and bring on the Haggis
.....and it's not even February yet

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 11:07 AM

Damn right, Tinker !! Me Mam's 95 next week and Mrs. fB is 60 in February. Omigod, I'll be sleeping with a pensioner.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: freda underhill
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 11:19 AM

....good question...

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 11:47 AM

I'm doing that sigh of relief thing also. I have my house almost back in order from a three day new years party. Decorations are coming down tommorrow. Last year into this year was very hectic and I am glad it's over. Now I will get my clay out and start making more santas for next year. I also plan to start writing some new music and I am starting yoga as soon as I feel fully recuperated!
Hope you all have a great 2004!
Peace, Rustic

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 01:26 PM

My house will look spacious for a little while now that the tree is down (set to compost in the back yard) and the ornaments put away. I get out some old favorite movie and a glass of wine and putter to put it all away at one time. (I always forget and leave the santa refrigerator magnets out for ages.) This part of the year I need to boost my spirits with tactically placed lighting (a response to a touch of SAD) and forward momentum in whatever I've been working on.

The kids usually put out some small trees and ornaments in their rooms, but we didn't this year, and I didn't put out all of my ornaments. I decided that for once Less is More. I'm remodeling here, and to add more stuff to the already dis-arranged household was just too much. Next year by summer we should have cleared away many of these building tasks and will have room if we want to put out more stuff. But I liked it better with less, so I plan to simply do a rotating display.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 01:42 PM

As much as I love putting up the holiday decorations, I love putting it all away even more! The Christmas trees will remain until the Little One returns...but the rest of it is ALL (thankfully) gathered up and packed away for next year. Even better...we added a new shed to our homestead....strictly for out of season stuff...NO MORE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AND WRAPPING PAPER HIDDEN DEEP IN OUR CLOSET!!!!!!!   ******HAPPY DANCE************

I don't know about anybody else, but Christmas decorations tend to take over my house and about this time of year all I can think about is getting my house back...I WANT MY HOUSE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So umm..what was the question again? LOL After the holidays are over, I enjoy finding my house and clearing out the things that we just don't use and drop them off at the Salvation Army. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 07:09 PM

We're having scaffold for our Old Christmas celebrations! Some blokes are coming by tomorrow to erect things on my front.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 11:04 PM

Wow, LtS! Erecting a scaffold for Old Christmas! Are you hanging folks in honor of Odin? If so, that's REALLY old Christmas celebration.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 11:53 PM

I suppose such an erection in lieu of a tree is appropriate for an Old Christmas celebration, with all of it's non-christian borrowings!

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 05:38 AM

Liz - you tease - you've got me thinking about erectile objects on your front - thank god you dont have the TTA any more.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Peg
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 09:13 AM

well, I am leaving up the little colored and white Christmas lights throughout my apartment. They look festive, provide ambient light and burn less electricity than having other lights on...

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 06:37 PM

Bugger. The Erection party never came today. I stayed in all day and had to watch movies in case they called. Imagine, having to watch Hugh Jackman and Sean Connery all day!

But the Erection Men should be here tomorrow!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 08:53 PM

An answer from Loudon Wainwright, III:

Chorus:

Suddenly it's Christmas, the longest holiday;
The season is upon us – it just won't go away;
It's a season, it's a marathon – retail eternity,
And it's not over 'til it's over and you throw away the tree;
No, it's not over 'til it's over and you throw away the tree;
It's still not over 'til it's over and you throw away the tree.

Our tree is still up, well-watered, and probably will thrive for another 3 weeks. We did clean up the other Xmas mess and there are now clean surfaces in our apartment which haven't seen the light of day since last June. Let's hear it for open space!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 05 Jan 04 - 11:17 PM

I actually did what I said I was going to do today and put everything away until next Christmas. I even cleaned out the closet and got rid of a bunch of crap in the process. I am feeling good about that. I even wrapped my light up nice and neat. Now we'll see how they come back out, probably just like every year in a mess of tangled up blues.
Peace, Rustic

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: SueB
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 02:58 AM

I have just been informed that the Year of the Monkey starts on January 22, and that from a Feng Shui perspective, now is the time to prepare, in order to avoid bad luck in the new year. The children and I already went about the house on New Year's Eve, banging drumsticks on cookie tins in all the corners to chase away the old year and any evil spirits and what have you, but it appears there is more to be done. One thing that must be done is getting rid of the old to make way for the new, so we are each going to get rid of nine things a day for nine days, as per recommendations. I'm already anticipating feeling lighter. Then we are supposed to clean the house 'til it shines (theory may not exactly coincide with practice on this one, but we'll give it our best) and then perform a little series of exercises involving waving incense into all the corners of the house, ringing a little bell in all the corners, and something to do with salt - it reminds me of the 'footing' ceremonies people were talking about on another thread.

One post-Christmas tradition we have is for the kids to saw the Christmas tree into smallish chunks - then we toss all the chunks
into a metal barrel and have a bit of a bonfire one night.

It's definitely good to have a few small things planned, to avoid that old post-Christmas letdown.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 02:22 PM

What we've done this year is eat black-eyed peas for five friggin' days and nights and I'm sick of 'em!!!! We hosted a New Years Day party for which we cooked six (dried) pounds of black-eyed peas plus lots of brown rice, the traditional "good luck in the new year" meal. The party was a smash, but the blackeyed peas barely got touched. I would freeze 'em, but they cost so little to make that it's just not worth it. So, we've been eating them for lunch and supper since. It's been kinda nice to not have to cook, but enough is enough! They're going into the compost pile this afternoon and I'm cooking spaghetti!

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 04:56 PM

Over? It's still not over at our house!

However, I did help Mother take down her tree, pack all the ornaments, lighting and gold chain away. The tree's now out by the stone wall providing shelter for chickadees.

Only 344 more days till Xmas!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Emma B
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 05:20 PM

Unlike Liz, my builder and his ladders turned up today (but not until it was nearly sunset; and he still managed to get a pot of tea in!) The decorations have all been taken down but are now stored, together with all the other attic contents (including four soggy tents and assorted contents) which are slowly drying out after the Xmas eve flood in every available space in the rest of the house.
Still at least there is Whittlesea to look forward too, although I'm not certain that I can cope with the irony of spending too much time in the Bricklayers!

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Joybell
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 06:02 PM

It's getting hotter and drier so we'll start carrying tank water to the vegies and it will take me hours to fill all the watering bowls each day for the little wild critters. Our magpies will be released as they grow up - some already have been, but they still need a few handouts. We'll expect a few friends as they cross between Melbourne and South Australia for festivals. Lots of different kinds of sessions. Lovely. Get my songs together for the upcoming Cornish Festival. Busy time the after Christmas period for us. Joy

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 06:31 PM

Erection party due tomorrow (Wed), guttering party turned up today looking for erection on front of house, no joy.

Decorations are mostly all down, only one room left to do!

Would putting 'Air Guitar III' on the stereo and cranking the volume up to the highest have the same effect as drumming out the dark spirits?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 06:46 PM

'now christmas is past
twelve tide is at last
so we'll bid you adieu
great joy to the new'
took all the decorations down today and now am finishing off the champagne and belgian chocs.
Until next year.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 03:52 AM

I've now got a big erection on the front of my house, and the erector is nursing a hangover - Air Guitar III is going up WAY loud now!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: SueB
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 04:58 AM

Would putting 'Air Guitar III' on the stereo and cranking the volume up to the highest have the same effect as drumming out the dark spirits?


I'm not sure, Liz, but I'm worried it might attract some...

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 05:24 AM

Funny how fate takes a hand. I've started the post Christmas period by catching my Wife's 'flu and becoming a "sickie" statistic.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 06:15 AM

Take down Mistletoe, burn Mistletoe outside. Pour a shot of Whiskey and put feet up and relax!!!

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 06:37 AM

"I've now got a big erection on the front of my house, and the erector is nursing a hangover".

Some guy - most of us would have been suffering from "Brewer's Droop".

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 04:38 PM

They got it up in less than 60 minutes - all the way to the top! There are some here who could do well to take lessons!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: open mike
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 05:22 PM

i devised a way to wrap x-mas lights around beer flats..
the cardboard boxes that are used to ship 24 cans or
bottles in...i cut notches in the edges, where the wire
wraps around and poke holes in the bottom for the electric
prongs on the plug to go and poke holes in the box to lace
"twisties" thru to secure the strings of lights...this
helps with the tangles....several of these can be slipped
into a box to further help organized light strings...
I didn't put up tree or lights this year....to save
energy for concerts i was producing and other projects
i wanted to do...

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: open mike
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 12:51 AM

does anyone celebrate "first night"?

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 05:06 AM

60 minutes ? - It never takes me that long.

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 01:19 PM

What do you do when it's all over?

Pick yourself up, dust yourself Off & start all over again

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: maire-aine
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 01:50 PM

I can't get past the "Pour a shot of Whiskey and put feet up and relax!!! " part...

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 06:25 PM

Ah, but it's been up for nearly 48 hours now!

Is it actually all over if there are still chocolates left? If not, I've got about another 2 weeks to go!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 07:48 PM

It's NOT over yet in our house. The tree still looks lovely; we do water it. And we still have most of a box of dark chocolate TimTams.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 01:50 PM

I plan to be cremated.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: What do you do when it's all over?
From: PeteBoom
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 02:42 PM

Over? HAH! By mutual consent, the tree, lights and all (meaning the lights on the exterior of the house) say up and lit until, well, we feel like its time to take it down. Usually, mid February it comes down. The record though is March 19.

The year, my darling bride had the first round of oral surgery the morning of New Year's Eve. Round two is scheduled for February 6. So, we're leaving them up this year because they ARE cheerful - and she likes them and why not?

Pete