Christmas Tree Traditions

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HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
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Heart of the South
How do you celebrate? And what do you celebrate?

We're Catholic, so we celebrate Christmas. Every year, since my conversion (he's always been Catholic), I have this argument with the Orge - "When to put up the tree"

He usually wants it up right after Thanksgiving and take it down the day after Christmas. I can't stand to do it that early. Catholic tradition is to put the tree up Christmas Eve and keep it up through Epiphany (Jan 6th, celebrating the Magi visiting the Holy family). Right now, we're in the season of Advent (antici-PA-tion!)- so you typically have an Advent wreath on your dining table or prayer table and light a candle each week (I do mine around dinner time every day, while I cook), so by the end of Advent, you're lighting all 4 candles. I really like these traditions, but the family balks at them, especially now that they're teens! Like I'm forcing some horrid ancient stupidity on them. Some years I just let them do it their way. I'm lazy like that - I'd rather pacify than argue during this festive season.

It remains to be seen how it will go this year. I'm starting the Advent wreath today though. Someday it might mean something to them.
 

AnnaMarie

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Feb 16, 2012
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Other
I remember one year, as teens, my brother and I decorated the tree and mantel. Everything was done....as perfect as it could be. And he looked at me and said "something is missing" we looked through boxes, moved a few things around. Couldn't put our finger on it, but both felt something was missing.

Finally....I smirked....took one of the balls off the tree and held it at arms length. He started shaking his head "no". I nodded yes....he said "No....you can't" but his eyes said yes.

So I dropped it, on the hard wood floor.

And from the kitchen my mom yelled "Merry Christmas".
 

Haunted

This is my favorite place
Mar 26, 2008
17,059
29,421
The woods are lovely dark and deep
How do you celebrate? And what do you celebrate?

We're Catholic, so we celebrate Christmas. Every year, since my conversion (he's always been Catholic), I have this argument with the Orge - "When to put up the tree"

He usually wants it up right after Thanksgiving and take it down the day after Christmas. I can't stand to do it that early. Catholic tradition is to put the tree up Christmas Eve and keep it up through Epiphany (Jan 6th, celebrating the Magi visiting the Holy family). Right now, we're in the season of Advent (antici-PA-tion!)- so you typically have an Advent wreath on your dining table or prayer table and light a candle each week (I do mine around dinner time every day, while I cook), so by the end of Advent, you're lighting all 4 candles. I really like these traditions, but the family balks at them, especially now that they're teens! Like I'm forcing some horrid ancient stupidity on them. Some years I just let them do it their way. I'm lazy like that - I'd rather pacify than argue during this festive season.

It remains to be seen how it will go this year. I'm starting the Advent wreath today though. Someday it might mean something to them.
You keep up those traditions, the kids act like they don't care for them, but you are laying a foundation for them for when they are older! That's why you are the Mom.
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
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Heart of the South
Question Mz. Holly: I thought we did not sing the Gloria during Advent and Lent. Father spoke the Gloria yesterday (thank God no singing of it, terrible, terrible tune) Did he forget or have things changed again?

You're correct - we omit the Gloria during Advent except on Feast days during the season (Immaculate Conception & Our Lady of Guadelaupe). We go to 5pm Sunday Mass (last chance happy clappy mass) so I can't say for certain. Our priest is known as the Liturgy Police around the Diocese, so I'm sure we won't be singing the Gloria. I can't remember what we do instead. I'm pretty sure during that Lent we do the Kyrie instead of the Gloria. I'll report back after Mass.
 

niro

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
2,434
14,206
How do you celebrate? And what do you celebrate?

We're Catholic, so we celebrate Christmas. Every year, since my conversion (he's always been Catholic), I have this argument with the Orge - "When to put up the tree"

He usually wants it up right after Thanksgiving and take it down the day after Christmas. I can't stand to do it that early. Catholic tradition is to put the tree up Christmas Eve and keep it up through Epiphany (Jan 6th, celebrating the Magi visiting the Holy family). Right now, we're in the season of Advent (antici-PA-tion!)- so you typically have an Advent wreath on your dining table or prayer table and light a candle each week (I do mine around dinner time every day, while I cook), so by the end of Advent, you're lighting all 4 candles. I really like these traditions, but the family balks at them, especially now that they're teens! Like I'm forcing some horrid ancient stupidity on them. Some years I just let them do it their way. I'm lazy like that - I'd rather pacify than argue during this festive season.

It remains to be seen how it will go this year. I'm starting the Advent wreath today though. Someday it might mean something to them.

That's the way folks do it here, too. Especially with young children. But gift giving is celebrated at the evening of the 24th. On the 24 th my parents shot the door of the living room and did all the decorating and playmobil stuff so we kids could start to play instantly. We went in the living room after we heard a little bell. And that's the way I am gonne do it with my future children.
The tree and all the christmas decorations stays till epiphany. On the 7 th of January all is packed away.

Later when my brother and I helped we put up the tree mostly on my birthday 18 th Dec.

To celebrate the first Advent I am gonne lit a candle later, too.:)

You keep up those traditions, the kids act like they don't care for them, but you are laying a foundation for them for when they are older! That's why you are the Mom.

Yep, what Haunted said.
 

Alexandra M

Well-Known Member
Mar 12, 2015
3,678
21,844
Kelowna, B. C., Canada
I am alone over the Christmas holidays but I make sure to put up the Christmas Tree. Usually set it up the first Saturday
in December and take it down on the 27th. I bought a new one after the divorce and it's a beauty. Over 6 feet high and
it is hard to tell that it is not the real thing. Decorate it with red and gold ornaments and very wide gold ribbon. No
tinsel (hate tinsel). Not sure where I am going to set it up this year but I'll figure it out. I cry just looking at it, especially
Christmas Day,but I still put it up. Oh I finally made a tree skirt for it too.
 

niro

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
2,434
14,206
I am alone over the Christmas holidays but I make sure to put up the Christmas Tree. Usually set it up the first Saturday
in December and take it down on the 27th. I bought a new one after the divorce and it's a beauty. Over 6 feet high and
it is hard to tell that it is not the real thing. Decorate it with red and gold ornaments and very wide gold ribbon. No
tinsel (hate tinsel). Not sure where I am going to set it up this year but I'll figure it out. I cry just looking at it, especially
Christmas Day,but I still put it up. Oh I finally made a tree skirt for it too.

What's a tree skirt? :umm:
 

Spideyman

Uber Member
Jul 10, 2006
46,336
195,472
79
Just north of Duma Key
What's a tree skirt? :umm:
Usually a cloth decoration to go around the bottom of the tree to hide the tree stand.
TreeSkirtKDXK041.jpg
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
9,660
74,320
54
Heart of the South
I am alone over the Christmas holidays but I make sure to put up the Christmas Tree. Usually set it up the first Saturday
in December and take it down on the 27th. I bought a new one after the divorce and it's a beauty. Over 6 feet high and
it is hard to tell that it is not the real thing. Decorate it with red and gold ornaments and very wide gold ribbon. No
tinsel (hate tinsel). Not sure where I am going to set it up this year but I'll figure it out. I cry just looking at it, especially
Christmas Day,but I still put it up. Oh I finally made a tree skirt for it too.

((((AlexandraM))))


We normally do alot of decorating for Christmas. Inside and outside. Usually three or four trees. We will have one this year. As this year has been rough. Not sure about any outside.

(((kff))) I know what you mean dear heart! Sometimes you just want to hunker for a bit.
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
9,660
74,320
54
Heart of the South
Question Mz. Holly: I thought we did not sing the Gloria during Advent and Lent. Father spoke the Gloria yesterday (thank God no singing of it, terrible, terrible tune) Did he forget or have things changed again?
So it was - no Gloria - we sang the Kyrie. Father blessed the Advent wreath and lit the one candle. Patens and chalices are wooden until Christmas Eve Masses. Do you go to Midnight Mass? I love it. The music's fabulous, and we do our meal (homemade ravioli & Italian spinach) and presents on Christmas Eve, so I can sleep in on Christmas Day. Our Christmas Day tradition is, in honor of A Christmas Story, we eat Chinese take out and spend the day in our jammies and nap and watch movies. The must watches are: It's a Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, and Love, Actually.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
How do you celebrate? And what do you celebrate?

We're Catholic, so we celebrate Christmas. Every year, since my conversion (he's always been Catholic), I have this argument with the Orge - "When to put up the tree"

He usually wants it up right after Thanksgiving and take it down the day after Christmas. I can't stand to do it that early. Catholic tradition is to put the tree up Christmas Eve and keep it up through Epiphany (Jan 6th, celebrating the Magi visiting the Holy family). Right now, we're in the season of Advent (antici-PA-tion!)- so you typically have an Advent wreath on your dining table or prayer table and light a candle each week (I do mine around dinner time every day, while I cook), so by the end of Advent, you're lighting all 4 candles. I really like these traditions, but the family balks at them, especially now that they're teens! Like I'm forcing some horrid ancient stupidity on them. Some years I just let them do it their way. I'm lazy like that - I'd rather pacify than argue during this festive season.

It remains to be seen how it will go this year. I'm starting the Advent wreath today though. Someday it might mean something to them.
It's very interesting to me that between you and hubby, while you're the more recent convert, you take the traditions more seriously. Also, I wonder how true it is that you can't stand setting up the tree as early as hubby wants. Maybe a compromise would help, maybe he can have the tree early and you can have it late, plus the candles. If you and hubby can compromise I think maybe the others might follow.

As for the wreath and the candles, I say do your thing, enjoy your faith. I think my mom would have and I'd have been grateful.