For years I’ve screamed from the rooftops to Respect the Turkey – meaning not a peep about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Every dish must be done and the left overs put away, before a single Christmas ornament dare escape the plastic holiday storage bins. No Christmas carols, no Christmas cards, and most of all, no decorations. It’s a hard and fast rule in our house. I’m pretty sure I’ve even blogged about it, although I can’t find the exact post. Even if I haven’t blogged about it, rest assured, I’ve gone on and on to anyone who will listen about how Thanksgiving is it’s own (very important) holiday, with it’s own message. Respect. The. Turkey.
Then a few days ago this happened:
And this:
And then we just couldn’t help ourselves (not a great picture, but you get the point):
It’s everywhere, folks. I’ve barely been able to hold myself back from putting up the ginormous inflatable Santa and sleigh in the front yard (oh yeah, we’re going to be “those” people in the neighborhood). I’ve been waiting all year to put that thing up..I’ll be surprised if I make it to Thanksgiving at this point.
Why the sudden change? I’m not quite sure. Maybe it’s because Thanksgiving falls so late on the calendar this year. Maybe it’s because we’re away so much around the holidays that I want to get a chance to actually enjoy our decorations before January comes all too quickly and I have the holiday blues. Or maybe it’s because we have a whole lot to celebrate this year and I just want to start celebrating already.
I suppose I can find a hundred ways to justify it, but the bottom line is, the decorations are up.
I think it would be fair to say that I’ve abandoned my staunch Respect the Turkey stance. Well, for this year at least. And I honestly don’t know if this is a one year thing or an every year thing. I mean, I still agree with the basic premise of the “Respect the Turkey” movement – Christmas is over commercialized and seems to creep earlier and earlier each year. And it bothered me when I saw Christmas decorations up in stores in the middle of September. But for some reason, the middle of November seems okay this year.
All I do know is that I’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday with a Christmas tree just feet away. So today I must confess – I’m an early decorator.
So what about you? Do you have decorations out already? Are you an early decorator or do you Respect the Turkey?
I feel the same way this year! I’m considering taking down the Thanksgiving decorations tonight since we leave for Orlando tomorrow anyway and won’t be here for Thanksgiving. I am actually wanting to put up the Christmas decorations this year (which is strange for me). I think for many, the poor economic economy for the past years has relieved some of the buying obligation and has reset some of the joy of simply spending time with family. At least for the families I know. I think this has helped reduce a lot of the holiday stress and put back some of the holiday magic. This was much needed. For you, it could be the joy of sharing this holiday with your beautiful new baby. The feeling of completing your family adds a special highlight to a holiday season. Enjoy!
Good point Mandee! I really hadn’t thought about the economy factoring in, but it definitely does. And when you see others enjoying the holiday for what it’s really supposed to be about, you tend to do the same. For us, I know a lot of it has to do with Everett’s birth, but it’s still odd for me because I didn’t feel this way for either Greenleigh or Hazeline’s first Christmas….but maybe it’s because our family is now exactly the size we wanted it to be? Either way, I’m loving my decorations more than ever!
I am so ready to decorate too! We are heading our Friday morning to get our tree. BTW…your stairs look great, want to help me do mine? 😉
Kristy – I owe the stairs to my husband. It was totally his idea (new this year) and he put up all the garland. I’d be happy to volunteer him to do your stairs though. 🙂
Nope I wait until after December 1 to decorate.
Good for you Ellen! Stay strong!
I used to be the same way too! But alas…Christmas decorations are out and the tree went up tonight 🙂 I’ve even been listening to Christmas music!
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