It's the final day of a very different Christmas season. The decorations are boxed up and back in the attic. I took the tree and door wreaths down today. It's always a little sad to see them on the curb waiting for pickup, especially when they were still so soft and fresh and wonderful. But I have to stick with ancient tradition...all Christmas greens down and out on the twelfth day.
Three Good Things:
1. I cut a little piece from each wreath and the Christmas tree to put in a little bowl to burn out on the patio tonight. Tradition calls for a bonfire of Christmas greens to release the spirits that have been living in them. But I don't have bonfire space in my urban setting. :)
2. Anglo-Celtic genetics that compel me to adhere to what most would consider outdated rituals. :)
3. I went to my Mother's house this morning to help her get Christmas packed away.
So pretty and such a shame to have to throw them out. What I wouldn't give to be sitting out on the patio tonight. Having not been able to travel to Florida this year in November, and facing yet another lock down and curfew starting Saturday, really beginning to feel the effects of the Covid. Hope you are staying safe and your Mom is good.
@bkp It is nice having my mom relatively close by. She and my stepfather live in a beautiful active senior golf course community about 30 miles from me. Although she's ready to start looking at an assisted living situation with restaurant/hair salon/health care/etc on site. I'm investigating options we can check out after the pandemic is under control. It will be a year long challenge to pare down her houseful of furniture and possessions to make a move to much smaller living space. And, no, my mom is not into arcane tradition. She is the queen of pragmatism...the type to clear out Christmas by New Year's Day and get on with the next thing. The only reason her Christmas stuff was up until January 5 is because I couldn't get to it earlier. :)
@dora The pandemic has certainly changed the landscape of our lives and routines. I was fortunate to be a participant in the Pfizer vaccine study, and was one of the lucky ones to receive the actual vaccine. But I still follow all pandemic protocol to the letter. It's still unknown if vaccine recipients could be carriers. My mom is using caution. She and her bridge group still get together twice a week...but they are all responsible about protocol throughout the week. I just keep my fingers crossed.
