Decorations coming down

A friend e-mailed me expressing sadness that neighbors had already taken down their Christmas decorations.

Yes, sometimes that saddens me, too. We are still in the Christmas season. The Feast of the Epiphany is not until January 3 - that's the traditional day to take down decorations in many families. Others wait until the Christmas season is fully over with the Baptism of Jesus (this year January 10).

And under the old Julian calendar, Christmas is not even until January 7 anyway!

Up here at the North Pole some decorations stay up well into January.

But there may be reasons for taking down decorations earlier. The tree or wreaths have dried out, and pose a fire hazard. Family is only around for a few more days, and it's easier with everyone available to help.

And for some people, it's really basically only a secular holiday anyway.

After all, in the end they're only decorations. Christmas is a state of mind and heart. I celebrate Christmas year round.

After all, the baby who's birth we are celebrating never leaves us.

So sing a Christmas Carol in June! Send out a Christmas greeting in September. Hang a Christmas decoration in March!