Genealogy Forum UK

MarkCDodd wrote:Anyway, X-Mas trees are not supposed to go up till a fortnight before, which is the 11th, and not taken down till a fortnight after.

This is according to my super superstitious mother who has kittens if we break any of her good luck/bad luck taboos.

The first X-Mas we purchased a real one which was really dead and stinky by the 25th.

I always thourght it was 12th Night, otherwise it was bad luck (deadline for taking the tree down, that is!)
I'll take it down early though if we're having guests on New Years Eve.

I have a tree foot that you put water in, so no dead tree and very few needles on the floor.
The tree might come in through the front door, but it goes out (unceremoniously ) through the french door in the living room!

My husband hates decorations up. But we do make him wear a bah humbug hat on Christmas Day!
Hes back at work now and the decorations are down in the front bedroom waiting to go up.
Need to do a good clean first
The tree is just pretend, old as the hills really
Baubles either blue and gold or red and gold, dont know yet.
I still put up the dough decorations the kids made when they were little but they are not looking so good now
No tinsel just them little ball thingies
Jo

Went out last Monday to get our tree and had a really lovely lunch out at The Colliers Arms at Clows Top. Put the tree in the garden shed until we were ready to put it in the house. Now we can't get into the shed because of the snow. Before anyone asks about using a shovel, we can't because they're in the shed as well.

How about everyone sending in a photo of their Christmas Tree?

BC Wench wrote:Went out last Monday to get our tree and had a really lovely lunch out at The Colliers Arms at Clows Top. Put the tree in the garden shed until we were ready to put it in the house. Now we can't get into the shed because of the snow. Before anyone asks about using a shovel, we can't because they're in the shed as well.

Shall I send my little snow shoveller ...

No tree here, couldn't be that keen, have some Cards up and my Coal Effect Electric Fire is on, looks very seasonal and cosy, can't be doing with Xmas Decorations, too much else to do. Linell.

Just put it up!!
well just thrown some decorations at it and ta dah!!
deffo getting one of those fibre optics next year!

Northern Lass wrote:Just put it up!!
well just thrown some decorations at it and ta dah!!
deffo getting one of those fibre optics next year!

They are much easier , just get them out of loft/cupboard give it a flick with a feather duster and plug in.

Annie

Ours doesn't go up until the 24th! And then the lights can't be switched on until 6pm which is officially when Christmas begins here. Personally I still have to fake enthusiasm until I wake up on the 25th!

I went to a Nine lessons and carols service this afternoon. It is held in the biggest church which was appropriate when the American airbase sent bus loads of people to it. Now there are far fewer who turn out and even fewer who actually dare to sing. The choir has improved a lot mind you.

The various embassies take turns to organise it and have a "do" afterwards. I went to the British one once and vowed never again but apparently the americans make more of an effort with food and drinks.

Anyhow, the tree stays up til Twelfth Night and by then it is dried-out and falling to bits as despite good intentions I always forget to water it

Ours looks pathetic!
leaning to one side with red ribbons the wrong way up
and beads hanging limply down!..........

Northern Lass wrote:Ours looks pathetic!
leaning to one side with red ribbons the wrong way up
and beads hanging limply down!..........

Oh dear - have a glass of wine - it'll look OK

Antie Em wrote:

Northern Lass wrote:Ours looks pathetic!
leaning to one side with red ribbons the wrong way up
and beads hanging limply down!..........

Oh dear - have a glass of wine - it'll look OK

Have three glasses and it will look amazing.

Annie

I have had a vat of it! bathed in copious amounts of it
deffo have had a huge affluence of incohol!!..........hic!

and it still looks shameful!

gardener wrote:Ours doesn't go up until the 24th! And then the lights can't be switched on until 6pm which is officially when Christmas begins here. Personally I still have to fake enthusiasm until I wake up on the 25th!

I went to a Nine lessons and carols service this afternoon. It is held in the biggest church which was appropriate when the American airbase sent bus loads of people to it. Now there are far fewer who turn out and even fewer who actually dare to sing. The choir has improved a lot mind you.

The various embassies take turns to organise it and have a "do" afterwards. I went to the British one once and vowed never again but apparently the americans make more of an effort with food and drinks.

Anyhow, the tree stays up til Twelfth Night and by then it is dried-out and falling to bits as despite good intentions I always forget to water it

It's traditional in Denmark that it shouldn't go up until Christmas Eve (well it's ready for the kids when they get up on the 24th), but seeing as we don't have kids and I tend to take it down before New Years Eve (if we're having guests) then I like to get my moneys worth! I do remember to water it the first week or so, it's really thirsty when it first goes up!
We'll be celebrating Christmas Eve too, eating at my brother in law's in the evening with presents afterwards. I finally find out why the Scandanavians are ahead of themselves - it's because in Viking times the day started at sunset, so the 25th started when the sun went down on the 24th.
Don't know if we're going to the Christmas service though, the churches are usually packed out on Christmas Eve (usually middle of the afternoon), I find it a bit disapointing as all the tunes are different. I mean at a wedding there is a hymn that is sung to the tune of "Once in Royal David's City" - really wierd when the wedding is in June!!!
I quite like Christmas here, it's still commercial, but somehow they seem to cut through all the "BS". I don't mind getting my presents on the 24th, and I absolutely love the usual roast duck and special rice pudding (cold with loads of whiped cream, vanilla, almonds and warm cherry sauce).

mallosa wrote:How about everyone sending in a photo of their Christmas Tree?

Now why did I say that?

Mines up with loadsa little white lights...nothin' else! Went to get the decorations out of the box and....they are the ones I no longer wanted last year

No guesses to where all my beautiful decorations have gone