In the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood, this Christmas tree was at the curb on the morning of Dec. 29.
The first been-there, done-with-that Christmas trees of this season appeared at curbside in my Syracuse city neighborhood on the morning of Dec. 29.
Two of them were set out, in fact, out of the couple hundred houses that Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, and I passed on our 45-minute, Sunday a.m. walk.
Ellie B made sure to give each a good sniff. I did not allow her to go any further than that in their immediate vicinity. Yes, they may be put out to the curb, but these evergreens were so shortly before fully decorated and the object of adoration. That had earned respect, from where I stood.
One neighbor’s house, on the other hand, was obviously still in full-celebration mode for the holiday. A red “Peace” banner, adorned with a white dove, fluttered out front in the slight breeze. A Christmas tree, with bulbs blazing, sat on the front porch. Ornaments hung from the porch roof.
The contrast made me think about family traditions.
My dear wife Karen and I chose to buy a live, potted pine this year. The ornaments and star-top may come off soon, but on the front porch it will remain until we plant it come spring. In our decade here in Eastwood, we’ve yet to put a live tree inside. Our cozy house has no empty corners. Table-top artificial has been the route taken.
I recall that while I was growing up, my parents kept the tree up way past New Year’s Day. By the time they had me haul it out, it left a trail of needles behind, no matter how much water I’d poured into the bottom stand.
New Year’s Day has always been the at-least date in my mind.
After that, it depended upon the freshness of the tree and the mood of the family.
How long do you keep the Christmas tree up in your house? Are you in the live or artificial camp?
At this house, it’s still full-on holiday time.
Mark Bialczak 
We do the artificial, but I always had real growing up. We usually take down everything before the New Year, but this year we’re extending it a bit longer. The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas passed too quickly. I’m sure if we did real, I’d be ready to take everything down by now. Have a happy New Year!!
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Yes, the time did go quickly this year. With an artificial, there”s surely less pressure (re: dry needles) to take it down. Happy New Year, Renee!
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I prefer live, that you can replant, trees. But due to increasing allergy issues…no more live trees. So I made one last year. 🙂 Out of wood. So it’s not A LIVE but it used to be….. wait. Maybe that’s worse.
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I think making a Christmas tree out of wood to circumvent the allergy issues is pretty darn snappy, Colleen. Happy New Year!
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🙂 Thank you. And I think I will use “snappy” as a happy adjective from now on.
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OH! And Happy New Year!
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I have always insisted on a real tree, though “live” is a different thing completely. Our lack of funds this year had me consider a rather inexpensive potted tree, but alas I settled on a small fake one. Oh how my mother must have turned over, hopefully twice, so she is face up. (Is that disrespectful?) Mom would have loved the joke. Anyway, I keep mine up until New years day at least. One year I even went so far as to re-decorate the tree especially for new years day. I have to find those pics. Our tree from last year is in the back yard, almost dry enough for the fire pit. Happy New Year Mark!
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i’m in the live camp, usually quite a small one, as i call my house, ‘the cottage’ in reference to its size. i also put up a small, feathery, white one, and add a passel of odd animal ornaments and doodads and decor and leave it all up until after the new year. i enjoy seeing it for a long while and when i put it away i’m ready for the new year to be welcomed in )
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Karen and I call our house “The Little Bitty on (Our Street).” I even had a wooden plaque made up after the rush of warehouses-to-apartments in downtown Syracuse gave way to bold signs out front proclaiming “The Lofts on Willow” and that sort of thing. I have noticed your reference to “the cottage” in your posts, Beth, and figured it was quaint in a good way. Live and artificial and animal ornaments and doo-dads. You do go all out! Happy New Year, and dress in layers for the two outdoor hockey games!
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What a cozy looking abode. I would not expect anything less!
I am all about real trees, and the art of chopping your own down is always preferred. However, when you’re spending most of your time at another’s place, you have little say. My parents–my mother, specifically–is about the fake trees, because there is less work surrounding them. During the Christmas season, we have two artificial trees up. Yet, one stays up from fall/Thanksgiving to Easter, and it’s decorated appropriately per season (and, thankfully, not overly gaudy). My mom likes to decorate, and I can’t disagree with that.
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I like your family’s two-tree tradition, Chris, and I laud the creativity of the Thanksgiving-to-Easter tree decorated seasonally appropriate, but not overly gaudy. FYI our house is indeed cozy, but the one pictured here is a neighbor with more outdoor decorations, not our own.
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Took my fake tree and fixin’s down yesterday, Mark. My house is huge.
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Huge, huh? Do you have a dancing parlor? I think I would dig a dancing parlor.
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Once the tree goes the New Year starts in earnest. Have a Happy New Year, Mark.
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You, too, Irene. Bring on a happy 2014.
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We have a fake tree but a few years ago had a real one and planted it out in the garden. It did not go well. But I think it was pot bound and had got used to being indoors. Steve’s uncle has several ‘old’ christmas trees in his garden. I’m looking forward to seeing how your tree thrives come the spring.
We will take everything down by twelfth night and our rather small house will suddenly look larger and tidier!
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Yes, you probably spoiled that pot bound tree with too much indoor heat, Rachel. It didn’t want to be retrained outdoors after that! I hope ours likes our soil come spring. Enjoy your fake tree to twelfth night, and then spread out and reclaim the added space! Happy New Year, my London friends.
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Happy New Year Mark!
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Nice home Mark! I think it is awesome that you and Karen chose a live potted tree! I hate seeing all those trees being cut then thrown away.
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Thank you, PJ, but the house pictured isn’t ours. It’s one we passed on the walk. Perhaps I was unclear. I’ll edit if so. Happy New Year!
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We usually undecorate the tree and take it out the first weekend after New Year’s Day. That way, we can enjoy it through the holidays.
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Yes, a good stretch to celebrate. Happy New Year, Melissa!
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Live tabletop tree here. Just right for me to manage. When it comes down depends on when the weekend is. I sometimes leave it up until Twelfth Night but sometimes I take it down on New Year’s. Growing up it was sometimes still up for my birthday in late Jan. A trail of pine needles indeed.
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Weekends are good for tree-dismantling for sure, Katherine. Happy New Year and month-early Happy Birthday for my Philly friend!
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We used to leave our tree up until my birthday on January 12. Now I take it down just after the 1st. It brings closure to a wonderful, fun family season while it’s still fresh and happy. 🙂
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Good plan, Leila. Happy New Year to you, Kevin and your son, and an early Happy Birtday to you, my friend.
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My mom started taking things down on the 27th – so we made it a fun event to do together. I’m glad she was here to share all of it with me.
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Quick removal, lasting fun, sounds like, SDS. Thanks and Happy New Year.
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Thanks for what you told us and showed us today, Mark. I enjoyed it. Regards to you and your family from all the living things here, including an eensy weensy potted tree wearing a single string of lights and some bright red bows.
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All that needs to be large is the sentiment, Ann. Thanks for sharing your method of celebration! Happy New Year!
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