We're trying something new this year. We have the tree up with only purple lights and no ornaments for Advent. Beginning December 17, right after we start up the "O Antiphons," we will add a few purple and rose ornaments each day. On December 23, we will add the rest of the lights and ornaments, and complete the tree. If all goes well, we will leave the tree up till Candlemas, Febraury 2.
This is mostly a concession to me by my wife. One of the things I have always insisted on was getting the tree up ASAP at the beginning of December, and leaving it up till Ephphany. The last couple of years, though, we've been trying to do a lot more for Advent, in the spirit of Advent. The full-blown tree wasn't cutting it. I *really* needed "my" tree, though, even more than my 11-year-old daughter. So we hit on the idea of an "Advent tree." Works for me! Keeps the spirit of the season, AND I get to keep it up longer, all the way to Candlemas!
I think this will be the start of a new tradition around here... ;-D
That is a wonderful idea. I might do that next year. I'm also trying to incorporate the "Jesus only got three gifts, so should we" idea, but it hasn't caught on around here yet.
Last year, my tree, put up late, stayed up almost until Candelmas, despite protests of others. But it was a mere coincidence, I like you idea better. Here where I am, most people put up the tree shortly after Thanksgiving, usually the weekend after. And take it down before New Year's so they don't have to be bothered on New Years day. This is a new phenomenon as most did keep the tree and decorations up at least until New Years. I found this odd, as it's a town with a large Catholic population so I thought they would keep the season through the Epiphany. I have always kept mine up through the Epiphany to stress the idea of Christmas season, but I like the Candelmas idea even better!
I always leave my tree up through the Eiphany, the visit of the Three Kings to the Child King, Jesus Christ.
I like your idea about the purple lights and sparse ornaments of the O Antiphons.
Magisterium,
I like your new custom of an "Advent" tree. It kinda parallels our custom of gradually adding to the Nativity Scene during Advent through to Epiphany. Do you have a real or fake tree? I ask because keeping a real tree up to Feb. 2nd. seems like a bold initiative.
Good suggestion about decorating the tree in conjuction with the Novena of the "O Antiphons." I'll suggest that to Der Prinz. We try to put up our tree as late as possible, partly because (expletives deleted) it's not Christmas yet, and partly because it gives the toddlers (and until this year, the cat) less time for destruction. However, by the last week before Christmas, it can be hard to find a tree at all, so some flexibility is in order. We leave it up until Epiphany, unless it's dangerously dry or I'm ready to stomp the people who won't leave the ornaments alone.
We clear away all our usual decor and clutter after Thanksgiving, and put up the Advent wreath, the Advent calendar, and a few purple or blue candles. That's it until the last few days before Christmas. Well, we have poinsettias, too, because our daughter's Girl Scout troop sells them :-). We avoid Christmas music as long as possible, too.