We're really big on CHRISTmas here; Dh and I went out Friday night and we counted 19 houses that already had their lights up and on. By Saturday, we saw more people putting their lights up becuz the weather was nice. Some turn them on now, while others wait til December 1st. We put up lights on our building, plus an 11-foot cross, this past weekend before the harsher weather arrives here.
Later on, we'll go get a large real tree for the yard and put mixed lights on it and maybe some lights along the garden fence. About December 1st or so, we'll pull out the indoor stuff, and slowly start putting things up; with carols on the stereo and hot chocolate and all. The last thing to go up is our small (4') indoor table tree, which I decorate myself; then we start wrapping a few gifts to put under it!
We leave things up to about January 6, which some belief is the true CHRISTmas date; that way we cover it all. I really love CHRISTmas and was quite eager to get things started this year. I think it spreads cheer to everyone who sees it ...
We put up our giant cross every year now (we even get requests for it now) as a reminder to everyone of the wonderful gift that JESUS came to give us all those many years ago ... love, hope, and mercy ... what good news!
