Why are people so upbeat and excited about putting up Christmas trees and displays, but so glum taking them down?

“Taking them down means you are in another year, a new one.”

But it’s a whole year, @Hypocrisy_Central! That’s a long time to wait.

My dad and I had a solution , we kept the tree up all year, I like the red blue and green lights, while watching tv.

Let’s face it…taking down the tree is not nearly as fun as decorating it. Eating a five course meal (and preparing it) are much more fun than cleaning up afterwards. At the very least, there’s a load of anticipation as opposed to none at all.

Putting decorations is a lot more fun than taking them down, for every holiday.

It could be because everyone loves Christmas. It is a time when we are with our family and friends and celebrate something and all are so happy and festive. After it is all over you have to wait a whole year for it to happen again. For me I have no worries. Time flies so fast. Next Christmas is right around the corner in just 11 months!

The tree is dry by the time I need to take the decorations and lights off. Getting pricked hurts.

Well it means the festivities are over. Christmas is a pretty big thing for a lot of people, and much fun is had. I don’t think people get glum or depressed when it’s over, just maybe a little ’‘aaw’’.

At least, I’m speaking generally. I maintain my Halloween decorations all year round. Fuck Christmas.

Erm. this post was supposed to come with a Garfield comic strip dealing with this very issue. But I can’t find it.

Rarely does one take down a freshly cut tree. It is usually weeks old and dropping needles all over the place.
Ouch! How did that needle get in my underwear?!

As much fun as the holiday season can be, it’s also draining both physically and emotionally, and when the excitement (and stress) ends, a change in mood is inevitable. I also think that much, possibly most of the fun of the season is its anticipation, not its reality – a lesson that fortunately we’ve mostly forgotten by the time the season comes ‘round again.

I know that this isn’t the specific question being asked, but I wonder why there is the expectation of a christmas tree in the house. OK, perhaps for parts of California and Arizona, where the climate is so arid that trees don’t grow easily, I can see that.

But why not decorate an outdoor tree? If an indoor tree makes you glum, and drops needles all over the carpet, and is a hassle to take out, and kills a living plant to boot, why not celebrate life with outdoor trees?

@elbanditoroso Many people do exactly that. There is always the danger of theft and vandalism.

I don’t know, but that contrast describes me to a tee. I love putting it up. I hate having to take it down. And it isn’t the effort of taking it down. I just hate saying goodbye to it.