Still Celebrating

It's still Hanukkah


It's still Kwanzaa


New Year's Day is in five days.


We are all still celebrating something. That's why I say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". Because this year Christmas Day was also the first day of Hanukkah. Kwanzaa started yesterday. 8 days of Hanukkah, 7 days of Kwanzaa. And we all celebrate the New Year.


We are still celebrating. For Christians, we are still celebrating too. The Epiphany isn't until January 6th. That's the 12th day after Christmas. No, not the "five golden rings" 12 days. The 12 days it took the wise men to get to Jesus. They got there on the 6th.


Across the world we are reflecting on 2016. We are thinking about what is ahead in 2017. Some people are thinking about a resolution. Others make fun of those who have resolutions.


I don't know how the new year is celebrated in other countries. In America we eat a lot, some drink a lot, and we count down from ten while watching the most expensive ball ever slowly slide down a pole. Cheers!!!


I don't know about you, but the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day has always felt awkward to me. The celebrating isn't over, but it's dormant. Routine sort of goes back to normal. But, it's the second week in a row when grocery stores are packed for party preparation. What do you do with the kids?


That last one gets really hard for families with all parents working long hours. Usually, these are the kids in after school care. But, if all parents really have to work, what do you do with the kids?!?!?! I know most parents try to take that week off. But, it's not always possible.


Are you a "tree at the curb or packed away on the 26th" kind of person? We used to leave the tree up for the 12 days. But, now we put it away on New Year's Day. New Year's Eve this year since Josh is working normal hours on New Year's Day. I left our wreath plain. That will stay up through the 12 days. I count that as more a garden thing since we got it at the nursery and it's spruce.




Happy Hanukkah


Happy Kwanzaa


Happy New Year


Happy Epiphany


Martin Luther King Jr. Day isn't far behind. If you want, we can include that too. But, I usually keep that one separate!