When do you take down your Christmas tree? It is an age-old debate with plenty of opinions based on factors ranging from religion to fire safety to simply wanting to clean things up.

Those who take their tree down the day immediately after the holiday are typically the ones who have had it up since Halloween. They want to move on, and now.

Those who wait till Jan. 1 give the festive fir a bit more time, but they often see the New Year as a good time for some change. Makes sense.

The traditionalists, like me, wait until Epiphany on Jan. 6 — a full 12 days after Christmas Day — or at least until Sunday, Jan. 4, when it was celebrated this year. This religious holiday commemorates the day the Three Wise Men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to baby Jesus. The day signals the start of the season of Epiphany, which ends before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. In this sense, Christmas doesn’t end on Dec. 25; it is just beginning.

Some truly traditional Catholics keep their Christmas trees up until Feb. 2 — 40 days after Christmas — to honor Candlemas, which is known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ. This symbolizes the day Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus into the Temple.

If you have an artificial tree, as we do, you don’t need to be in a big hurry to take it down. If you go with the non-artificial option, though, the dried-out pine needles can become a safety hazard. Household fires due to Christmas trees are not as common today, but if you have ever seen one go up in flames, you understand the concern.

One of my daughters made a trip to a big box store the day before Christmas and noted how all the Christmas stuff was already down, or at least pushed to the back of the store for clearance. It was replaced with Valentine’s Day stuff. Sigh.

Aside from religious traditions or fire concerns, I have another reason to keep our Christmas tree up for a few more days. With all the work it takes to decorate the thing, why be in such a hurry to take it down?

So, I choose to continue to be merry throughout the full Christmas season, and that includes keeping our tree up until tomorrow. Sorry, Cupid, you will have to wait your turn.

How about you? When do you take your Christmas tree down, and why? Send me a note and let me know.

Have a memorable Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

Read more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

SOUND CIRCUIT
Still feels like a teenager

By Jackie Wilson

Photo by Kirsten Cohen

A jam band formed by a group of high school buddies is still going strong 40 years later.

Big Head Todd and The Monsters was formed by Todd Park Mohr, Brian Nevin and Rob Squires in Colorado in 1986 with Jeremy Lawton joining later.

The band found success with hits such as “Bittersweet,” “Broken Hearted Savior” and more throughout its career. ...

Meet Taylor Andrews
Teacher shapes young learners at Morris Elementary.

By Lindsey Giardino

Taylor Andrews lives up to the stereotype of being the oldest sibling. She grew up with two younger sisters, and the three of them were often playing house or school together.

“Naturally, being the oldest sibling, I was always the teacher,” Andrews says.

That early instinct helped inspire her to become a teacher herself. When she was 5, Andrews entered early kindergarten with Mrs. Astarita — a formative experience that shaped her future.

“Her love and passion for teaching gave me my love for learning,” she says. “I always told my parents that I wanted to be like her when I grew up. Little did I know that I would really follow in her footsteps.” ...

These celebrities were born on this date: Walker Scobell, Bradley Cooper, Deepika Padukone, Marilyn Manson, Griffin Santopietro, Carrie Ann Inaba, January Jones, Clancy Brown, Diane Keaton, Jason Mitchell

SUBMIT: Send your local birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to the last riddle:  What did the snowman say after losing its arm? THAT'S THE LAST TIME I PLAY FETCH WITH THE DOG! - Gail Tomlinson. Or, Well I guess I'm de-armed now and throw that snow ball! - Scott Holmgren. Or, I'm alright....just a little disarmed! - John Williams. Or, Well, that only cost half of what I thought it would! - Anne Lentz-Gagen. Or, I'm melting! - Irving Stone.

Today's riddle:  Why did Dad stop using his loyalty card to scrape ice from his windshield?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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