Taking Down Christmas, 5 Great Tips To Make It Easy On You

Christmas has come and gone for 2020. The gifts have been given and the lights have been lit. Now it is time to break it down and put all the decorations back up until next year. Not going to lie…. it is a little depressing going back to just a normal, non-festive house. The Christmas tree makes the best night light ever so it is the last thing I will dismantle and put away. I bet you are feeling some of the same emotions. Everything looks so pretty. The house looks almost naked without them. Traditionally, the taking down of the Christmas tree is New Year’s Day. So, without further ado, let me give you 5 great tips to make it easier on your emotions and the energy it takes to pack everything back up.

Tip #1

Begin by bringing out one or two storage containers or boxes and set them over in a far corner not easily seen. Start with the edges first. Focus on the less obvious items that won’t be as missed first. Things like the stockings from the mantle was an easy first choice. The nativity set, some candles, and a few ornaments are still placed there so they won’t immediately be noticed. Other easy to put away items are the Christmas towels and dishes once washed. Now the ice has been broken and the task has been started. Proceed at your own pace. Take an hour or a day to do each step. You might even seek out family members to help. It’ll be done before you know it!

Tip #2

Start finding homes for all the new Christmas gifts that you intend to keep so their boxing and packaging can be disposed of. Try to do this right after opening your gifts. Next, place the gifts you intend to return in one place so they are together for your next venture out. Put away all the Christmas wrapping paper, gift bags, and ribbon. This last step is half the battle. It seems to be everywhere. I make everyone take their Christmas gifts to their own rooms. This clears the main area of the house and makes it easier to get it back to normal as well.

Tip #3

Choose which things mean the most to you that you’d like to stay out just a little longer to be enjoyed. Begin storing all the rest. Two items that I keep out are the nativity set on my mantle and my Christmas tree. It is such a beautiful sight to see in the evening once it gets dark. I love the ambiance that it exudes. It is also the biggest task to complete when putting away my Christmas decor. I have to muster up my will to do it. With that decided, begin putting away all the other Christmas decor room by room. Set a timer and do it in shifts if you need to.

Tip #4

Take down the tree! Start taking off the garland. Next, take off all the ornaments and securely store them away. The following step is to take off the lights if you do not have a pre-lit tree. Finally, break down the tree and place it in the box in order so putting the tree together next year will be easier. Put up the boxes and remind yourself that it will be here again before you know it.

Tip #5

I leave my nativity set out on the mantle for much of the month of January. It reminds me that the real reason that we celebrate Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ and not all the pretties that we just boxed up. The birth of Jesus stays with us every day of the year. It eases my heart reminding me of that very fact. The nativity set is one of the easiest things to put away but it reminds me to focus on Christ and not the missing twinkling lights and all the festive decorations to celebrate.

Finally, we usually pull out and put up our decorations with hot cocoa and holiday carols. There is much anticipation of family gatherings and gift-giving. Even with COVID dampening some of the types of gatherings we can do, it was looked forward to with much gladness. I suggest, that as we take down the decorations to store them away for next year, that we do the same. Let’s have a spirit of gratitude for all of the love, family moments and the birth of Christ that will follow us throughout the new year. Taking down Christmas will be a lot easier on you when you do it this way. Be blessed ya’ll!