Just my imagination

[kellinator]

Thanks to all of you who took my Christmas lights poll. I must not have been paying much attention when I made it, because I, as so many of you pointed out, put "Northeast" instead of "Northwest" and left California out altogether. And to think I was so proud of myself for remembering to include all the continents...

So anyway, my hypothesis was that getting the lights down by New Year's was a Southern thing, while Northerners wait for Twelfth Night. Looking at the results, it appears I was mistaken. I haven't found a clear correlation between region and tradition. You learn something new every day. Even if it's really not that important.

Comments

[reannon.livejournal.com]

Will it make you feel better to know that it's Twelfth Night, my lights are still up and it's too fucking cold to try to climb a ladder tonight, so they'll be staying up a few more days? :)

[sirinek.livejournal.com]

I dont think I know a single person, north or south who cares at all about "twelfth night". If people up north have their lights up this late in the season its because there 3+ feet of snow on the ground and its a pain to get them. ;)

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I think it might depend a bit on where your family originates. My mother always leaves her Christmas stuff up until at least Twelfth Night. I do as well, but mostly because I'm a medieval nut (though this year, I took stuff down early because I wanted to put my living room back together). My auntie (my mother's sister), leaves stuff up until Valentine's Day because she likes the lights. My grandmother takes stuff down New Years Day, and so did her parents (my great grandfather died New Years Day when he had a massive heart attack while putting the Christmas stuff in the barn). That side of the family mostly originates in the UK.

I don't know about Dad's side of the family, though; I'm not close to any of them except Dad.