Well my Dad use to say never put your decor up before 12 of December or you will have bad luck.
So I did yesterday and all the lights blew up...so I guess I will wait. And go shopping again for more lights....
2006-12-04 04:27:03 · 27 answers · asked by Island Girl 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
My daughter and mother's birthdays are dec 4 & 5th. Before my daughter was born, I promised myself I would not "start Christmas" until after their birthdays.
Im unpacking tomorrow :-D
2006-12-04 04:29:42 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are a lot of superstitions about when to put your Christmas Decorations up -- some used to believe (my German Grandmother among them) that putting anything, especially the tree, up before Christmas Eve would attract capricious or malicious sprites to your house, and they would bother you for the coming year! The Snopes Site (_the_ canonical site for urban Legend stuff) has a great listing of them (see below)
December 13 is St. Lucia's day, and some people believe that because it is the first festival of lights of the season (aside from Advent), the day before is an appropriate time to put up your decorations. Why it's bad luck before, I don't know.
"In Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland, Lucy (called Lucia) is venerated on December 13 in a ceremony where the eldest girl in a family, portraying Lucia, walks, with a crown of candles, ahead of a procession of other women holding a candle each. The candles symbolize the fire that refused to take her life. The women sing a Lucia song while entering the room, to the melody of the traditional Neapolitan song Santa Lucia, still well-known through the recording by Enrico Caruso but, whereas the Italian lyrics describe the beautiful view from the harbour area Santa Lucia in Naples, the various Scandinavian lyrics are fashioned for the occasion, describing the light with which Lucia overcomes the darkness. Each Scandinavian country has their own lyrics in their native tongues although commonly it is the melody of Neapolitan which is used. After finishing this song, the procession usually continue by singing Christmas carols or more songs about Lucia."
Personally, I put things up on Dec 5 (first day of Advent) and take them down on Epiphany (Arrival of the Magi). That seems like the "complete" calendar to me. I also grew up near Winston-Salem, NC, where the Moravian colony is, and they put their Christmas Stars (27-pointed) up on the 5th, so that just seems like the thing to me ;-)
Sorry to hear about your lights! Luckily, these days the lights are relatively less expensive than they were years ago.
2006-12-04 13:13:35 · answer #2 · answered by Patricia M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never heard that rumor, but I put up my fake tree (i'm allergic to real pine trees) the weekend after Thanksgiving, and put up my lights outside on my balcony (I live in an apartment) a few weeks ago, and just have a few other things around my small apartment so it looks like Christmas. I'm going to go next weekend and get a Christmas scented candle so it smells like a pine tree in there since I am allergic to the real thing. =) I love Christmas time, and love the fact that all the radio stations are playing Christmas music already.
2006-12-04 12:30:02 · answer #3 · answered by aloneinga 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll be putting my decorations up over the next two weeks plus decorating my Mother's house as well. The month of December should be six weeks long.
2006-12-04 12:30:29 · answer #4 · answered by JENNY J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never heard that before! I guess I'm lucky because my lights are all up and so far, nothing bad has happened. We usually put up our stuff on the first nice weekend after Thanksgiving, then wait until December 1 to turn it all on.
2006-12-04 12:29:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I put my christmas decore up on Novemer 13th.. I know I'm an early bird but right after halloween i get so excitedI can't wait LOL.
P.S. I don't think it was bad luck, I just think that the lights are defective ;)
2006-12-04 12:30:26 · answer #6 · answered by Julez81 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have some holiday decor up. I have always started on December 1st and never had bad luck.
2006-12-04 13:21:12 · answer #7 · answered by KathyS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just put my tree up yesterday. My outdoor decorations go up right after Thanksgiving. I just love the joy lights and decorations give to people, especially children. Mine want to go driving around every night to see them.
2006-12-04 12:31:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've heard the same wives tale and use to follow it. But now that we do not put up live trees, we always decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving.
2006-12-04 12:31:31 · answer #9 · answered by loser 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never heard of that superstition.
We put out our decorations the day after Thanksgiving.
2006-12-04 12:29:31 · answer #10 · answered by WonderWoman 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋