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Christmas

Christmas Decorating - Yes or No?

(83 Posts)
NudeJude Wed 28-Nov-18 17:27:37

If you're on your own, or there is just the two of you, and you know that you won't see a soul over the so called 'festive season', do you bother to decorate, have a tree, etc?

We've been on our own for the last couple of years having moved some distance from family, and I really feel less and less like bothering with Christmas, does anyone else feel this way?

M0nica Wed 28-Nov-18 17:29:08

No, if I was on my own, I would put decorations up and eat Christmas food.

MissAdventure Wed 28-Nov-18 17:30:55

The last couple of years on my own I didn't bother.

eazybee Wed 28-Nov-18 17:33:34

Yes I do and yes I would, but now I don't put up so many decorations and the tree is slightly smaller.
What I hate is the way decorations are going up earlier and earlier, then being ripped down on Boxing Day. I am a Twelve Days of Christmas person.

tanith Wed 28-Nov-18 17:36:52

Maybe I’ll rethink next year but having recently been widowed I won’t be putting up any this year.

kittylester Wed 28-Nov-18 17:40:34

(((hugs))) Tanith.

We are going away this year so probably won't have a tree but will put up the other decorations.

I am working towards just small trees (artificial) around the place with lights and baubles and not doing the whole thing as they are much easier to put up and put away.

oldbatty Wed 28-Nov-18 17:47:58

On my own or not, it's always been low key and quick.

MawBroon Wed 28-Nov-18 18:02:22

I didn’t last year Tanith but I will have a smallish tree some this year as DD, SIL and the DGCs are coming to me on the day and all the rest of the family on Boxing Day.
Paw loved being at home for Christmas so I can remember him and happier times .

jusnoneed Wed 28-Nov-18 18:09:25

There are only myself, my OH and youngest son (30) here so I haven't bothered for the last four/five years. No little ones so see no point.
My son does always ask when the tree is going up. When he finally gets his own house he can decorate to his hearts content lol.

aggie Wed 28-Nov-18 18:13:32

At the club this morning we were decorating jars and it cheered me up , so I am doing some , outside decorations have had batteries renewed and a few battery candles looked out . I haven't switched them on yet , will do nearer the time . No tree , no room for it . We always had a real tree . I would like a tree in a pot on the patio but it is not on the books this year

Mapleleaf Wed 28-Nov-18 18:24:53

Yes. I love to trim up. ?

Dontaskme Wed 28-Nov-18 18:27:55

Just two of us here now and yep, we do full-on Christmas decs both inside and out. Been searching for the coloured lights as we alternate and last year we had warm white - can't find them anywhere and have braved the loft twice!

Charleygirl5 Wed 28-Nov-18 18:38:24

Definitely not- a total waste of time. You can see I love Christmas!

Cherrytree59 Wed 28-Nov-18 19:14:35

When it became just the two of us I was a bit
bah humbug.
I enjoyed the day but not the run up to it.
So just cards and small tree in the sideboard.

Now we have three small grandchildren.
Two of which will be in and out including sleepovers over the holiday,
Decorations have been reinstated... But in the conservatory,
Which with the help of 2 small boys it becomes like Santa's grotto?.
When they go home I can close the blinds if I want some calm.

Our sitting room however has just an advent candle at the window and candles around the fireplace.
Poinsettias in the dining room.
Wreath on front door.
Just enough for me.

When the decorations come down its out with the bowls of indoor hyacinths .
yippy

Nudejude would a few battery candles, poinsettias, nice vase of red roses and your Christmas cards be just enough?

annsixty Wed 28-Nov-18 19:55:09

There has just been the two of us for many years now but always a tree and outside lights.
This year my H will be in care but my D will be with me for a few days as her C are spending Christmas with their father for the first time.
I will still have a tree and a few indoor bits but no outside lights as I can't be bothered this year.

seacliff Wed 28-Nov-18 19:56:36

We still have a fake tree, and I decorate the fireplace, and have candles at the windows.

I like those little white Hobbycraft trees. They can be used all year round for pretty displays.

merlotgran Wed 28-Nov-18 20:13:24

We always have a small tree and some of those battery operated strings of lights that you can thread through greenery brought in from the garden. Christmas cards finish it all off.

I don't normally put anything up until the middle of December but DD2 and DSIL are coming for the weekend as we can't get together this year so despite DH rolling his eyes, I've been getting stuck in.

We'll spend Christmas Day with DD1 but will be on our own other than that. I think I would feel miserable without some cheerful decs.

Niobe Wed 28-Nov-18 20:30:53

We have builders in so whether we decorate or not is going to depend on if they finish on time. Son and DiL have a seven month old baby boy and are we are all going to them for their first Xmas in their new home. No washing up , no last minute panic, no planning the meal, Bliss!

sodapop Wed 28-Nov-18 20:36:58

The full works for us even if its just two of us. Tree, lights, decorations, Christmas throws and cushions I love it all .

Marmight Wed 28-Nov-18 20:57:42

DD, SiL,his parents and 2GS here on the day. Thjs will be the first Christmas in my 'downsize', so not a lot of room for decorations but I'll go with lots of candles in the inglenooks and on the table. I'm looking for a tree to fit in a door alcove 5'x3'x18". T I may have to invest in a not-real one which grieves me. (Any recommendations?). We always had an 8' spruce in the kitchen. I can only just about get a couple of people in the new one grin. I'm quite looking forward to it strangely, as since DH died I'd rather lost the christmas spirit for the last few years.
flowers& {{hugs}} to those who are facing their first Christmas without their DH

Chewbacca Wed 28-Nov-18 21:11:09

Every year I say that I won't bother with a Christmas tree and then, every year, I do! Now that the GC are more involved with the whole Christmas shebang, I'd feel that I was disappointing them if my house was bare, so up with the tree it is. But it will have to be a small one because my house is tiny tchgrin

merlotgran Wed 28-Nov-18 21:14:44

I solved the Christmas tree problem when we downsized buy buying a small one in a pot which sat on a table. We went away that year so it didn't matter that it was small. I then potted it on and it has lived on the patio ever since. I bring it in every year and the lights and baubles increase as it grows.

It's still only about 3' tall but a perfect size.

cornergran Wed 28-Nov-18 21:48:05

Just the two of us here around Christmas. I can get a bit bah humbug but I do love the two white twiggy pre-lit trees. One for the conservatory and a smaller one for the sitting room. I love the lights, always lift my spirits. Once they are out somehow other things follow. smile. No rules, whatever works for you.

Blue45Sapphire Thu 29-Nov-18 08:09:28

Yes, will definitely put a tree up, but I have just got a smaller pre-lit one, as now I am on my own I simply cannot faff around with a string of 200 lights on a big tree.
I will ask DS to get the decorations down from the loft, but will not be going mad as I used to do. Will just have a few this year, (first Christmas since DH died). And I am spending Christmas with DD and all the close family.

Pythagorus Thu 29-Nov-18 08:13:36

Cornergran, if lights lift your spirits, why not have some fairy lights out permanently? I have some on my dresser in the kitchen and some in the dining area. I always have them on at night and in the day when it’s dark and dreary. Lifts my spirits too!