When the doorbell rings for our tree-trimming party every year, we turn up the volume on Handel’s Messiah, ladle out hot mulled cider, and put our guests to work hanging the ornaments.
I’m the only one invited to the untrimming party. Soon Joni Mitchell’s Blue is blasting from the speakers as I bring up boxes from the garage and get to work dismantling Christmas.
But I’m not blue at all. I love taking apart the wooden train set and stowing away the brightly painted nutcrackers. I scrape melted wax from the mantel and toss withered cedar boughs into the fireplace. Scummy vases once overflowing with holly and white orchids get a good scrubbing.
Then I untrim the tree, from hand-blown glass balls to hand-crafted macaroni angels. It’s like unearthing a time capsule. Here is the rocking horse era, followed by the rise of the snowmen. Family pets are honored by an abundance of dog and cat angels. Crazily misshapen Santas record the preschool years, while “Baby’s First Christmas” bears round out the collection.
My favorite part is tossing the denuded tree off the balcony. Such a satisfying crash! Pine needles blanket the asphalt below, but I don’t sweep them up; the wind and rain will take care of the mess. This act of purposeful sloth thrills me as much as tearing out spent petunias from the garden at the end of the summer. Annuals and Christmas trees are supposed to wither and die, then get tossed. Unlike the perpetual nurturing demanded by children, pets, perennials, and husbands, limited care for ephemeral glory is the only requirement.
After all, it’s the dismantling that brings about the restored order and hope of the new year.
I love this outlook! I hate being the only one invited to the “Untrimming Party.” This year our neighbors untrimmed our tree (in exchange for using our space for extra relatives). But next year, I plan to relish the dismantling!
Thanks, Janine! Glad you like the positive reframe. This ritual more than any gets me raring to go for the new year.
What a perfect piece for this time of they year! Very enjoyable
Thanks, Marianne. Glad you enjoyed it.
Your decorating party sounds wonderful. My husband and I do it by ourselves as the kids, sadly, are not in the least bit interested in helping. It is actually really fun. And I also get a lot of pleasure in the dismantling as I usually just want my house back by then. There is something quite cathartic about it all. Thanks Lorrie.
Thanks, Claire. Our tree-trimming party has brought a bounty of wonderful ornaments into our lives over the years–enough to decorate a small tree farm, really. And I know what you mean about disinterested and unhelpful kids (aka teenagers) and the catharsis of the clean up. Plus, it counts as productive procrastination when avoiding writing!
Lorrie, I too love taking down and putting away xmas almost as much as i enjoy putting it up. how fun to have company and mood music in the tradition of xmas decorating too. thank you for sharing.