When it comes to holidays, I get into the spirit as much, if not more so, than the average person. The desire to start hanging Christmas decoration creeps up around Thanksgiving weekend and lasts until New Year’s Day.
If I had my way, and I don’t for the record, my house would look something like Clark Griswold from “Christmas Vacation,” with lights and animated figures all around the home. There truly is nothing like a well-lit home for the holidays.
But then, like all good things, the holiday season must come to an end, because you really can have too much of a good thing. Others, apparently, feel differently.
Driving around town, the number of homes that still have holiday wreaths hanging on their doors and windows or festive lights on their porches is astounding.
I suppose one could make an argument that the lights are left up for the events following Christmas. You could argue that Valentine’s Day is worth lighting up your home with red, white and pink lights. OK, I’ll buy that.
And I guess you could contend that St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday worth adorning your home with green and white lights.
Next up would be Easter, I suppose, at the end of April and multi-colored lights could pass as spring-like colors welcoming warmer weather.
But what’s the deal with wreaths? I’m pretty sure the natural ones are made of evergreen sprigs and have a shelf life, don’t they? I’m guessing a wreath can stay fresh for maybe two months. Considering wreaths start making their appearance around Veterans’ Day in some places, with fancy red, white and blue ribbons and are in full bloom by Thanksgiving, the greenery has likely been replaced by a lovely shade of brown.
I’m not great at math, but with March rapidly coming to a close, I estimate that most of these wreaths have gone well past their expiration date. Unless of course they are artificial.
Maybe the chore of removing wreaths is connected to people’s plans for their annual spring cleaning? Last time I checked, though, the first day of spring was this past Sunday and yet wreaths can still be found. Perhaps we can institute a new habit. When it’s time to set your clocks ahead one hour, it’s also time to take down your wreaths.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer at The Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at 532-2281 or pioneertimes@nepublish.com.
