This is a first.

Never before have I pulled out the Christmas decorations this early in the season.

In the past, I have started listening to Christmas music this early, but I have never drug out the hoards of boxes I have tucked away in closets and up in the attic.

And while some of you may think I am foolish to have started decorating, I am not the only one cuddling up to Santa so soon.

My sister-in-law has wreaths already hanging from her kitchen windows, and as I was driving home from work one evening I noticed a house that already had its tree up. The colored lights were visible from the window.

Advent begins the first day in December this year and with family coming in for the Thanksgiving holiday, I knew I better get a move on.

However, unlike in years past, because I have started earlier than usual, I am taking my time and enjoying moving at a slower pace instead of an all-out-Christmas-blitz.

I don’t know about you, but pulling out all the Christmas decorations I have amassed through the years is like meeting up with old friends.

Nearly 40 years ago, I began collecting Santas, and honestly, it never gets old to see their faces again.

Unfortunately, because I have so many, some have to stay tucked away in their tissue paper.

It’s probably time to start sharing some of my collection with the children, but it’s just hard to part with any of them.

And unlike their mother, my children are more of the minimalist type, so they probably wouldn’t want them anyway.

I just hope that when I’m gone, one of my many grandchildren will pick up where I left off.

In addition to my Santas, another of my favorite Christmas pieces to pull out is a nativity set I bought just a few years ago at the Cinnamon Tree.

Instead of the more traditional sets depicting the Holy Family, this set is comprised of children.

I was drawn to it because it reminded me of the Christmas pageants my children participated in at Crawford Street United Methodist Church.

Through the years, I had angels, a sheep, a shepherd, a donkey, a cow, a Wise Man and Mary.

I won’t lie, it has felt a little weird to see Santa hanging out with my more traditional fall and Thanksgiving decorations, including Native American decorations, but that’s just the way it is going to be this year.

Who knows? Maybe this trend will grow on me, and I will begin decorating this early every year.

I wonder how my Halloween witches and skeletons would get along with Santa?

 

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.