Belly Laugh: Why Deckin' the Halls After Halloween Reduces High Blood Pressure

The pumpkins and gourds have turned into a mush, oozing down the decking on our front porch.  Our tiny, porcelain black kitty statuette, lays on its side, sadly collecting dust after strong winds knocked the poor little guy off his perch.  And the "BOO!" wreath, don't even get me started on that one-- it has seen better days.

Ah, yes!  Halloween was upon us, and now it has withered like the once brightly-colored fall leaves that just weeks ago seemed so beautiful. The candy bowl, long emptied, has been cleaned and returned to the storage closet.  And the air has turned cold.  Bitter.  News of snowflake sightings in our area were reported as early as today.

Time to decorate for the next holiday, right?  I know, images of brightly-colored turkeys, adorned in multi-colored hues, resin pilgrims with their festive hats, and orange mini lights wrapped around our bannister might come to mind.  Nope.  Not for this guy.

When we purchased our home back in 2006, we did it for the right reason:  it is a perfect home for Christmas decorating.  I know, many of you are thinking, "You purchased  your home for one holiday?"  Yes.  We did. 

Our home was built in 1906, towards the end of the gilded Victorian, gingerbread-laden era, and at the beginning of a new one:  Arts and Crafts.  Shortly after we moved into our "new" old home, I spent hours researching the palettes of color, wallpaper, and themes commonly used during the period when our home was first built.  To my ultimate delight, I found that warm hues of greens, reds, gold, among other earthy-tones were dominant.  I can remember yelling at Rich, "We bought the perfect house!  It's going to be grand for Christmas!  Just like I thought it would!"  Eight years later, the home has been completely remodeled.  From sage green and burnished reds, to warm, butterscotch golds, the house is covered in the traditional colors of my favorite holiday:  Christmas!

As a child, I was truly enchanted by the sights and sounds of Christmas.  Most importantly, I was inspired by the story-- the real story-- of Christmas.  Even then, at a very young age, I thought that Jesus deserved the most spectacular party-- ever-- and that I had to make sure I did his birthday justice.  Some claim that by decorating early, I have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.  You know, the themes of hope, love, and giving back to others.  But that's just not the case.  In fact, it's the very reason why I begin decorating-- to the "shock and awe" (and not in a good way, always) from some naysayers.

I truly treasure spending time with those I love during the holidays. I also truly love giving back, and doing things for others in celebration of the big day.  So every year, like clockwork, I take that dingy "BOO!" wreath down, collect the rotten pumpkins and gourds, and begin making countless trips to my attic, where an entire forest of Christmas trees sit amongst the dusty rafters.  And I begin this journey, which takes about two weeks, on November 1st.  I know, I can see and feel the eyes rolling.  Just hear me out...

When you decorate early for the one of the largest holidays of the year, the benefits abound:

• The house is cleaned and ready for multiple holidays including: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
• Stress is greatly reduced.  One major job checked off your "to do" list, with only shopping and cooking remaining.
• Instead of rushing to get that tree (Or TREES, in my case) up immediately after Thanksgiving, you just wash the dishes, and sit and enjoy the beauty of Christmas emanating from your living room.
• No need to cut a fresh tree and later worry about needles, endless watering, and fire hazards.  You can't use a "real" tree when you decorate two months before the holiday.  See, it's environmentally friendly, too.
• Spend the holidays doing what is most important:  enjoying the hustle/bustle of your conversations, not the hustle/bustle of your feet.
• When everyone else complains about it snowing on November 12, you can smile, sit back, and bask in the glory of an impending, and inspiring season under your glistening white lights and  rich aroma of your White Pine Yankee Candle.
• Kids love it.  They really do!  As soon as our family arrives for Thanksgiving, they don't have to wait another day to see the lights, enjoy the sounds, or experience the beauty of the season.  It's all there.  At that very moment.
• You only have to have one set of festive dishes.  Yep. That's right.  I use Christmas dishes at Thanksgiving.  (I know, more eye rolls, but stick with me for a moment)  It wouldn't "look" right if I had plates adorned with turkeys and pilgrims when my house is covered in tinsel, lush garland, twinkling lights, and multiple trees decked out in all their grandeur.

So that's my case.  I still have friends, colleagues, family members, and neighbors who often balk at my insistence of decorating so early.  But I find it equally interesting that ever since I started this tradition-- almost twenty years ago-- I have very little stress around the holidays.

In fact, I get to be inspired by the hope, the love, the generosity of the season, all while avoiding back-breaking, stress-inducing, blood pressure-raising work during the short time in between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Give it a try sometime.  Trust me,  you won't regret it.  Enjoy the season-- the full season-- without the dread and overwhelming feelings that can be produced by forcing too much "fun" into such a short time span.

I began this year, like clock work, on November 1st.  So far, I have two trees assembled, garland on my staircase, stockings hung with care, and my favorite White Pine Yankee candle lit.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas on Elm Street.