Traditions

[drusillas_rain]

So we hosted Xmas dinner for the inlaws this year (if you follow me on twitter you were spammed with all the details. I'm planning on putting up a big post with pics and recipes soonish here on lj). We don't usually decorate the house, but since we had guests we put up some lights and trees, etc. Jeff's been itching to get them down, since it's now January, but I haven't been able to do it yet since in my family we would always leave it up until Epiphany (Or 3 Wise Men Day as I used to call it when I was a kid). Which I just realized is today, so I suppose it's coming down by Saturday.

So, how long do you leave your trees and lights up until?

Comments

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

We keep ours up through Old New Year (Jan 13/14).

[drusillas-rain.livejournal.com]

Is this an orthodox holiday? Or something else? *is curious*
One of my grandmother's is part Ukranian and still celebrates some orthodox holidays.

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

It's not really an official holiday, but it's New Year's Eve/Day in the Julian calendar, hence "Old New Year".

As for Orthodox holidays, today is Christmas Eve, and tomorrow is Christmas Day! xD

[drusillas-rain.livejournal.com]

So I should remember to call my grandmother tomorrow!

Oh! Do you get two sets of presents then? I used to, but only because we celebrated St. Nicholas day, which is just before xmas (but only if I polished my shoes the night before).

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

For presents, not anymore! When I was a kid, I'd get presents for St. Nicholas day if I put my polished shoes outside the door to my bedroom, for New Years, and for Old New Years. :D

[drusillas-rain.livejournal.com]

Man, I miss St. Nicholas day. I need to start celebrating it properly again - I think it's the only way I'll ever get around to polishing my shoes >.

[drusillas-rain.livejournal.com]

oh, I meant to ask - is it a hungarian tradition to hang chocolates on the tree? I'm trying to figure out where this came from (it could be german, austrian, hungarian or something else, not sure).

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

Yes, chocolates in bright foil wrappers in different colours, usually chocolate-covered marzipan and fruit jellies of various kinds. :D I think this may be a tradition from Austria/Hungary rather than Austria separately.