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Author Topic: Christmas Decorations Clutter  (Read 11819 times)

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Offline Disputaciones

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Christmas Decorations Clutter
« on: March 13, 2025, 08:22:12 AM »
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  • I wonder if anyone does NOT keep any manufactured decorations (cards, statues etc.) that are stored year-long in boxes and only taken out during the season. 

    But instead, uses only natural things like plants, and once those whither, they’re thrown away, thus never having any clutter around the house. 

    Offline Matthew

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    Re: Christmas Decorations Clutter
    « Reply #1 on: March 13, 2025, 10:04:02 AM »
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  • Nope, not here. 100% artificial stuff that lasts years and decades. Christmas tree, lights, ornaments, star on top, Nativity set, etc.

    We've added to our collection over the years, but have never thrown anything out. We like to make a big deal about Christmas and Easter, because those are the biggest Catholic feast days. They are worthy of a bit of "special decor". We want to really CELEBRATE them. We don't decorate at all for any lesser "holidays". So the kids (for example) will get the distinct impression that Easter/Christmas are important.

    As for being eco-friendly/minimalist/frugal, we achieve that by not wasting, not throwing out, not "updating" for the sake of novelty, fashion, etc. Whatever we spent on Christmas decorations was frugal and a good deal, because you have to divide the cost by how many years we've used it. The cost per year becomes quite low! I think we bought our current Christmas tree in 2007. It cost about $160, but we've used it many years, and it's still good.

    If everyone in the US spent money like me, the economy would collapse horribly.
    If that isn't true about you as well, there is something wrong with you. You don't want to be a "good g0y consumer" who makes sure Mr. Shekelstein gets as many shekels as possible.

    What I'm trying to say is, Consumerism is bad and anti-Catholic at its core. It's materialism, frivolity, and worldliness incarnate.

    Consumerism has one virtue: go to the store and spend some money. "Do it for the economy" they say. Who cares if the poor could better use that money, or what happens to the world (or the earth) as a result of your spending choices.
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    Offline B from A

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    Re: Christmas Decorations Clutter
    « Reply #2 on: March 13, 2025, 10:53:11 AM »
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  • Nope, not here. 100% artificial stuff that lasts years and decades. Christmas tree, lights, ornaments, star on top, Nativity set, etc.

    We've added to our collection over the years, but have never thrown anything out. We like to make a big deal about Christmas and Easter, because those are the biggest Catholic feast days. They are worthy of a bit of "special decor". We want to really CELEBRATE them. ...

    As for being eco-friendly/minimalist/frugal, we achieve that by not wasting, not throwing out, not "updating" for the sake of novelty, fashion, etc. Whatever we spent on Christmas decorations was frugal and a good deal, because you have to divide the cost by how many years we've used it. The cost per year becomes quite low! I think we bought our current Christmas tree in 2007. It cost about $160, but we've used it many years, and it's still good.

    If everyone in the US spent money like me, the economy would collapse horribly.
    ...

    Similar to what Matthew said.  I've never spent much myself on Christmas decorations, but over the years I've acquired many one way or another.  In fact, many of my decorations were gifts from loved ones or inherited, so when they come out again each Christmas, it brings back a lot of memories & makes them even more special.  

    Offline moneil

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    Re: Christmas Decorations Clutter
    « Reply #3 on: March 13, 2025, 01:18:11 PM »
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  • Matthew makes excellent points.

    There are certain "manufactured things", that can't be replaced by "natural biodegradable things", that most would consider desirable and important for the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany seasons.  People will have a curated collection of these that they store and bring out every year.

    (1) The advent wreath.  While the wreath itself can be fresh evergreens, and the candles acquired new each year, something is needed to hold the candles.

    (2) The nativity set.

    (3) For the Christmas tree, while light strings aren't absolutely required, some decoration is desirable.  An absolutely bare tree in the living room would seem odd.  One could use stringed popcorn (a bit tedious to make each year, but easy and do-able if there are a lot of kids to help), which was common in earlier years.  One could also insert cuttings of the Holly Berry plant, with its bright red berries, or poinsettia cuttings with the flowers.  Still, most like to hang ornament balls or castings (for example, I have cow, bicycle, and tree ornaments which have special significance).  Often times ball ornaments have been hand made rather than purchased, and may be heirlooms passed from generation to generation.  Also, many like to have an angel or star at the top of the tree.

    Offline Vincancino

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    Re: Christmas Decorations Clutter
    « Reply #4 on: March 13, 2025, 06:01:48 PM »
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  • Would you share some ideas on how you decorate for Easter please? 


    Offline Miseremini

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    Re: Christmas Decorations Clutter
    « Reply #5 on: March 13, 2025, 07:40:03 PM »
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  • You could get your wife to make a bunny cake for the kiddies.

    "Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered: and them that hate Him flee from before His Holy Face"  Psalm 67:2[/b]


    Offline moneil

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    Re: Christmas Decorations Clutter
    « Reply #6 on: March 14, 2025, 09:19:08 PM »
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  • Here is an example of carefully curated decorative items that are worth carefully storing and bringing out every year during the appropriate season: Pysanky, or Ukranian Easter eggs.

    When I lived in the Palouse (Pullman, WA / Moscow, ID) a folk dancing club make and sell these as a fundraiser, and I would pick up one or two each year.  One time I did take a class, and one of the eggs is from that (the ugly one, lower right).

    At the university dairy farm I worked at geese would lay their eggs in the hay barn.  When we were pulling the 1-ton bales from the stack with a loader we would try to keep an eye out for nests and leave that part of the stack alone until the eggs hatched.  Once in a while we'd pull a bale done and find a nest.  We would set that bale aside in case mom came back, but if the eggs got cold I would take them to one of the pysanky makers.