Christmas in January

I celebrated Christmas last month, and I will celebrate it this December, too. But this year, I am continuing my celebrations well into January. Here's why:

1. Keep the good things coming

This Christmas season was the first one I've really enjoyed in years. I didn't want it to end so soon. It's a little odd, if you think about it: we prepare and celebrate a whole month before, then we reach Christmas Day, and the next day it's all over, radio stations are back to their usual music, decorations are taken down, and it seems Christmas is forgotten. (Ok, it's not exactly like that; usually a lot of those things are still going on until New Year's Day, at least. And, as I discovered in my travels this year, airports are still decorated and playing Christmas music for a while after New Year's Day, too. But I was really disappointed to turn on the radio the morning after Christmas and find the regular music back on. It seemed like they just wanted to forget Christmas immediately.)

2. Improving January

January's a terrible, depressing month. Continuing to celebrate Christmas-and focusing on Christ-makes it better.

3. Snow

It didn't snow here until after Christmas. Any other time, I hate snow. But right around Christmastime, I wouldn't mind some snow: a light snow that covers the grass, trees, and rooftops, but stays off the roads would be ideal for me. This way I can sort of get a white Christmas, and it makes the dreadful snow of January a bit better if I associate it with Christmas.

4. Relaxing

January Christmas celebrations are more relaxing. We're not in a rush, trying to get to events. We're not trying to get shopping done and things mailed out in time. We can just enjoy the music, the movies, and the food. The downside is that when we go anywhere, Christmas is all put away, so it's hard to feel as festive as we do during the traditional Christmas season. But in our house, we're still rockin' around the Christmas tree.

5. Sales

You can get Christmas stuff at the store really cheap and enjoy it now (rather than waiting for next year).

6. Learning

I feel like we can focus on Christ-the whole reason for Christmas- more when we're not so wrapped up in the more stressful parts of Christmas. This year, I decided to have a different kind of focus. During the traditional Christmas season, we prepare and celebrate in anticipation of Christ's birth. We also participate in the family and cultural traditions that make Christmas memories so warm. After Christmas Day, we focus on what came next: The life of Jesus and His teachings and what He did that makes Christmas such a big celebration.


I can't guarantee this will happen next year, or any other year. Maybe it will become a tradition. Maybe it won't. But this year, if you come to my house in January, Christmas will be there. The music and movies will be playing and the decorations will be up.