Since I started putting up my own Christmas tree and decorations, I always wait until the 6th of January-Old Christmas Day to take them down/put them away. I never really knew why January 6th was called Old Christmas Day until researching for this blog.<br /> <br /> The Free Dictionary by Farlex description:<br /> <br /> In addition to being the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6 is known as Old Christmas Day. When England and Scotland switched over from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752, 11 days were dropped to make up for the calendar discrepancy that had accumulated with the use of the Julian calendar. In all subsequent years, Christmas arrived 11 days early. Many people, especially in rural areas, had trouble accepting the loss of these 11 days, and continued to recognize the holidays of the Julian calendar as Old Christmas.<br /> <br /> Very interesting indeed, and glad I now know this information.<br /> <br /> But as my title says, yes Christmas is here and gone, definitely too quickly these days. My mother in Newfoundland can't get over how soon we put our tree up here in Ontario. I tell her it's because it goes too quickly, especially here. Christmas is such a busy time at work, the malls, the road, everywhere. It seems to be more relaxed in Newfoundland. People even have time to go Mummering-a Christmas-time house-visiting tradition practiced in Newfoundland and Labrador and in isolated patches of Ireland especially Fingal; can you imagine Mummering in Ontario (other than to another Newfoundlander's house), you wouldn't get through the front door! ha ha<br /> <br /> By the time you take everything out and display it (a week long process for me as I can never seem to find the time all at once), it's time to take it all down and put it all away again-another week long process. Especially because you have to pack it a certain way that it will be easy/easier to take out next year/this coming Christmas. But as we get older that time from one Christmas to the next seems to be getting shorter and shorter, that's life I spose.<br /> <br /> Old Christmas Day is special to me for another very important reason; it's my younger sister's birthday and she means the world to me-I'm so proud of her as not only is she a great sister, but she's a wonderful aunt, wife, mom, daughter, cousin, friend and a beautiful woman as well~<br /> <br /> Happy Old Christmas Day<br /> <br /> Take care (&amp; Happy Birthday Sis) and all the best~Celeste<br /> <br /> www.talesfromaway.com   Submitted By: Alicia "Celeste" Loughrey