Christmas Tree put up on Dec 28th !!

[Deleted User] · 28/12/10 - 16:46

A family who live up the road from us have, as they always do, started to put their tree up today. They are good catholics, highly educated with a large family. He is polish, but was born here, approx 50 years ago.

Hope this background info will help in trying to figure out why they would put up a Christmas tree when many are beginning to take theirs down.

As far as I am aware, Christmas Eve is the traditional day for the Polish to put up a tree, so I am truly baffled and really don't see the point.

[Deleted User] · 28/12/10 - 16:47

Maybe it's a fetish thing?

[Deleted User] · 28/12/10 - 16:50

Too poor to afford one prior and have just picked one up in the sales?

chattamanuk · 28/12/10 - 16:52

Why don't you ask them?

susie-4964 · 28/12/10 - 16:52

Maybe they were away before Christmas, they're back now and having a New Year party, so just wanted to get back into the spirit?

whitecliffe · 28/12/10 - 16:54

Cavfan wrote: »

A family who live up the road from us have, as they always do, started to put their tree up today. They are good catholics, highly educated with a large family. He is polish, but was born here, approx 50 years ago.

Hope this background info will help in trying to figure out why they would put up a Christmas tree when many are beginning to take theirs down.

As far as I am aware, Christmas Eve is the traditional day for the Polish to put up a tree, so I am truly baffled and really don't see the point.

No idea but would love to know the answer, my dad is Polish and I have never heard of this. Pop across with a bottle of vodka and ask!

Denise · 28/12/10 - 16:55

The best people to ask is them. Maybe were ill/away before Christmas, or they could have just put it up now for a New Year party.

[Deleted User] · 28/12/10 - 17:01

Just to pee off the nosey neighbours?

I'm just putting up my Halloween decorations for the very same reason.

[Deleted User] · 28/12/10 - 17:03

They do this every year and are well off so definitely nothing to do with not having been able to afford one lol.
They also keep it up well beyond Jan 6th.

Might seem a little nosey to just ask them outright though.:o

[Deleted User] · 28/12/10 - 17:04

sootysoo wrote: »

Just to pee off the nosey neighbours?

I'm just putting up my Halloween decorations for the very same reason.

Not being nosey, a Christmas tree is in the window for all to see. Just genuinely interested to know if it is a tradition somewhere that I am not aware of. I wouldn't mind someone wondering why I put mine up during the first weekend of December !

KJ44 · 28/12/10 - 17:05

I reckon it's possibly because their religion observes the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian, for example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar#Julian_reform

Although all Eastern Orthodox countries (most of them in Eastern or Southeastern Europe) had adopted the Gregorian calendar (or in the case of Greece, possibly the Revised Julian calendar) by 1927, their national churches had not.

http://www.ortelius.de/kalender/jul_en.php

Today, the difference between the Julian and the Gregorian calendar is 13 days. With some Orthodox churches celebrating several feast days according to the Julian calendar, their Christmas Day falls on 7 January of the following year, according to the Gregorian calendar.

Constant PMT · 28/12/10 - 17:11

I bought a 3ft pink one yesterday in the sale for 1.50, for my kitchen, was tempted to put it up, but have decided to wait until next year, seeing as I am taking the decs down tomorrow I think

[Deleted User] · 28/12/10 - 17:32

KJ44 wrote: »

I reckon it's possibly because their religion observes the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian, for example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar#Julian_reform

Although all Eastern Orthodox countries (most of them in Eastern or Southeastern Europe) had adopted the Gregorian calendar (or in the case of Greece, possibly the Revised Julian calendar) by 1927, their national churches had not.

http://www.ortelius.de/kalender/jul_en.php

Today, the difference between the Julian and the Gregorian calendar is 13 days. With some Orthodox churches celebrating several feast days according to the Julian calendar, their Christmas Day falls on 7 January of the following year, according to the Gregorian calendar.

Interesting, but they are Roman Catholic and have had a light up angel decoration displayed in the window for about two weeks now.

I would love to ask them, but feel I would be being a tad cheeky.

Constant PMT · 28/12/10 - 17:43

Cavfan wrote: »

Interesting, but they are Roman Catholic and have had a light up angel decoration displayed in the window for about two weeks now.

I would love to ask them, but feel I would be being a tad cheeky.

If you get the chance to speak to them, I would ask them. Just say something like 'i'm right nosey me & curiosity, but why....'
Depends how well you know them I guess.

KJ44 · 28/12/10 - 17:50

Cavfan wrote: »

Interesting, but they are Roman Catholic and have had a light up angel decoration displayed in the window for about two weeks now.

I would love to ask them, but feel I would be being a tad cheeky.

So I've given you an excuse.

Now you can ask them in an informed and considerate way. Even if I'm utterly wrong, they will surely feel that you've taken time to understand them, as opposed to the uninformed 'why are you so weird' position.

[Deleted User] · 28/12/10 - 18:44

Maybe they have relatives arrive after Christmas and they treat that time as their proper Christmas together.

[Deleted User] · 28/12/10 - 18:46

Now is a good time to buy them, DIY stores are selling them for as little as 2p.

ricardoylucia · 28/12/10 - 19:30

KJ44 wrote: »

I reckon it's possibly because their religion observes the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian, for example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar#Julian_reform

Although all Eastern Orthodox countries (most of them in Eastern or Southeastern Europe) had adopted the Gregorian calendar (or in the case of Greece, possibly the Revised Julian calendar) by 1927, their national churches had not.

http://www.ortelius.de/kalender/jul_en.php

Today, the difference between the Julian and the Gregorian calendar is 13 days. With some Orthodox churches celebrating several feast days according to the Julian calendar, their Christmas Day falls on 7 January of the following year, according to the Gregorian calendar.

I will agree with most of your writings, with one exception.......I believe it is January 6th, not January7th......

Having lived in Spain for many years and have now become accustomed to the ways of certain Roman Catholic festivals. Some of our closest Spanish friends do not celebrate Christmas per se, but it is more celebrated on January 6th...
On the evening of January 5th we celebrate 'The Three Kings', where we have floats etc distributing sweets to the gathered crowds.....then on January 6th, parents, family members and friends will give out their presents.......

So in some ways it is not unusual for a Christmas Tree to be put up on December 28th....

[Deleted User] · 28/12/10 - 19:55

KJ44 wrote: »

So I've given you an excuse. Now you can ask them in an informed and considerate way. Even if I'm utterly wrong, they will surely feel that you've taken time to understand them, as opposed to the uninformed 'why are you so weird' position.

Hi, ok thanks. We do know them well enough to send a Christmas card, not sure if it is relevant but ours gets popped through the door on Christmas Day.
They are nice enough, just rather posh.

Hey there!

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Christmas Tree put up on Dec 28th !!

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