Rushing Epiphany, in a way

I would've liked to have left our tree up for another day, through traditional Epiphany. But it was dropping needles like mad, and I would've had to water it again without knowing how much more it was going to drink up, leaving me with a potential wet mess to deal with in addition to the needles and sap.

So the tree is down, the needles are swept up, the ornaments are wrapped and boxed, the lights are wrapped (though not reboxed, as I haven't decided whether I'm going to keep these or just go with the LEDs for next year; I think I'll save them just in case), and the area rug is relaid.

We'll keep the remaining decorations out through the weekend, and probably leave the nativity set out through the following weekend, until we close the Christmas season with the Baptism of the Lord.

I'm not sure that I ever realized that Christmas falling on a Sunday gives us the longest possible Christmas season in addition to the longest possible Advent season.  Every calendar besides this one trades one against the other.