New Holiday Symbols

[DubaiSis]

I guess I'd assume it's indicative of WINTER, not Christmas. But if that's the case, why would people go all ape-shit about taking down the decorations on January 1? I'm not a decorate seasonally person, but if you are, what the hey. Go for it.

Making a big hooha over people taking down their winter decorations right after Christmas might be because people go so ridiculously overboard that they are OVER it by Christmas and want everyone else to be over it too. One thing that's nice about the Canadian geese and cardinals, et al, is that they are not typically glittery, lit up, battery operated monstrosities.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I've noticed a lot of squirrel themed christmas decorations this year, which I don't recall seeing before in the past.

Where??? Please help the Alpha Gams out here and point us in the right direction!

[AGDLynn]

Pier1 http://www.pier1.com/Natural-Squirre...efault,pd.html

http://www.pier1.com/on/demandware.s...h-Show?q=acorn


West Elm http://www.westelm.com/products/cera...oMerchRules-_-

http://www.westelm.com/products/squi...oMerchRules-_-

West Elm has some cute small glass ornaments but not on the website.

[ColdInCanada11]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Where??? Please help the Alpha Gams out here and point us in the right direction!

Squirrels are HUGE here in Ireland- I bought a squirrel sweater, ornament, and converse and there are quite few ugly/creepy squirrels that I passed on. Yay for finally finding squirrels!!!

As to the Canadian Geese, well that's always been a symbol at home- perhaps it's just spreading to our southern neighbours?

[carnation]

We have massive flocks of Canadian geese that either stay here all year or alternate with others (not sure which) so they don't seem Christmasy to me! They are known for their daily 5 PM march over to the Mormon church to poop on the lawn. In all my years here, I have only seen Mormons on the lawn once, haha.

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I guess I'd assume it's indicative of WINTER, not Christmas. But if that's the case, why would people go all ape-shit about taking down the decorations on January 1? I'm not a decorate seasonally person, but if you are, what the hey. Go for it.

Making a big hooha over people taking down their winter decorations right after Christmas might be because people go so ridiculously overboard that they are OVER it by Christmas and want everyone else to be over it too.

I put white lights around our pool fence every year and I really want to leave them up for a while, because it's nice for the dog when he goes outside. It's dark from 5 pm to 8 am here now. But I can't stop thinking of that line from the Gretchen Wilson Redneck Woman song "and I keep my Christmas lights on, on my front porch all year long."

Of course, she's talking about her front porch...maybe the backyard is OK?

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Where??? Please help the Alpha Gams out here and point us in the right direction!

I lived with a fraternity brother and his Alpha Gam wife for a couple of months before my lease started this summer - she would go nuts (pun intended) over squirrel Christmas decorations. I, however, was scared to come across her collection in the dark haha. The squirrel above the sink particularly gave me the hebejebees while I washed dishes!

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

I put white lights around our pool fence every year and I really want to leave them up for a while, because it's nice for the dog when he goes outside. It's dark from 5 pm to 8 am here now. But I can't stop thinking of that line from the Gretchen Wilson Redneck Woman song "and I keep my Christmas lights on, on my front porch all year long."

Of course, she's talking about her front porch...maybe the backyard is OK?

I do think white lights (not the hanging icicle kind thigh) can be done tastefully year round in a backyard or other outdoor living space. I think the key to avoiding the raised eyebrows of neighbors is to put them up at another time of year so it doesn't look like you jut got too lazy to take them down.

[carnation]

I would love to have white lights up in my backyard trees year 'round!

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

I do think white lights (not the hanging icicle kind thigh) can be done tastefully year round in a backyard or other outdoor living space. I think the key to avoiding the raised eyebrows of neighbors is to put them up at another time of year so it doesn't look like you jut got too lazy to take them down.

My next door neighbors have their house lights done professionally, and the icicle lights they have are the only ones I've seen that I like. The pattern is irregular. Instead of "zig-zaggy", they are just vertical lights of varying lengths...like 7 lights, 3 lights, 5 lights, 4 lights, etc. I've never seen these in regular stores.

These are the neighbors I'm worried about. They are very nice people, but they take their Christmas lights seriously.

[honeychile]

Every catalog I see, every ad I see is simply ugly with owls this year! Haven't seen many cardinals, but I bought the one I did see.

I wear my snowflakes until there's no snow. I don't care what people think - I love snowflakes! It's snowMEN that I find kinda creepy.