Christmas and Boxing Day have been spent enjoying food with loved ones in front of the Christmas tree so now many will be wondering if they can take their decorations down and get the house clean and ready for a new year. You may be fed up of the constant twinkling of lights – especially if they have been up since mid-November – or sweeping away pine needles that have dropped from the tree.
Others will want to linger in the festive bubble for a bit longer and some may think it is unlucky to take the decorations down before a certain date. The matter of when to take your decorations down may even cause conflict in your family.
On social media, the difference in opinion is clear, with one person posting to X: “I don’t trust people who take their Christmas decorations down on Dec. 26.” Another shared on Boxing Day, “Had all my Christmas decorations taken down and put away and the place tidied and cleaned by mid day. We don’t mess around in this house.” So, when is the ‘correct’ time to take your Christmas decorations down according to tradition?
READ MORE: The blissful, quiet stretch of tree-lined water that few know is there
READ MORE: Enter our £1,000 Aldi vouchers giveaway to stock up on New Year goodies
When should I take the tree and decorations down?
According to tradition, the Twelfth Night (January 5) is when Christmas decorations should be taken down. The Twelfth Night is widely considered to be the last day of the Christmas festivities.
Leaving your decs up after this date, or taking them down before, is thought to bring bad luck in the new year. Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What’s On newsletter here
What is the Twelfth Night?
Twelfth Night is a Christian festival marking the night the Three Wise Men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. Also known as ‘Epiphany’, the day is often referred to as the final day of Christmas festivities and, therefore, the last day to have decorations on display.
When is the Twelfth Night?
There is a slight debate over which day in January is actually the Twelfth Night. January 5 is commonly thought to be the twelfth night from Christmas Day. But, others argue that the following day, January 6, also known as ‘The Feast of Epiphany’ is the right date to take down your decorations as it is the twelfth night following December 25.