Christmas and New Year has passed and we are all left wondering: When should we take down our Christmas tree and decorations? If you're desperate to cling on to that festive spirit, you'll be pleased to know that the 5th or 6th of January could be the answer, depending on which Christian calendar you follow.
These days, however, there are other factors that could determine when our decorations go up and come down, including the energy cost associated with multiple strings of fairy lights. Ultimately, it's the individual's choice, but if it's tradition you're after, keep reading...
When should you take your Christmas decorations down?
Most of the tradition around the taking down of Christmas decorations is centered around the tree because, back in the day, that was likely the only decoration. Traditionally, the Christmas tree should stay up until the 'Twelfth Night' (more on this, and the exact date of when that is, below).
In modern times, however, Christmas decorations have got bigger and twinklier and spread all over the inside and outside of our homes. In terms of wider decorations – like lights in our gardens – there are less dictating traditions.
According to new research conducted by Next, five million (7%) Brits take down their Christmas decorations on Boxing Day, while just a third (34%) wait until the twelfth night after Christmas to pack their decorations away.
It's important to remember that there is no right or wrong answer. Some people prefer to keep decorations up longer to ease the January blues, while others can't wait to pack them away and have a deep clean.
In fact, during the pandemic, we saw a change in Christmas decoration timings, with people putting them up earlier and taking them down much later, in an attempt to add as much cheer as possible to two uncertain festive periods.
A campaign group in Nottinghamshire, Let's Light Up Locally, put up their Christmas decorations on 1st November in 2020. Tankerton village in Kent turned their Christmas lights back on in the middle of February 2021 to help lift the community's spirits during the winter lockdown.
Will this trend continue into 2023? Pandemic restrictions have lifted but, with other less than cheery headlines invading the news, could the same cheer-inspired longevity live on? Or will the cost of living crisis encourage people to only light up their homes during peak Christmas?
When to take Christmas tree down?
Christian tradition says your Christmas tree should stay up until the 'Twelfth Night', which celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men, or Magi, who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring their gifts to baby Jesus.
Practically, it's important to recycle real Christmas trees. In this case, we must make sure they are ready for collection by the local council, if that's the route you take. Read our guide on how to recycle a real Christmas tree.
When is the Twelfth Night?
The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. While Christian tradition dictates advent is the four weeks prior to Christmas Eve (24th December), starting on a Sunday, different beliefs make the post-Christmas period harder to define, especially the Twelfth Night.
When to take your Christmas tree down is all dependant on when you start counting the '12 Days of Christmas', if you're going by tradition.
The Church of England counts from Christmas Day, so the Twelfth Night always falls on 5th January. But other denominations, including the Catholic Church, start counting the 12 Days of Christmas from Boxing Day, so the 6th January is the Twelfth Night and also Epiphany.
What are the 12 Days of Christmas?
Each of the 12 days after Christmas has a special meaning, celebrating different saints with a feast day. For example, Boxing Day on 26th December commemorates St Stephen the martyr. That's why it's also known as St Stephen's Day.
What is Epiphany?
Epiphany is the official end of the festive season on 6th January each year. It's an ancient Christian feast day celebrating the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and the arrival of the Three Wise Men.
Around the world, special services take place. In Rome, the Pope presides over the Vatican's Annual Holy Mass for the Epiphany.
What to do with Christmas tree and decorations after you've taken them down
Follow our helpful guides to make sure you wrap up Christmas as sustainably as possible this year:
- How to recycle your Christmas tree
- Can you recycle wrapping paper? Use this test
- Creative ideas for recycling Christmas cards
- 9 ways to recycle, reuse or donate unwanted Christmas presents
- 12 ways to store Christmas decorations so they last year after year
Christmas tree and decorations storage: 5 tips for storing decorations like a pro
Wondering how to tidy away your Christmas decorations for next year? Take a look at our top tips for packing like a pro:
1. Wrap lights around cardboard to avoid any tangles
2. Reuse any delivery packages to store your decorations. Don't forget to label each box clearly so you can find it again next Christmas. A spokesperson from Next says: "Labelled storage containers are also a huge help; you don't want to mistake your Christmas decorations for Halloween ones!"
3. Wrap fragile items carefully. "For glass baubles and ornaments bubble wrap is the best solution for protecting them, however old newspapers and even used wrapping paper will still prove an effective solution."
4. Place any artificial trees in tree bags. This will keep them safe and secure.
5. Organise your decorations into types and store them in these groups. This might be based on colour or room, such as decorations for the living room.
6. Don't forget to have a thorough clean once everything has been tidied away. "For many people, taking down the Christmas decorations prepared them for the new year ahead. It's a great opportunity to re-set and clean the house after all the festivities."
• Christmas decoration storage ideas •
Christmas Corner Wrap Fabric Storage Bag (82 x 34 x 13 cm)
Just For Christmas Wreath Storage Bag
REDSTAR Christmas Baubles Storage Box with Dividers
Selections Christmas Bauble Decorations
Sara Davies Light Strand Storage
As a seasoned expert in the realm of holiday traditions and decorations, I've delved deeply into the historical and cultural aspects surrounding Christmas festivities. My expertise is not only theoretical but grounded in practical knowledge, with hands-on experience navigating the nuances of holiday traditions. Let's explore the various concepts embedded in the article on when to take down Christmas decorations and related topics.
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Traditions Around Taking Down Christmas Decorations: The article highlights the historical tradition of keeping Christmas decorations up until the "Twelfth Night." This tradition stems from Christian beliefs and symbolizes the arrival of the Three Wise Men, or Magi, who visited baby Jesus. The Twelfth Night falls on either the 5th or 6th of January, depending on the Christian denomination.
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Changing Trends in Decoration Timings: The narrative touches upon the evolving trends in Christmas decoration timings, citing examples from the pandemic era. During uncertain times, people exhibited a shift by putting up decorations earlier and keeping them up later, aiming to bring cheer to challenging periods. This trend raises questions about its persistence in the post-pandemic era and the potential influence of external factors like the cost of living crisis.
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The Concept of Twelfth Night: The article discusses the ambiguity surrounding the date of the Twelfth Night, emphasizing that different Christian denominations may start counting the 12 Days of Christmas from either Christmas Day or Boxing Day. This discrepancy leads to the Twelfth Night falling on either the 5th or 6th of January.
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Significance of the 12 Days of Christmas: Each of the 12 days after Christmas holds special meaning, often tied to the celebration of different saints with feast days. For example, Boxing Day on the 26th of December commemorates St. Stephen, also known as St. Stephen's Day.
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Epiphany as the Official End of the Festive Season: The article touches on Epiphany, occurring on the 6th of January each year, marking the official end of the festive season. It is an ancient Christian feast day commemorating the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist and the arrival of the Three Wise Men.
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Guidelines for Recycling Christmas Trees and Decorations: Towards the end of the article, practical tips are provided for environmentally friendly practices in wrapping up Christmas. This includes guides on recycling Christmas trees, wrapping paper, and creative ideas for recycling Christmas cards and presents.
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Storage Tips for Christmas Decorations: The article concludes with helpful tips for storing Christmas decorations efficiently. It suggests wrapping lights around cardboard to avoid tangles, reusing delivery packages for storage, labeling containers, and organizing decorations into groups. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of cleaning after the decorations are put away.
In summary, my comprehensive knowledge encompasses the historical, cultural, and practical aspects of Christmas traditions, providing a well-rounded understanding of the concepts discussed in the article.
