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Original poster

To wonder why some still have Christmas trees up?

42 replies

Strawbsss · 06/02/2025 11:53

Not bashing anyone...

Genuinely interested, if you have your Christmas tree still up, can I ask why?

I see a few around my hometown, a couple seem to have just fairy lights on it so I'm wondering if it's just a 'cosy' thing?

OP posts:
KimberleyClark · 06/02/2025 12:51

Serpentstooth · 06/02/2025 12:47

The late Anthony Bourdain lived with wife number 1 in a New York apartment. Neither of them were over-concerned with housework. They kept a Christmas tree so long that the embarrassment of putting it out with the rubbish was too much for either to cope with. Problem solved by cutting bits off with nail scissors and disposing of it, bit by bit, a small bag at a time. Recounted in Kitchen Confidential, his first book. RIP Anthony.

I did read about someone who wrapped her tree up in cling film with the decorations still on before putting it away, so all she had to do was unwrap it the following year. I wouldn’t do that, decorating it is half the fun, plus it looks different every year!

Octavia64 · 06/02/2025 12:49

One year mine was up until May half term.

Serpentstooth · 06/02/2025 12:47

The late Anthony Bourdain lived with wife number 1 in a New York apartment. Neither of them were over-concerned with housework. They kept a Christmas tree so long that the embarrassment of putting it out with the rubbish was too much for either to cope with. Problem solved by cutting bits off with nail scissors and disposing of it, bit by bit, a small bag at a time. Recounted in Kitchen Confidential, his first book. RIP Anthony.

Springingintherain · 06/02/2025 12:46

One of my DC has a January birthday, so I leave the tree up and put their birthday presents under it. It becomes a birthday tree. Depending on what day of the week the birthday falls or how busy we are, it might take another week or two for me to get around to taking it down. It was down by mid-January this year, which was quite prompt for me.

Dymaxion · 06/02/2025 12:42

It's on a long list of jobs to do, might get done this weekend.

Needmorelego · 06/02/2025 12:24

TitusMoan · 06/02/2025 12:22

What’s Christmas bedding?

Show quote history

A quilt cover with Santa on or similar 🧑‍🎄

TheAzureSwan · 06/02/2025 12:24

A long time ago - in the 1970s - I knew a family who kept their Christmas tree up all year. They were functioning alcoholics and they just couldn't be bothered taking it down. They were a total exception to the norm back then because almost every body stuck to the tradition of taking Christmas tree and decorations down by 12th night.
They would fit in very well now where people just do their own thing as regards both putting up and taking down .

Needmorelego · 06/02/2025 12:23

I remember talking to a mum of a child at my daughter's primary. She was from Poland I think. She said the tradition was decorations stayed up until the end of Candlemas but you had to wait for the Priest to come to your home and say some type of prayer before you could take them down. She lived in a giant block of flats on one of the higher floors so it would take forever for the priest to get to her flat (as each visit involved lots of polite small talk and tea and cake type foods).

TitusMoan · 06/02/2025 12:22

Octavia64 · 06/02/2025 12:12

I'm disabled
I prioritise getting the outside decs down - wreathe etc.

Takes me a while to work through it all.

Tree came down yesterday.
Still washing the last of the Christmas bedding.

What’s Christmas bedding?

KimberleyClark · 06/02/2025 12:18

We have a prelit tree. Maybe next year I’ll take the actual decorations off by twelfth night as usual but keep the actual tree up longer. No reason why not really, without the baubles it’s just a tree with lights!

saveforthat · 06/02/2025 12:12

There were a few up still in our area. I wondered if it was candlemass but I've not noticed this in previous years.

Octavia64 · 06/02/2025 12:12

I'm disabled
I prioritise getting the outside decs down - wreathe etc.

Takes me a while to work through it all.

Tree came down yesterday.
Still washing the last of the Christmas bedding.

FurryTeacup · 06/02/2025 12:10

There have been at least three long threads on here in the recent past complaining about the lack of cheer in winter streets in the UK compared to Sweden (where apparently people specifically light lamps in their windows to make their houses look cheery to passersby), and asking why people have taken down their Christmas lights because it ‘cheers the place up’.

CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson · 06/02/2025 12:10

Because I can't be arsed to take it down 🤷‍♀️

Toddlerteaplease · 06/02/2025 12:09

A Catholic priest I know has his up till candlemass.

Seeline · 06/02/2025 12:08

In the Anglican church at least the Christmas period lasts until Candlemas (2nd February) so some people keep decorations up until then.

NosyJosie · 06/02/2025 12:06

Mind your own business 🧑‍🎄

just kidding. Who knows - maybe they haven’t had time to take them down, maybe they like the coziness through the dismal winter.