When is 12th night and when do I take the tree down?

[wishingitwasspring]

The 5th or the 6th and do I take them down before or after

Yes I know it's superstitious and I can take them down when I want to but for reasons I won't go in to I'm feeling superstitious 😂

Google seems as confused as me.

Is it not on or before?
Mine is down but I'm not superstitious

The 5th 🙂

I always take mine down on the 6th,the Epiphany,which is also a Public Holiday in a lot of Countries.Same as my Mother before me.

I thought it was 6th - but @LolaSparkle made me check and she is absolutely right it is the 5th - I've been getting it wrong for years.
Apparently it is 'Epiphany Eve' and Epiphany is 6th. Every day is a school day !!

I only know as it was in a Christmas quiz at work 😂😂😂 xx

5th is when the tree comes down, the twelfth night.

Surely it comes down on the 6th as Twelfth night is still Christmas? We have stockings to open on the morning of the 6th and then take it down.

It's not getting any clearer.... 😆

6th. 12 days on from Christmas.
Coincidentally, the song "12 days of Christmas" relates to this period.

when is twelfth night?

It depends on which Christian denomination you’re following. Catholics start their count on Boxing Day (so epiphany is the 6th) and Protestants on Christmas Day (so the 5th)

when do I take the tree down?

Traditionally 2nd of Feb when Jesus was presented at the temple. Epiphany is the Victorian tradition, I think because that’s when lots candles became a big part of the decorations, and people couldn’t afford to burn through them for the whole month so the church changed it.

I keep mine up until it annoys me.

It might be one of those eternal mysteries

Liturgically speaking the Church counts days as Sunset on the previous day to Sunset on the Day itself - which is why Christmas Eve evening counts as part of Christmas, and the Easter Vigil service on the evening of Easter Saturday counts as part of Easter Day.

The 12 days of Christmas are the 25th, 26th, 27th
28th, 29th,30th and 31st of December
and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th of January.
"12th Night" is the evening of 5th January which marks the start of the Feast of the Epiphany which is 6th January and is not part of the 12 days of Christmas.

But you are allowed to keep your general Christmas Decorations up until Candlemas which is 40 days after Christmas. It's only the holly sprigs (which my parents put above each picture hanging on the walls in their house) that have to come down on 12th night. Because the Devil hides in them or something.

We take ours down before 12th night so before the 5th. Although some count it as before the 6th.

Apparently it depends on whether you count Christmas day or not. If you count from CD it's 5th. If you count from boxing day it's 6th

I've always taken 5th Jan as being 12th night so they come down on or before then.

What is Google and how do I use it?

(sorry if that sounds facetious)

@Crunchymum

What is Google and how do I use it?

(sorry if that sounds facetious)

I think you'll find Google gives differing dates too

@Crunchymum

What is Google and how do I use it?

(sorry if that sounds facetious)

Also, she did Google it, hence still being confused

Ours came down New Year’s Eve, I like going into the new year with a clear house. My friend does the same as well

Take the tree down on 6th January, Epiphany, that's the traditional time.

I always take them down on 5th January as I count from Christmas Day but I'm leaving some lights outside until Candlemas Eve or whenever the batteries run out!

@AdaColeman

Take the tree down on 6th January, Epiphany, that's the traditional time.

The traditional time is Candlemas Eve, 1st Feb. It’s those pesky Victorians who completely invented “take your decorations down for 12th Night”. Something to do with getting the workforce back to work or something, I think.

@Crunchymum

What is Google and how do I use it?

(sorry if that sounds facetious)

Maybe read the whole post?

For us, it's the 5th. For some Catholics I know it's the 6th. Depends on your counting but 5th includes Christmas Day which seems sensible to me!

Apologies I should explain the above - I'm from a traditional northern Scottish (Protestant) family so we say the 5th, but many relatives are from the west with Irish/Glaswegian roots and they say the 6th. It's been a long running joke in our family for years about the right date!