Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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

71 replies

wishingitwasspring · 04/01/2022 15:06

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.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/01/2022 15:10

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

LolaSparkle · 04/01/2022 15:12

The 5th 🙂

480Widdio · 04/01/2022 15:17

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.

AmyDudley · 04/01/2022 15:17

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 !! Smile

LolaSparkle · 04/01/2022 15:19

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

rrhuth · 04/01/2022 15:20

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

rifling · 04/01/2022 15:22

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.

wishingitwasspring · 04/01/2022 15:29

It's not getting any clearer.... 😆

OP posts:
WeatherwaxOn · 04/01/2022 15:32

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

withgraceinmyheart · 04/01/2022 15:32

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.

AmyDudley · 04/01/2022 15:32

It might be one of those eternal mysteries Grin

BuanoKubiamVej · 04/01/2022 15:34

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.

NinaProudman2022 · 04/01/2022 15:34

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

dementedpixie · 04/01/2022 15:35

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

skyeisthelimit · 04/01/2022 15:36

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

Crunchymum · 04/01/2022 15:38

What is Google and how do I use it? Grin

(sorry if that sounds facetious)

dementedpixie · 04/01/2022 15:39

@Crunchymum

What is Google and how do I use it? Grin

(sorry if that sounds facetious)

I think you'll find Google gives differing dates too
dementedpixie · 04/01/2022 15:40

@Crunchymum

What is Google and how do I use it? Grin

(sorry if that sounds facetious)

Also, she did Google it, hence still being confused
Alwaysconfuddled · 04/01/2022 15:41

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

AdaColeman · 04/01/2022 15:44

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

MenopauseSucks · 04/01/2022 15:52

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!

Snowiscold · 04/01/2022 15:56

@AdaColeman

Take the tree down on 6th January, Epiphany, that's the traditional time. Xmas Smile Xmas Smile
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.
wishingitwasspring · 04/01/2022 15:58

@Crunchymum

What is Google and how do I use it? Grin

(sorry if that sounds facetious)

Maybe read the whole post?
OP posts:
Shallwegoforawalk · 04/01/2022 16:12

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!

Shallwegoforawalk · 04/01/2022 16:13

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!

Swipe left for the next trending thread