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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to take down my christmas tree

269 replies

DonaldStott · 27/12/2016 09:41

I have been jolly. Had a lovely few festive days. But we are going away in a couple of days for New Year and only home the evening before we are back to school/work.

I want to take it down today, but husband thinks I am being a bit of a misbag.

I am in the school of bday cards up only on the day of your bday, then into the recycling, so I do like these things to be short lived, but I want my living room back now the day is over. Aibu?

OP posts:

iguanadonna · 28/12/2016 15:37

But Christmas has only just started!

(Unless goats)

Monkeychopsticks · 28/12/2016 16:14

I agree, ours stays up until the 6th, I do get annoyed when I hear people say " It's all over now" on Boxing Day, it isn't, the 12 days of Christmas start on Christmas day, not end there.

LunaLoveg00d · 28/12/2016 16:30

All the "tree down already as it's all over" people don't have a Christmas tree, they have a November and Advent tree. I don't usually take the tree down until 1st Jan, but it doesn't go up until the weekend before the 25th Dec either.

I just loathe the whole mentality of the crazy, consumer driven build up from Halloween all focused on the 25th, then it's all over on Boxing Day with people talking about Easter Eggs.

lilyb84 · 28/12/2016 16:51

I just loathe the whole mentality of the crazy, consumer driven build up from Halloween all focused on the 25th, then it's all over on Boxing Day with people talking about Easter Eggs.

That's totally fair enough and I agree. But lots of people here aren't doing that - they're putting up trees at 'reasonable' times (eg mid December), then taking them down after Boxing Day or so. That doesn't mean they're commercialising anything - it's just their personal taste/choice to not have the decorations up any longer than they can bear! I'm certainly not rushing into Easter any time soon (don't really 'do' Easter anyway, not being Christian and not having any chocolate-eating-aged DCs!), Halloween is just a one night thing which I certainly don't buy into beyond maybe attending a party or DJing somewhere (in my pre-motherhood days, that is), and personally I just much prefer the anticipation of Christmas rather than the bit afterwards. I know that technically the festival of Christmas continues for 12 days but since I'm not a practising Christian, I don't really feel I need to honour anything - and I'd just rather get it all down, have a good old hoover, and relax knowing I don't have to do it again for another year!

Definitely agree that the shops make it seem everyone is going crazy about seasons way too early but I'm not sure that's what actual people are necessarily doing, or if they are, surely they're the exception rather than the rule?

Bernie75 · 28/12/2016 17:49

I am in France and it's lovely here. The subtle decorations in the shops are all still up, no sale madness, everyone just eating delicious food and wine and enjoying a special time of year. I think we go so nuts for the build up to Christmas now in England, most people have had enough by this point! Personally I try and keep decorations up until New Year but do understand people who are keen to move on and get their living room back.

merrymouse · 28/12/2016 17:59

I agree with womble on page 1. I certainly have the tree up till New Year, and would love to continue celebrating till 12th night. However, once everyone is back at school and work, taking down the decorations is just another chore, and mentally we have all moved past Christmas.

Revealall · 28/12/2016 18:10

I think this in between period is very much Christmas and the lights and decorations add to the party spirt.
New Years Day and down they come ready to face the year clean and tidy.

Of course people can do what they want but I do think it makes some difference to other people's expectations eventually.
I also think that doing what you want is fine but don't call it Christmas. You could do say an "yuletude fast " which you could argue was the tradition in your house till the cows come home. It's not what Christmas is about though.

SoftKittyWarmKitty · 28/12/2016 18:11

Took ours down today - Christmas is done. Ours always come down before New Year as I like to go into the New Year with a clean slate and a clean house.

Cagliostro · 28/12/2016 18:13

I want to take mine down but only because our living room is tiny

yorkshapudding · 28/12/2016 18:18

I am tempted to take mine down. I usually keep it up until new year's day at least but I'm currently trying (and failing) to find a new home for all DD's new toys and this would be easier if the christmas tree wasn't taking up space in the living room.

HelloCanYouHearMe · 28/12/2016 18:21

Mine is coming down tomorrow as im sick to death of DS pulling all of the baubles off the pissing thing.

The tree is pretty much naked from the bottom up to as far as DS can reach (about half way)

My neighbours must be sick of hearing us constantly going "no, away from the tree. Leave the tree...."

Fuxfurforall · 28/12/2016 18:22

Mine went up on Christmas Eve and will be down tomorrow - I love Christmas but it's the same every year in our house. Decorations are for Christmas only - not way in advance or in the New Year. In my view, it keeps it all special.

lucymeadows · 28/12/2016 18:33

Perhaps if people didn't put their trees up so early they wouldn't be sick of them the very second Christmas is over. Ours real tree goes up around the 15th/16th. Stop being miserable.

Konyaa · 28/12/2016 18:43

What if we all become okay with this: Everyone puts their trees up when they want, and down when they want, with just one condition: as long their arrangement makes them happy?

It just seems like the perfect answer. But there must be a catch...it can't be so simple. Oh hang on...

Ontopofthesunset · 28/12/2016 18:47

But Christmas isn't over. We are in the middle of Christmas! It runs from Christmas day to January 6th. True fact. Somehow taking the decorations down immediately after Christmas Day seems so utilitarian.

It's interesting too how many people say they are fed up with them. Why have them at all then? I love my Christmas tree. It is lovely to have the lights on in the evenings after the frenzy of Christmas Day.

And it might not be logical or important but it does make me a little sad to see a centuries old tradition (not the tree itself, true, but the decorations and celebrations and the twelve days of Christmas) being discarded for a clean house and 'tree has been up since 1st December' stuff.

ragdoll700 · 28/12/2016 19:28

We put it up after the 8th of Dec and take it down after the 6th of January but its your house do what you like

lilyb84 · 28/12/2016 19:37

You know what, I'm normally a very annoyingly stubborn person and stick to my guns. I was in the taking the decs down before NY camp. But this thread is actually reminding me of what it was like when I was a child without all the stress if cleaning and tidying, when Christmas was the whole period and not just the day. I might leave the up a bit longer this year.

Which also means I can continue to drink Baileys and eat chocolate until 7th Jan too, right? Awesome.

lilyb84 · 28/12/2016 19:37

*of, them... stupid phone

bibbitybobbityyhat · 28/12/2016 20:44

I feel completely in the middle of the Christmas period.

Anyone saying Christmas is over is just plain ignorant wrong.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 28/12/2016 20:45

I am in the 12 days camp - up late and down late (well 12 days )

Lifegavemelemons · 28/12/2016 21:21

12 days camp here too. Refuse to engage with the whole pre Christmas hype. The Christmas season for trees runs from Christmas Eve to 6th Jan. Dc might insist tree goes up earlier but the lazy sods never engage with taking it down - so I get to keep it until 6th

Welshrainbow · 28/12/2016 21:40

Just taken mine down, went up in 13th. I have a cat and a small child that keep destroying it and I need the space for all the new toys DS has been given by family. Usually take it down New Year's Eve but just couldn't wait this year.

Lweji · 28/12/2016 21:40

Which also means I can continue to drink Baileys and eat chocolate until 7th Jan too, right?

Oh, yes. Tree or no tree.

kitnkaboodle · 28/12/2016 21:41

On top of the sunset - I think it's a long time since everyone merrily feasted until Jan 6th. Think most people struggle to feel festive after Jan 1st ... but we once went to a holiday cottage in Yorkshire for NY and kept up the tree and festivities until the 4th. It snowed! Lovely. I am over-invested in this thread, but it's nice to find like-minded people. People who enjoy The Run Up then declutter on boxing day are not celebrating christmas.

Ruprecthepanbasher · 28/12/2016 21:52

My kids would be gutted if the tree came down so early! We put our tree up the first weekend in December and take it down the day before they go back to school.

Christmas for us it from when we break up from school / work until we go back. The days in between Christmas and New Year are for eating, drinking, parties, long walks, generally having a great time

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