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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think Christmas finishes by New Year?

169 replies

PineappleDanish · 27/12/2019 09:50

Lots of threads about people taking down their decorations to be met with a flurry of "oh no, Christmas only STARTS on the 25th and runs to 6th Jan!"

This wasn't a thing when I was little, decorations always went up around mid-December, down either just before New Year or just after. I don't think I knew anyone who did the 12th night thing, and Epiphany wasn't a word I ever heard anyone use in my church going family. Just not a "thing".

Is this regional? Is keeping your decorations up to 6th Jan a more "English" thing while us Scots, Irish and Welsh are more focused on the new year hoolie? Or is it a Catholic/Protestant tradition thing given that many southern european catholic countries like Italy and Spain traditionally celebrate Epiphany and the three wise men bringing gifts rather than Santa Claus?

YABU - of course Christmas starts on 24th dec and isn't over until 6th Jan

YANBU - starts at some point in December, done and dusted by 27th.

OP posts:
Jollitwiglet · 27/12/2019 10:26

Our tree went up on 18th December and I would very much like it down today. I would have taken it down last night but my husband said no

ineedanotherholiday · 27/12/2019 10:27

Mine will probably be down next week before going back to work on the 2nd. Like to have a clear house before going into the new year.

reginafelangee · 27/12/2019 10:27

Starts mid December and ends 2nd Jan for us.

And Hogmanay is as important as Christmas to us.

Paintedmaypole · 27/12/2019 10:27

Traditionally it was the 12 days of Christmas, so from 24th Dec to 6th Jan. Most people don't keep to that now. I tend to put decorations up the weekend before Christmas and take them down around 3rd Jan. I am not a fan of putting the tree up very early and getting sick of seeing it by New Year but each to their own. ( I think it is led by shops going for early decorating to encourage Christmas spending).

fligglepige · 27/12/2019 10:28

In Ireland here and as others have said there's something about bad luck. They have to be down by the 11th Jan I think as well because that's bad luck too. I usually leave mine up until a couple of days before I go back to work but I'm going back on the second this year so will probably take it down on New Years Day.

Okbutno · 27/12/2019 10:28

I love the lead up to Christmas. So do lots of festive things and put non tree decorations up in early December. Put the tree up mid December (so I don't have loads of dropping) then take down early Jan. Probably 3rd ish. But it depends when it falls regarding going back to work etc.

Ive been surprised to read threads on here where people seem tk think Christmas is over on 26th. Feels a bit sad tbh. I love the chill time between Christmas and New year. It's definitely the festive period.

lovesdaisy · 27/12/2019 10:32

When I was a kid it was always 12 days before and 12 days after. As an adult with my own family, Christmas starts on the 1st December and I would say the actual festivities run until New Year’s Day but the decorations are taken down on Boxing Day or day after Boxing Day purely to give us more space

Fizzypoo · 27/12/2019 10:33

I take mine down before new years but it won't be today either.

When I was unhappy and not content in life I'd take them down boxing day as I couldn't stand the muddles. I'm now a lot happier and more relaxed so don't.

I do, however, like a tidy house to wake up to on new years day, fresh flowers instead of fairy lights and a tree for me. That's probably because I really wish for spring in January and have sat around eating chocolate for too long!

sashh · 27/12/2019 10:34

I started life in Yorkshire, the tree went up Xmas eve and everything came down 12th night.

Moved to Lancashire aged 10 and everyone had their tree up by mid December.

Parents were RC, but my mum was a convert and had done the same growing up.

We do have Irish ancestry on both sides though.

BlueEyedPersephone · 27/12/2019 10:36

If you are religious and celebrating Christ's birth then down on 12th night, if you aren't, who gives a fuck, it is up to you!

PassMeAnotherCoffee · 27/12/2019 10:37

Twelve days of Christmas here. Brought up by 'Scottish protestants' (OP's words) but Irish, English, Methodist and Catholic members of extended family all took them down on 6 January, which we knew was epiphany.
Epiphany was certainly a thing in my childhood protestant church as it is in the one I attend now 300 miles further south.

In practice this year the tree will come down on Sunday 5th as DH and I need to do it together and he's away for work the rest of the week.

BlackCatSleeping · 27/12/2019 10:38

When we were kids, we did the 12th night thing. I actually took my decorations down this morning. I try and get the house clean and ready for new year.

perpetuallybewildered · 27/12/2019 10:39

@Anoisagusaris

I’m Irish and decorations always went up in our house around Dec 15th - we now put them up around the 8th - and MUST stay up until the 6th, but no later. Considered to be unlucky to do otherwise.

Exactly the same in our house, I’m almost 70 and haven’t changed my thinking on this. Xmas Grin

NoBlueXmasLightsAllowed · 27/12/2019 10:43

I put the decorations up in the last week November because I thought since I was spending loads of money buying presents and whatnot I might as well start feeling festive! I feel like putting them away ASAP so I can start "spring" cleaning.

Who really gives a fuck what convention is, you do you.

LynetteScavo · 27/12/2019 10:45

As a child it was tree and decoration up on Christmas Eve, down in 12th night.

We now put decorations up mid December and take them down before the DC go back to school.

christmasathome · 27/12/2019 10:47

Neither for me. I don't really care when people put up their decs (we have ours up for the first dec) but for me new year is still a part of Christmas celebrations so they stay up till the 2nd at least. Depending on when we go back to work they may stay up later.

NameChangeNugget · 27/12/2019 10:48

Goes down on 12th night

Blobby10 · 27/12/2019 10:48

My tree went up on 8th December this year and is now starting to smell a bit so will be coming down this weekend. It would drive me round the twist to have decorations up later than NYE and definitely not once I've gone back to work on 2nd Jan! I would much rather have them up in December for the build up and actual day plus Boxing day,

redcarbluecar · 27/12/2019 10:49

Christmas is over at New Year for me. I like taking the decs down and starting the NY with a ‘fresh’ sort of feeling in the house. I’m happy for other people to be different to me though, especially as I’ll never visit the vast majority of their houses.

BiddyPop · 27/12/2019 10:50

It’s to do with the religious underlying reason for Christmas - 6th January being the feast of the Epiphany, when the 3 Wise Men were supposed to have arrived in Bethlehem after following the star telling of the Messiah’s birth.

It is not a new thing.

But as a lot of people don’t see Christmas as a religious celebration, then I guess the reason WHY Christmas lasts from Christmas Eve to Epiphany has also faded from common parlance.

alittleprivacy · 27/12/2019 10:53

I’m Irish, Christmas used to traditionally start on the weekend of or before the 8th of December, when the Toy Show was on, Santa grottos opened, Switzers, Cashes, Todds and Moons unveiled their Christmas windows and company kids parties would happen. Then end on the 6th of January with little Christmas, women’s Christmas in Cork/Kerry.

Nowadays Christmas starts on the last weekend of November and continues until Jan 6th with the Women’s Christmas aspect having gone nationwide. Since my DS was about 3 I’ve actively celebrated each of the 12 days and made Twelfthnight an actual thing by reviving all the lovely aspects of the day that our ancestors celebrated that we have lost to commercialism. A huge build up to a celebration that peaks and ends on Christmas Day is rotten. And letting it ease out with nearly 2 weeks of gentle celebration mixed with several highlights is much, much nicer.

FinallyHere · 27/12/2019 10:55

Absolutely, do whatever suits you.

I do love the season of advent ( expectation, coming in Latin) and am sorry for anyone who misses it because the commercialisation of Christmas which has taken over in shops and in entertainment.

Advent is much gentler and more in tune with my own feelings at this time of year. For example, we have a wreath with four candles and light one new one on each of the Sundays in advent running up to Christmas Eve, when the tree goes up.

We are lucky that work is quiet for both of us in the period between Christmas and New Year is quiet. We use it to 'chill' and catch up with people we do not see often enough.

Epiphany usually marks the last chance for celebration before we go back to work.

Very grateful to everyone who is working over this time as we did when younger.

ShetlandWife · 27/12/2019 10:56

Foula residents are practically Scandinavian

I'll let you tell them. I'm sure they'll be delighted to hear your insight on the matter! Grin

RuggerHug · 27/12/2019 11:00

Finishes at Women's Christmas on the 6thXmas Grin

StillCoughingandLaughing · 27/12/2019 11:01

I grew up having the tree up until 6 January and do the same as an adult. I didn’t realise anyone else did it differently until the era of Facebook, when I’d see posts on 27 December saying ‘Can’t wait to get the decs down! Sick of the things!’ I’ve never understood it. I know it’s not my home so I shouldn’t care, but it just seems so miserable.

Cannot imagine having decorations up from the end of November to the first week in January? 6 weeks of the things??

This is what I really don’t get. ‘6 weeks of the things??’ - as if it’s something to be endured rather than enjoyed. Why bother putting them up if you feel like that?