To hate having Christmas decorations up after Christmas

[Butterflyfluff]

I get it if you are very religious but I’m not

Christmas is a celebration for us but not for religious reasons so I’m happy to put decorations up early, in order to countdown to Christmas

But once Christmas is over, I want them gone.

I love it that there’s houses now with all their lights up already.

That makes far more sense to me than having them up in January when it’s all over.

I usually put mine up first week of December perhaps and take them down on Twelfth Night, but last year was so shit with Covid and everything else that I didn't want to take them down.

Someone told me that in Poland they keep decorations up until Candlemas (2 Feb this year). Apologies to anyone in the Polish community if this is incorrect but I decided last year that that was a far better idea and I was doing that. I reckon I might do the same again this year. I felt cheerful and celebratory all the way through a miserable January last year. (Although my real Christmas tree looked a bit sad by February )

Depends what you mean by after Christmas. Christmas starts on Christmas Day and finishes on Twelfth Night. Advent decorations are put up on Advent Sunday, the chocolates calendar filled on the eve of the first of December. Christmas tree comes inside a bit before Christmas, usually the 21st to the 23rd, back outside before New Year. Cards and everything else stay up until Twelfth Night. Some 'Winter' (not Christmas) decorations stay up until Early February. So no Christmas decorations are up after Christmas though you might disagree.

I'm the same! I put them up last week of November and take them down boxing day. Mind you I'm quite tidy and have 3 young children so it may just be that I can't stand the clutter of new toys for 3 kids AND the decorations 😅

I think you are confusing Christmas with Advent, OP.

Christmas celebration begin on Christmas Eve and run to Twelfth Night or Candlemas.

My decorations are up 1st Dec to 6th Jan, roughly 10% of the year. And as a collection they must be worth £££, given my propensity to add a few each year.

I'm in the "you don't have a soul" camp, but then I collect Christmas traditions too from all cultures. I really like spreading out the season rsther than concentrating it all on one day.

I don't like them up after new year. I like to take them down New Year's Day but DH likes them up until the 6th. Drives me nuts. I make him take them down as I'm back at work then.

@Hollyhead

I find people who cut Christmas off at Boxing Day a bit soulless - it’s a red flag for people who like a commercial Christmas for me. I’m not religious, but there’s so much family joy to be had in the time between Christmas and new year, we prioritise different things than we do the rest of the year. It’s a lovely joyful time.

This. ^ I find it bizarre to take them down on Boxing Day. Although I don't know a soul who does in real life. Only in the parallel world of mumsnet do I hear about this.

@Butterflyfluff YABU.

@thecatsthecats

My decorations are up 1st Dec to 6th Jan, roughly 10% of the year. And as a collection they must be worth £££, given my propensity to add a few each year.

I'm in the "you don't have a soul" camp, but then I collect Christmas traditions too from all cultures. I really like spreading out the season rsther than concentrating it all on one day.

This. ^ It's a whole season for me too!

Know what you mean. Love Christmas but I’m keen to move on and embrace a new year asap. We’ve kept them up until 6th mainly because the kids are traditionalists but with the youngest now 18, this will probably be the last year.

YABVU. Christmas isn’t over on Boxing Day.

It lasts for twelve days until Epiphany (6 Jan) (or Candlemas, 2nd Feb if you’re really committed).

If you have DC it must be bloody miserable for them to get everything stripped bare on Boxing Day while everyone else still has trees and decorations up and while they’re still playing with their new presents.

Anyone putting decorations up this early in November before it’s even Advent is a moron.

And if you are not religious why would it matter about Advent or Epiphany? Everyone makes their own traditions - what is right for one family will be different from another.
We’re going away on Boxing Day evening so the decorations will come down that morning so they are out of the way - don’t want to have to dismantle them when we get back in the NY.

And if you are not religious why would it matter about Advent or Epiphany? Everyone makes their own traditions - what is right for one family will be different from another.
Well anyone can decide to have Christmas from mid November until Boxing Day if they want, or in July, or whenever. Doesn't mean people who have decorations up until Twelfth Night are leaving them up after Christmas just because you've chosen to celebrate early.

I used to be very traditional
about it and take them down on Jan 6th as that's how mum did it.
But then years ago shops didn't bring the Easter eggs out on Boxing Day and tv adverts weren't all about booking your summer holiday.

I now take them down by New Years eve and quite like those last few days before going back to work on 4th Jan with a fresh clean house without the clutter and the general feel everywhere is moving towards Spring.

@nohouseyet

For our family, Christmas begins Christmas Eve and ends New Year’s day.

Between the 24th and 31st we are still seeing family, eating lovely food, watching films and generally holidaying. We stretch gifts out over Christmas day and boxing day too.

But when do you take your tree down? I have people over for new year....but my tree and decks are back in The loft

@Hollyhead

I find people who cut Christmas off at Boxing Day a bit soulless - it’s a red flag for people who like a commercial Christmas for me. I’m not religious, but there’s so much family joy to be had in the time between Christmas and new year, we prioritise different things than we do the rest of the year. It’s a lovely joyful time.

There’s plenty of soul and family joy in my house right up until I’m back in work after new year....me, my partner, mum, 3 kids, 3 grandkids, siblings, nephews nieces, great nephews, great nieces... just that the tree and decs are all gone before new year...I love a nice clean house to start the new year

I get depressed when the decorations come down so they stay until after new year. To me New Year is a part of Christmas celebrations.

I take my decorations down on Christmas night when the kids are in bed! However, it is DS's birthday on Boxing Day so whilst we take the tree etc down, it is replaced with birthday decorations. It can suck having a birthday so close to Christmas, so this way DS has some separation between the festivities. Before we had DS, we did keep the decorations up until 7th January (this is the official christmas day in my culture). Agree with PP who have said that every family has their own traditions so there's no wrong or right way to decorate your house and celebrate.

Christmas celebrations here run through till just after New Year’s Day. Don’t always keep the tree etc till 6th but definitely to 2/3rd. I cannot imagine a New Years celebration without decs still up.

@VestaTilley

YABVU. Christmas isn’t over on Boxing Day.

It lasts for twelve days until Epiphany (6 Jan) (or Candlemas, 2nd Feb if you’re really committed).

If you have DC it must be bloody miserable for them to get everything stripped bare on Boxing Day while everyone else still has trees and decorations up and while they’re still playing with their new presents.

Anyone putting decorations up this early in November before it’s even Advent is a moron.

The Christian Christmas is 12 days long.

That's all

Christmas is a multi-cultural celebration celebrated by many different people. There is no moronic way to celebrate. I'm fairly sure the kids aren't miserable just because the decorations have been put away on a day that is different to yours.... And clearly not "everyone" had their decs up on boxing Day...

Who gives a damn, you do you but most people want to enjoy them into early in the new year, if you don't then take them down. People really overthink things.