Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taking down Christmas decorations

250 replies

Differentstarts · 30/12/2023 20:55

I know im being unreasonable as its none of my business what other people do but I get really annoyed at people who put Christmas decorations up in October and then take them down boxing day or like my friend Christmas day. I don't know why this annoys me but it does what happened to it being done on or at least around the 6th January. I'm just curious what others do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Differentstarts · 30/12/2023 21:46

electriclight · 30/12/2023 21:32

I'll tell you what annoys me. It's people who think the whole world should take their decs down on the entirely arbitrary 6th January and feel cross with anyone who instead makes their own traditions. Focus on yourself and not what other people are doing in their homes.

I don't think people have to take them down on the 6th Jan im saying it annoys me (I'm fully aware it shouldn't) that certain people put them up ridiculously early like oct/Nov and then are so sick of them that they take them down as soon as their kids go to bed Christmas day or on boxing day morning. I also know someone who on boxing day melted all the Christmas chocolate down to make one big bar to get rid of it as its no longer Christmas in their mind and they didn't want Christmas food in the house anymore. I just don't see the rush.

OP posts:
AffIt · 30/12/2023 21:47

Our decorations/tree don't go up until the weekend closest to Christmas Eve, then stay until 12th Night.

I'd quite like to extend that to Candlemas, but our house is too small.

MereDintofPandiculation · 30/12/2023 21:47

Put mine up at the beginning of Dec, but run up to Christmas is usually so hectic I don't feel I really get the chance to enjoy them until the quiet bit between Christmas and the New Year. So they stay up till at least Jan 6th.

But after Jan 6th I don't leave the curtains open so other people can see the tree.

firstcomeshappiness · 30/12/2023 21:48

They go up first weekend of Dec - would prefer to leave it later but almost all of DC’s friends have them up in November so I can’t keep them waiting any longer. Take them down before back to work/school so usually 4/5th Jan but we are hosting NYE this year so already taken them down to get the space back

Sparklesocks · 30/12/2023 21:50

I normally take mine down 29th-30th(ish) - but that’s because my birthday is 1st Jan and I like to separate it from Christmas (as much as I can anyway!!)

DrMadelineMaxwell · 30/12/2023 21:50

Ours stay up til new year's day.

DH and DC1 are back to work on the 2nd, and I'll be driving DC2 back to uni I think, so I'll be glad to have got them all down by then.

Projectme · 30/12/2023 21:51

Ours go up first weekend of Dec. Usually packed away by the time we go back to work on 2nd jan; purely because of having the time to do so before going back to work. We're starting to pack away tmrw but will be complete by Monday.

Torganer · 30/12/2023 21:51

Usually we have more time off in January, but all are back to work on 02, the cleaner is also coming on 02 Jan so want them to be able to properly clean. Had to get the tree out as our council were supposed to picking the trees up today (otherwise would have to wait another week). First time we’ve taken them down before NYE, but I will definitely do this again. It’s so nice to have everything sorted before the New Year, and means we can spend NYD doing fun things rather than sorting decorations out etc. Finally feels like we are looking forward to a fresh new year!

Lansonmaid · 30/12/2023 21:53

Ducksurprise · 30/12/2023 21:11

Normally I'm an early putter uper and early take a downer, like to have it down by NY, normally on 29/30th (Xmas day is v weird unless boxing day birthday and even then...)

But I was late this year and now interested in candlemass...when is that?

Candlemass is February 2nd and celebrates the presentation of Christ in the temple, where he was recognised by Simeon and Anna as the light of the world. It's also a day when traditionally the candles for the church year are blessed.

MammaTo · 30/12/2023 21:55

I’ve found it’s something being pushed on social media tbh, it’s like performative cleaning.

Ducksurprise · 30/12/2023 21:56

Thanks both. I am loving Candlemass. By 2nd Feb everything will be less bleak.

I have a real tree. I will see if it can make it until 02.02.24

Dymaxion · 30/12/2023 21:56

I tend to keep them up until Candlemass now, January is such a miserable month and the tree and lights don't take up much room, so they stay.

MañanaramasCat · 30/12/2023 21:57

We decorate, including putting the tree up, on Christmas Eve. We take everything down on 12th night. I realise we are probably in a minority.

Jackfrostnippingatmynose · 30/12/2023 21:58

Our decs went up first week dec this year which is early for us. Will be taking them down tomorrow as the clutter is starting to annoy me!

TeenagersAngst · 30/12/2023 21:59

I think a lot of people don't actually know about Twelfth Night so don't realise they're doing anything 'wrong'.

Elephantscantjump · 30/12/2023 22:00

I put mine up as close to the first as I can (but not November). They came down on 28th as I was back at work on 29th and like the house clean before I go back to work.

Iamnotagingerbread · 30/12/2023 22:04

Everything comes down New Years Day morning here. I like things tidy and clean for the new year.

willWillSmithsmith · 30/12/2023 22:10

I put them up a week before Christmas and take them down the day after NY (or the night of NY). Taking them down on Christmas Day seems a bit extreme.

Mxflamingnoravera · 30/12/2023 22:19

This is the first year in my 62 on the planet that I've enjoyed having Xmas deccos. They went up on 22 Dec (solstice) and they'll come down before I go back to work (2 Jan).
I've enjoyed seeing the lights and finally appreciated how lovely it is to have lights in the darkness of winter.

StinkerTroll · 30/12/2023 22:21

I feel like I have to leave my tree up until after New year.... feels a bit scroogeish to take it down any earlier but every year I'm eyeballing it around the 28th willing it to put itself away!!!!

alfagirl73 · 30/12/2023 22:21

Mine go up fairly early (Nov usually) - I'm in the process of taking them down today/tomorrow. Not because I'm sick of them - I was actually really liking them and it's a shame to take them down, but I know the second I go back to work it's going to be full on crazy busy and it's just easier for me to get everything squared away before New Year - fresh start to the year, ready to focus on work and other things. If I didn't do it now, there is a serious risk they'd still be up in March! LOL!

Disneydatknee88 · 30/12/2023 22:24

We usually put ours up the first week of December and they are all taken down by 27th. I love Christmas and I'm itching to put them up every year but I love taking them down again. The house always looks instantly tidy and clutter free.

Squarepeg79 · 30/12/2023 22:25

Can’t say I really care what other people do, but taking the decs down on Christmas Day is absolutely fucking miserable. What a sad person.
Put mine up the first week in December and usually take them down 2nd of Jan or thereabouts. Very occasionally I’ve taken them down just before or in New Year’s Eve-shift worker and I literally have to do it when I’ve had time. This year my tree is still fresh as the day it went up and I’m off work so I’ll be taking them down on 5th Jan.

KimberleyClark · 30/12/2023 22:26

We put ours up mid December and they are staying up til 6Jan.

MissingMoominMamma · 30/12/2023 22:28

I used to put my tree up on Christmas Eve and take it down on Jan 6th. I loved the lights in the aftermath of Christmas.

These days, I put it up late and take it down early. I fucking hate Christmas.

Swipe left for the next trending thread