Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

When does Christmas 'end' for you?

205 replies

AD80 · 15/12/2021 13:04

When I was a kid I felt it was different compared to now. I felt like Christmas lasted for days after the big day, it would still feel magical between Christmas and new year. We'd visit family between Christmas and new year. I'm not sure if it was just because I was a kid, I was fortunate enough my parents had jobs where they'd be off for the whole festive period. But it felt like shops shut for a few days too! 🤷‍♀️

I'm not sure if it's just me or because I'm grown up but these days I feel like people forget about Christmas soon as the day is over. No Christmas songs played after the 25th! Shops back to normal. Often people take their decs down

What does it 'end' for you.

Won't be ready to let go this year. We all have covid at the minute. Dd was last to get and she won't be out of isolation until the 25th so we've pretty much missed the whole of December which makes me so sad 😪

I just feel like making it last this year. I don't take my tree down until after New Year's Day anyway!

I am going to look at doing things we'd normally do now after Christmas and hoping it'll still fee Christmassy !

OP posts:
TheWelshposter · 15/12/2021 17:53

@Justme10

When the schools go back. I love that chilled week between Christmas and new year when you don't know what day it is and you just relax with family watching tv/films and eating leftovers Xmas Grin
This is us. Best week of the year in our house for eating Christmas food, playing and watching tv. Sometimes a trip to panto or meet old friends in the pub. It's like being in a bubble for one week a year.
DappyApple · 15/12/2021 18:06

When we were kids Christmas wasn’t over until I’d had my birthday (twelfth night) so tree and decs would come down on 6th, the day after.

Nowadays tree always stays for New Years Eve and New Year’s Day and will come down anytime from the 3rd but no later than the 6th.

fastandthecurious · 15/12/2021 18:08

I felt the same as a child but I think it was because my parents were off work while we were off school.
As an adult I've always worked in jobs were we close only Christmas Day (but I usually refuse to work Boxing Day) so it feels like it's just 2 days for us. My partner has all of Christmas off this year and I'm on mat leave so planning to make the most of it!

LowlandLucky · 15/12/2021 18:11

Christmas ends on the 12th night but Ne'erday ( New year celebrations) ends on 31 January. Anyone entering our home that we haven't seen to wish a happy Ne'erday will be offered a drink and food. My Mother used to pour any left over alcohol down the sink on February 1st as she only allowed alcohol in the house for Ne'erday.

DappyApple · 15/12/2021 18:24

Also as a child I remember the sales didn’t actually start until January and the shops definitely weren’t open on Boxing Day so most people didn’t think about going shopping straight after Christmas. And would hold out for the sales. Also back then parents were more likely to have the week between Christmas and New year off work. (Two week shutdown)

But now shops and workplaces very rarely close so you don’t have that clear definition of it being a national holiday.
It’s back to the grindstone as soon as Christmas Day is over!

MincePieIceCream · 15/12/2021 18:28

When I go back to work and the kids go back to school in early January.

OfMinceAndMen · 15/12/2021 18:29

The first working day after the New Year for me.

HibiscusIsland · 15/12/2021 18:30

On NYD I feel like stopping feasting and starting eating healthily, so NYD really. The shine goes off it from 27th onwards a bit though. I'm in Christmas mode from 1st December really. I try not to go all out with the feasting until Christmas eve if possible though, so it's just for a week. I put the decorations up and start watching Christmas films on the 1st though so I get a month to enjoy them.

Gruffaloonrepeat · 15/12/2021 18:43

Usually the 2nd/3rd January, basically the Sunday before back to work, so it’s all fresh. I keep little lights and candles out though to brighten up dull January.
I’d hate to take it all down Boxing Day, seems weird 🤷🏻‍♀️You have to sort of relax into it for a bit. Must admit though, by new year I’m sometimes itching inside to get it all fresh and clean again.

immersivereader · 15/12/2021 18:54

Dec 30.

I hate NYE

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 15/12/2021 18:55

Christmas finishes on January 2nd and the decorations come down, having been put on 23rd when we finish work.

AutumnAlmanack · 15/12/2021 18:58

I like to clear the house out on New Year's Day - decorations come down, house is cleaned, and I can finally get rid of all the 2021 calendars and diaries which have accumulated through the year. I was always taught as a child that it was unlucky to throw about a calendar which still had dates in the future! Thank you Grandma!!!

AutumnAlmanack · 15/12/2021 18:58

throw 'away' not 'about'!

ThankYouVeryMuchGerry · 15/12/2021 19:00

We start on 12th Dec, putting up the tree and decorations. We keep them up until twelfth night. Feasting starts on Xmas Eve with a family party, and continues until New Years weekend finishes (we usually go down to Wales for NY but not last or this year as in-laws are sheltering).

We've got the step kids between Xmas and NYE so really looking forward to that. I love the week between Xmas and NY!

And we continue to be hygge until mid-Feb when the days start to lengthen.

Grumpyosaurus · 15/12/2021 19:00

@Frymetothemoon

12th night for me, but then it comes from living in France. Once the Galette des Rois is done, then Christmas is over
I was introduced that a few years ago.

I might have to make one this year.

But to answer OP's question, Christmas does pretty much feel over once school restarts and I'm back at work.

Swirlywoo · 15/12/2021 19:02

12th night here. I'd not put my tree up til 24th if my kids would let me get away with this.

80sMum · 15/12/2021 19:06

I used to love Christmas, but these days it's become just one more thing on the list of things that I need to do.
So for me it now ends when I've fulfilled my obligations. This year (if omicron doesn't scupper it!) that means it will end on the evening of Christmas Day, when family have gone home.

RaininSummer · 15/12/2021 19:07

The day I go back to work so this year it's the 30th.

mamaduckbone · 15/12/2021 19:13

After New Year. I always want rid of the decorations and get back to normal before I go back to work. The bit between Christmas and New Year is definitely still Christmas for us though - lots of family time, visiting, eating and drinking.

Tittyfilarious81 · 15/12/2021 19:15

It will all come down the day after boxing day I don't like them up past Christmas at all I never have , I know some people like having the up for new years but I don't like that I've always seen that as taking an old year into the new for me .

Tittyfilarious81 · 15/12/2021 19:16

So for me it enfsvsfter boxing day

Tittyfilarious81 · 15/12/2021 19:16

Ends the day after boxing day that should say

Weaverspin · 15/12/2021 19:17

Christmas for me is over after Boxing Day, but we keep the tree and everything up until 1st January, then it all gets cleared away! Then we get into Wassailing season, which is an excuse to visit old orchards, light fires, watch Morris and Mummers, share the wassail bowl, and make a lot of noise to wake the apple and pear trees up. Although possibly not this coming January. Again. Sad

Hiybbiiytc · 15/12/2021 19:26

End of boxing day for me, then life goes back to normal.

TheShadoutCrepes · 15/12/2021 19:37

The Sunday before 5th Jan is when our decorations come down.