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Christmas

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Original poster

How long do you keep decorations up?

171 replies

ODFOgrinch · 02/01/2022 18:53

I'm a bit sad to see so many are taking their decorations down before 12th night, but it has made me wonder...
Are the people who decorate early the same people who get sick of the tree and take it down early?

So, how long are your tree and decorations up ? Ours went up on 17th (a week later than usual as we had COvID) and will be up until the 6th Jan, so they will have been up for 20 days.
How about your house?

OP posts:
BlwyddynNewydd2022 · 03/01/2022 01:08

Decorations went up second weekend of December, came down today.

We have a real tree and it looks a bit limp by now so I like to get rid before it drops all its pine needles.

SpeedRunParent · 03/01/2022 08:46

I asked the same question too. Mine went up spectacularly late this year ( xmas Eve!) but I had decorating to finish. I normally do them at about 18th-ish and then down before school starts or definitely by 12th night.
I decorate my apple tree for the winter solstice though and leave that up until the spring equinox.

NoWordForFluffy · 03/01/2022 08:49

@1stWorldProblems

Up on 19th (having also decorated Grandma's on 15th for her). Down on 6th Jan - we take our real tree out to the garden, prop it up & set light to it. A Viking / pagan send off that means Xmas doesn't end quietly. This year we will have 3 trees to both as grandma & a family of friends now also join in. We toast the tree with supper too so Epiphany ends with good company. OP looks to be right - those who put up early, take down early too.
Early according to others. Not according to them!

There is no 'right' way to do Christmas / decorations / trees etc; it's all personal choice. All the 'I don't understand why others do things differently to me' is really odd to me. Because people do, as per our own free will! 🤷‍♀️

BurntToastAgain · 03/01/2022 08:54

I’m going to take mine down today, purely because it’s the last day before I go back to work. I don’t need another task to try to do on the 6th alongside work and the kids.

I put it up on the 9th because that’s the date that the Christmas tree farm delivered to my area. I decided slightly early was better than waiting a week.

Iseeyoulookingatme · 03/01/2022 09:08

I put mine up extra early this year at the end of November and I'm going to take them down on the 5th of January when ds goes back to school.

sofakingcool · 03/01/2022 09:40

Tree/decorations go up usually second weekend of December- after DS2's birthday.

We're taking them down today. No set day for taking down, just usually the weekend before the 6th

ArblemarzipanTFruitcake · 03/01/2022 10:07

Mine are coming down today because I'm back at work tomorrow. WFH so I don't want to be staring at a reminder that it was the Christmas holidays but now it isn't anymore.

Starlightstarbright1 · 03/01/2022 10:11

Apart from the tradition... I don't know why people want them up post Christmas as its over.

I kept mine up till New years day this year - late for me.

DaisyWaldron · 03/01/2022 11:13

@Starlightstarbright1

Apart from the tradition... I don't know why people want them up post Christmas as its over.

I kept mine up till New years day this year - late for me.

For you, Christmas is over. For me, it doesn't start until Christmas day, and ends at Epiphany. Taking it down straight after Christmas day means missing out on the whole of the Christmas season.
anilluminatednewyearforme · 03/01/2022 11:14

Ours was up the last weekend in November this year, a week earlier than normal and it's all come down today.

I want it all away and tidy before the return to work/school!

BonnesVacances · 03/01/2022 11:18

Up earlier than usual this year on the first weekend in December, as it's usually the weekend after. They're coming down today before school starts back tomorrow. We're not fed up with them yet.

lollipoprainbow · 03/01/2022 11:23

Apart from the tradition... I don't know why people want them up post Christmas as its over.

I don't know why people feel the need to put their trees up in November !

Pegasussnail · 03/01/2022 11:28

Have everything down except the tree (dh will cut it up later)
Like looking at the lights for one more day.
I've a lot ready to be organised in the spare room (nightmare)

Eg I want to make sure the Christmas jumpers and elf is nearer the top so I can make sure they fit early on next winter.

TwinkleTwinkleLittleStarFightr · 03/01/2022 13:30

@Starlightstarbright1

Apart from the tradition... I don't know why people want them up post Christmas as its over.

I kept mine up till New years day this year - late for me.

Because it isn’t over! It has literally only just started on 25th December. Christmas runs from 25th Dec to 5th January. Before that is Advent, not Christmas Grin
NoWordForFluffy · 03/01/2022 13:39

Because it isn’t over! It has literally only just started on 25th December. Christmas runs from 25th Dec to 5th January. Before that is Advent, not Christmas

Only if you're bothered about the historic tradition of the twelve days of Christmas. For those of us who worked in between Christmas and new year, and are also back tomorrow, Christmas is when we make it.

Nobody has to follow the old traditions if they don't want to. Those that do, fair enough, it doesn't make others who don't wrong, they're just doing it how they see fit and it fits into their lives. As it should be!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/01/2022 13:40

My Ds birthday is December so we don't decorate till after then anyway ( usually about the 14th or nearest weekend )

On Dec 1st :
Dec 1st Boxes
Christmas toilet paper/straws/tea towels/handtowels /bedding /shower-curtain /Christmas oilcloth table cover /Christmas cushions and throw (apart frm the loo roll and straws these are years old )
Advent Tree (tiny)
DD Beauty Advent Calendar
Cadbury calendar

We do minimal decorations - this year was a door wreath, a lit bannister swag, lights over the landing
Couple of nice lit decorations
No tree , the cats are vandals Xmas Shock

Keeping the bedding on a while ( its winter rather than Christmas) for the cold weather
Everything else has been bagged up to go in the attic

I do miss it all when it goes but my DC are adults now so not the same bump back to earth as it as when they were little
And this year I had Covid so I'm in isolation till tonight and back to work tomorrow .

copernicium · 03/01/2022 13:46

Down on 1st or 2nd depending on activities/plans. I put it up on 1st Dec but I'm not sick of it at all, I love it and feel sad when it's gone. But it feels wrong to be going back to school and work for a new year, with them still up. (I work at home with clients too.)

TwinkleTwinkleLittleStarFightr · 03/01/2022 13:49

@NoWordForFluffy

Because it isn’t over! It has literally only just started on 25th December. Christmas runs from 25th Dec to 5th January. Before that is Advent, not Christmas

Only if you're bothered about the historic tradition of the twelve days of Christmas. For those of us who worked in between Christmas and new year, and are also back tomorrow, Christmas is when we make it.

Nobody has to follow the old traditions if they don't want to. Those that do, fair enough, it doesn't make others who don't wrong, they're just doing it how they see fit and it fits into their lives. As it should be!

I completely agree!

I also have friends who celebrate at the beginning of Dec, others who celebrate Yule.

It’s great that people can celebrate when it is meaningful for them (but odd that so many seem to be a little resentful of the 12 days).

Jumpingintomenopause · 03/01/2022 13:50

We all currently have covid or would have came down today. Possibly tomorrow or Wednesday.

cobblers123 · 03/01/2022 14:02

Everything down earlier today and in the eaves where it will stay until about November when most of it will go on Freecycle.

Will get very small tree for next Christmas with a few decorations and lights and that will be it.

NoWordForFluffy · 03/01/2022 14:03

It’s great that people can celebrate when it is meaningful for them (but odd that so many seem to be a little resentful of the 12 days).

I've seen no resentment of the twelve days. The only judgment I've seen is from people who do follow the twelve days failing to appreciate that it's not compulsory to, or a failing not to! Nobody who doesn't follow that tradition cares about it. Which is the point!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 03/01/2022 14:08

Ours went up indoors on 18th December and came e down today as we’re back to work tomorrow.

Outside lights go on on 1sr December and are left on (morning and evening on a timer) until 12the night then switched off until I have time to take them down!

RaisinRainbow · 03/01/2022 14:14

I was a bit late with the tree this year, it didn't go up until mid December. Came down between Xmas and NYE, I just felt Christmas was over.

I'm more attached to the twinkly white icicle lights outside as they are very merry in the winter gloom that is clearly going to persist for the next month and more.

But I will take them down in the coming days as would feel super-awkward as the only house in the street with them still up!

degsydoodoos · 03/01/2022 14:16

I always try to leave mine up until 6th January, as that's what we always did when I was growing up. There's been the odd occasion I have taken them down a day or two earlier, but never much earlier. I always feel sad when I read on here or Facebook, posts from people who "can't wait to rip down these decorations" with such aggression. I read more than one post here this year from people who actually took down their trees on Christmas Day!! I like them staying up, they make me happy and cheer me up in these dark and gloomy days.

foreverlove · 03/01/2022 14:16

Ours went up 4th December - which is quite early for us but was feeling unusually festive - and came down yesterday. Seems pointless keeping up until the 12th night.