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Original poster

Taking the tree and decorations down on Boxing Day

141 replies

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 19/12/2022 13:59

I mean, what? It is still the Christmas / festive period right up to New Year's Day.

I don't understand why decorations are put up as early as the day after Halloween (which I have seen people squealing about this year like no other) and then taken down whilst it is actually still Christmas.

Mine aren't going up until Wednesday this week at the earliest and will come down 6 January as I'm away for a few days after New Year.

OP posts:
Bestcatmum · 19/12/2022 17:58

I dont put any up.

HelenHywater · 19/12/2022 18:16

I think it's easier to keep the tree up if you only put it up a few days before Christmas. I normally get mine early, so have had enough by the end of Dec. One of my children has a birthday on the 2nd Jan, so I like it to be non-Christmassy by then. And am too superstitious to take it down on 1 Jan (and have to sweep). So I normally take it down before then. I like to start the new year with an empty, clean house - like a fresh start.

This year I have only had the tree a week so I'm not fed up with it yet. I may even keep it up until the 6 Jan!

TerfOnATrain · 19/12/2022 18:17

Mine go up 1st December and down the day after Boxing Day. I’m done with them and Christmas by then, and since it starts in September in the shops I really don’t care to extend it beyond Boxing Day.

I love waking up on NYD to a clean, tidy and clutter free house.

Each to their own.

DappledThings · 19/12/2022 18:21

If it were down to me it would be illegal to have them up before Advent or down before Twelfth Night!

Chickpea17 · 19/12/2022 18:50

Ours go up the first weekend of December and come down Boxing Day.

Rockingcloggs · 19/12/2022 18:51

Mine will be up until the 5th. Same as every year, I put it up last weekend. I love my decorations and I love dark cosy nights with them. I space different things out through Christmas ie Christmas Eve at my mums, Christmas Day at ILs, Boxing Day at friends. A cottage for a few days! Then friends over for new year and my mum and dad will be coming for a festive dinner on the 4th! Christmas isn't just the 24th/25th for us!

NancyPickford · 19/12/2022 19:10

Mine come down on Twelfth Night, but it was always then in my childhood home, and I just follow the tradition.

NewToWoo · 19/12/2022 19:35

I like to take them down on 2nd December but DH always fights for them to stay up until 12th Night. I just instinctibvely want that clean slate feeling in new year - fresh, spacious house, whiet flowers, not loads of red and gold clutter.
But boxing day is too abrupt. The season lasts until NYD. And traditionally until 5/6th Jan, though now it starts on the firts day of advent, I think that's too long.

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 19/12/2022 20:34

A lady from NCT group said hers come down on 26th because it's her DH birthday.
I can't imagine a grown man being so precious about his bday? Having all Decs down??

BiscuitLover3678 · 19/12/2022 20:35

I agree. It needs to be there for new year!

BiscuitLover3678 · 19/12/2022 20:35

Plus often there are presents still under it from visiting family and friends later on.

AndrewGloubermanisaperv · 19/12/2022 20:41

Meh ,who gives a shit

DaisyWaldron · 19/12/2022 20:45

We've always celebrated Epiphany in my family, so any new year good resolutions start after that, otherwise the cake and night out would feel a bit too disruptive. And I couldn't put the decorations away before the wise men turn up in the Nativity scene! But Epiphany doesn't seem to be a thing in England, so I can see why people who don't celebrate it might want to take their decorations down sooner and put them up earlier. I like to do my spring cleaning for the start of February, for Candlemas/St Brigid's Day/Imbolc, which gives me 3 weeks for a proper declutter and scrub once the decorations come down. Basically, I like celebrating things, and have lots of little festivities throughout the year.

Original poster
ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 19/12/2022 21:09

AndrewGloubermanisaperv · 19/12/2022 20:41

Meh ,who gives a shit

Me. Hence me starting the thread. OK with you, Grinch?

OP posts:
BornOnTwelfthNight · 19/12/2022 21:15

I remember reading on here a few years ago there was a poster who took them down on Christmas Night, as that’s when she deemed Christmas to be over!!!

When I was young they always came down on the 6th (as you’ve probably guessed from my user name) my birthday is Twelfth night (5th) so the tree and decorations formed part of my Birthday, I loved it.
I like to enjoy mine as long as possible, up at the very start of December and I always try to keep as close to Twelfth night as possible for taking them down, depending on whether we have plans or not for the actual day.

But I do like to have them up on New Year’s Eve and day, it wouldn’t be the same without them.

Baconand · 19/12/2022 21:18

Those that take decorations down before twelfth night would be taken out and shot if I ruled the land.

Fortunately for the land I do not, so instead I just add them to my imaginary black book of bastards and judge them silently.

For the hard of thinking I am being lighthearted-ish

GrumpyPanda · 19/12/2022 21:19

South Germany here. Tree goes up Christmas eve and comes down after Epiphany. That's also when trees get collected, usually by church youth groups or similar.
We still use live candles, too, and the tree gets lit for the first time Christmas eve after dusk in an otherwise dark room along with carols and presents. We'll light it a few more times during Christmas season, not every evening though as it's quite a faff to light/extinguish and also to restock all the candles.

YomAsalYomBasal · 19/12/2022 21:24

My DDs birthday is the 27th so I like to get them gone at the end of Boxing Day and put up birthday banners instead. Helps her not feel her entire day is overshadowed by Christmas.

GrumpyPanda · 19/12/2022 21:24

Oh yes and Catholic villages still have Epiphany singers going door to door blessing the house and writing C+M+B over the doors in chalk. In folk lore, that's the names of the three sages - Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar - although actually it's Latin for Christ bless this house. I think these days you have to sign up beforehand to be on the route.

JackieDaws · 19/12/2022 21:25

BornOnTwelfthNight · 19/12/2022 21:15

I remember reading on here a few years ago there was a poster who took them down on Christmas Night, as that’s when she deemed Christmas to be over!!!

When I was young they always came down on the 6th (as you’ve probably guessed from my user name) my birthday is Twelfth night (5th) so the tree and decorations formed part of my Birthday, I loved it.
I like to enjoy mine as long as possible, up at the very start of December and I always try to keep as close to Twelfth night as possible for taking them down, depending on whether we have plans or not for the actual day.

But I do like to have them up on New Year’s Eve and day, it wouldn’t be the same without them.

There was someone on here bragging a couple of years ago that she ripped all the decorations down after Xmas lunch because it was all over and didn't care that it upset her children.

I think a lot of the Boxing Day down people on here revel in spoiling things for others, especially their children.

Wonnle · 19/12/2022 21:34

If I was left to my own devices I wouldn't even bother putting the ruddy things up in the first place

Mrsfussypants1 · 19/12/2022 21:42

Up 12 days before and down again 12 days after. As a child I loved that bit in-between christmas and new year and the tree and its sparkle were a big part of it. Chilled days at home all the good stuff on TV in the background, toys still to be opened and played with, the odd family gathering, returning from panto and the tree being up and magical. For me it was still festive celebrations until return to school, not boxing day. I couldn't care less if others think its over boxing day, it isn't in out family.

TheEvening · 19/12/2022 21:50

For me Boxing Day is still very much part of Christmas. We usually see family and have another Christmas lunch/buffet or party food, plus more presents etc. If we weren't seeing family we'd still be eating Christmas food and enjoying our gifts and watching movies etc. That goes on for basically the whole week in between!

I love having ours up for NYE, many happy memories of sipping fizz with DH with the tree lights and candles lit, quietly waiting for the new year to roll in.

We have a couple of Christmas-time birthdays (including one on Christmas Day itself) in our family and honestly they don't really care if the decorations are up or not. It's just part of it.

I knew someone who always put them up for her birthday... 24th of October Confused and took them down on boxing day.

BornOnTwelfthNight · 19/12/2022 21:57

There was someone on here bragging a couple of years ago that she ripped all the decorations down after Xmas lunch because it was all over and didn't care that it upset her children

Probably the same person that I’m thinking of, I thought it was evening/night but I do remember though, she did seem quite proud of the fact she was done with Christmas before the clock chimed midnight!

DuchessOfDisco · 19/12/2022 22:00

Because to me, Christmas is about looking Back at the year gone by with my family, celebrating the highs and lows. New Year is about looking forward at the year to come. I just can’t start a fresh new year with the decorations of last year still hanging up. The week between Christmas and new year is a bit like a spring clean for me so yes decorations come down.

plus also, 3 of my dc have birthdays within the 3 weeks following, so to us come midnight on Boxing Day, Christmas is over and birthday season begins