Please could someone tell me when the decorations should be taken down?

You sound like me, Kalu. I do enjoy Christmas but unless the grandchildren are planning a visit, I’m ready to move on. It doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed the decorations.

In our house it's Twelfth Night, 5th January except for the crib into which the wise men go on 6th January, (Epiphany) and that stays up until Candlemas on 2nd February.

OK, I've given in - they're down!

Yes, MrsDoyle. I thoroughly enjoy all the decorating bit and sharing the magic and excitement of Christmas with our 2 GDs but once they have departed I’m ready to move on?.

Although our next meaningful get together is Burns Night I only decorate the dining kitchen .

I take advantage of any excuse to brighten things up at this gloomy time of year?

I would like to take them down NOW but DH wants the GC to see them again when they come down at the weekend. Then I will be able to have a clear up. Mind you I do like twinkly lights especially at this dull weather time of year.

Epiphany-------6th of January.

Is there any hope this thread might fall off the page by .......Epiphany?
Please!

Epiphany-------6th of January.
thank you EllanVannin

Apparently I have to leave mine up until the DGC have visited at the weekend.

So it could be just before midnight on Sunday when they come down, if not exactly put away and back into the attic!

Probably no chance at all MawBroon!

Sorry MawBroon

Mr P has said that we will take them down on Sunday, apart from the fairy lights on the large (fake) ficus in the hall. We leave the lights on that permanently, although they are only turned on in the winter months.

We will then have the unenviable job of trying to sort the sitting room ready for the other sort of decorating, the type that involves paint!

Definitely NOT looking forward to that, it will be worth it once it's done, but, oh the chaos and disorder whilst it's happening!

No idea when epiphany was nor it’s meaning.

Four more days to go until the thread finishes then?

No idea when epiphany was nor it’s meaning.

I thoroughly enjoy all the decorating bit and sharing the magic and excitement of Christmas

Kalu how can you know about Christmas and join in the celebrations but not know about Epiphany?

Quite easily Jalima We are not religious and do not follow a Christian celebration.

For ourDGs it is a magical, exciting time which we enjoy sharing with them.

I have heard people mention taking decorations down on 6th night but they did their thing and I did mine.

Epiphany, 6th January, celebrates the arrival of the Wise men to the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

Just finished taking mine down and re-reading the cards. Bin men come tomorrow! Husband despairs that I tear off the backs of cards for shopping lists!!

Simply recycling Glenfinnan ?

DH has been to the tip this morning which he tells me is full of firs/spruce for recycling.

The date for the Epiphany is General Knowledge, even though religious. A bit like not having heard of Diwali or what time of the year it is.

Ok mine are down window and plants back to normal carpet swept Lovely all back to normal
Taking them down on a certain day is a bit of a superstition I think

Our local wildlife parks have asked for all real Christmas trees not to throw them away

Yes, but epiphany might not have anything to do with it. If you count up the twelve days, it comes to the fifth.

There is no easy way round this.

To be honest, religious or not, for years I have put decorations up and taken them down on dates that were convenient to me.

If the first day of Christmas is Christmas day, how many of the people getting their knickers in a twist about not taking them down until 12th night, refuse to put their decorations up until Christmas day. I doubt if anyone does. Decorations start going up in homes from the start of December.

But it's not thought to be bad luck to put them up before Christmas starts is it?

do not follow a Christian celebration.
sharing the magic and excitement of Christmas

sorry, perhaps that is what made me

The reason that I originally asked the question was because there always seems to be confusion as whether they should be down by midnight on the 5th or taken down on the 6th, i.e is the 5th twelfth night, or is it the 6th.

(Wish I hadn't asked now, mutter mutter, grumble moan, Phoenix shuffles off to put the shepherd's pie in the oven, even though the price of freshly minced shepherd's has gone through the roof, still, probably cheaper than ground Magi, if you could even find them, although Waitrose might have them, but even so I bet their crowns get stuck between your teeth, and there will always be some awkward git that says "Oh, sorry, I can't eat this, I've got Myrrh intolerance" )

I read on the net that, as jollity on Christmas Day itself was frowned upon in days gone by, the twelve days start on the day after, ie Boxing Day. That makes it the 6th.

Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer pick.

No need to apologise Jalima. 25th December is when Santa visits to drop off presents for GDs.

May be time to let this go now as you, which is your personal choice, adhere to your traditions and my family to ours. Live and let live.