Reason you should take Xmas decorations down today - according to tradition

04 January 2023 , 15:56

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The date you should be taking down your Christmas decorations is coming up (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

For some people, they put their Christmas decorations up as soon as Halloween is over, meaning they will have already been up for a couple of months by now.

Others wait until December, or just before Christmas, and can't wait to take them down again to start the new year afresh. But did you know that tradition actually dictates when you should be taking your decorations down down?

According to Christian tradition, there's an exact date you should be taking down your Christmas decorations - and failing to do could cause you misery for the next year, if you believe in that sort of thing.

When should you take Christmas decorations down?

It's time to take it all down (stock image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

According to Christian tradition, you should be taking down Christmas trees and decorations on the Twelfth Night to avoid bad luck.

The Twelfth Night celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men when they followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to the baby Jesus.

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This year the Twelfth Night falls on Thursday, January 5, so according to tradition you should be taking them down today.

However, it gets a bit tricky because different areas of Christianity start counting the 12 Days of Christmas differently, so others believe you should wait until Epiphany, which takes place the day after, on Friday January 6.

The Church of England counts from Christmas Day, which means the Twelfth Night falls on January 5.

Other denominations, including the Catholic Church, start counting from Boxing Day, which means the Twelfth Night falls on January 6, which is also known as Epiphany.

Epiphany officially marks the end of the festive season, and is a Christian feast day celebrating the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.

While taking down decorations on either January 5 or 6 is followed by many, it is of course down to individual choice.

Some people keep decorations up to ease their January blues, while others can't wait to give their home a spritz for the new year.

For example, one mum divided opinions after revealing she takes decorations down on Christmas Day itself.

What to do with your Christmas tree

It's important to dispose of your Christmas tree properly (stock image) (Getty Images)

There are plenty of 'green' ways to dispose of your Christmas tree, which will give something back to the soil as a little thank you.

Garden expert Guy Barter has said shredding Christmas trees can create useful mulch for the garden.

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Or, if you have a potted Christmas tree you could always plant it in your garden.

The most important thing is to make sure your festive fir doesn't end up in the bin.

Local councils and charities often have recycling schemes.

When do you take your Christmas decorations down? Let us know in the comments below.

Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz