When Should You Take Your Christmas Decorations Down?

It seems to me that a lot of people still have their Christmas decorations on display, at least those on the outside of their home and I am wondering why.  As a kid I seem to remember we took everything down right around New Year’s Day and I think many people use that as the unofficial end of the holiday season.  Christian tradition marks Twelfth Night as the end of the Christmas festivities, it comes 12 days after December 25 and is also used to mark the beginning of the Epiphany on January 6.  I’ve even read where leaving your decorations up after that day is said to bring bad luck.

With the exception of some rain last week the weather has not been a factor which is often the reason some delay in taking down their outdoor decorations. Let’s be honest you feel a bit better decorating before the holiday then you do in taking your decorations down…at least I think most would agree with that.  Nobody is playing Christmas music while standing on a ladder and removing everything from the outside of their home.

In the past couple of years many kept their homes decorated for a longer period and I’m guessing it had something to do with the pandemic and not because they were sick.  I think it just might have made them feel better to see the decorations and keep the Christmas spirit alive for as long as possible.  While I can understand that there is a time when you really should move on.  If I had the power then all Christmas decorations would have to be removed by Ground Hog’s Day or violators would be looking at a fine and community service.

Of course I’m only kidding…or am I?