When do you...

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take down your Christmas Decorations?


I don't know why... but each season I'm always 
fascinated by this time line.


I have friends and family that can't wait and take everything down the day after Christmas.


I take mine down on Jan. 2nd
  
 
I usually add a few new Christmas items that I've purchased on sale the week between Christmas and New Years and pack it away with the rest of my Christmas stuff.


  Each year I look forward to seeing the "After Christmas Sale" goodies that I scored from the year before, some of which give me a head start on my Christmas Shopping!!



I'm also obsessed over how long some people leave up their Christmas lights!

 
   It's become a yearly ritual for me.   Throughout the month of January I inevitably see several homes that persist in keeping up their Christmas lights well beyond Epiphany or The Twelve Days of Christmas which ends on January 6th and commemorates the manifestation of the Christ to the Magi.


I don't know why it bugs me... I guess I just want to move on and get a fresh start on the new year!



Comments

Julie@beingRUBY said…
Hi Therese
I hope you had a wonderful christmas with your family and friends..

It always amazes me that people take their tree down the day after xmas [which is called boxing day here].. I like to feel the xmas spirit linger a bit longer..

Enjoy the rest of your christmas time!! ciao xxx Julie
December 27, 2010 at 10:08 PM
I Dream Of said…
Hi Therese, It sounds like you and I are on the same time line... I hate to see the tree come down (don't even want to think about it), but mine is usually a fire hazard by the first week of January!
Jeanne
December 27, 2010 at 10:30 PM
Elizabeth said…
I take mine down on the 2nd also. I hate the lights up on houses past that too! It's like these people don't know when to leave the party so to speak.
December 27, 2010 at 10:41 PM
Fishtail Cottage said…
Guilty as charged...i took mine down today. But i will say we've had them up since Thanksgiving Day. & because of my decor changes, i honestly wanted to see how it all looked together! I did hit the sales yesterday & packed up my new goodies for next year! Already looking forward to it...
~tracie
December 27, 2010 at 11:35 PM
Nita Stacy said…
I want it down Jan 2...but it usually takes me a week to get it all put away. I take down the lights outside whenever I have cooperative weather. Sometimes its end of January...just depends on how cold it is and if we have bad weather. I'd prefer them down Jan 2. But I don't think Jan 6 is so bad.

I like adding things to my decor the week between too. I found some things today.
December 27, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Anna White said…
Hello Lovely, for me it has always been after New Years...when all the celebrating is over...I would most probably have it down soon if I had my choice ..but hubby likes the celebrating colour and lights to continue at least till NY..so...thats when it happens for us. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas x
December 28, 2010 at 1:12 AM
Tuuli - Lumo Lifestyle said…
It depends... Traditionally 6th January has been theday to take down decorations, but often I take them down for New Year, especially if we will have guests.

6th Jan is also my mother in law's birtday, so we have gone to heir place on countrysiden then and I haven't taken decorations down for years on Epiphany, so maybe I'll take them down for New year or the weekend after Epiphany.

Day after Christmas is too soon anyway.
December 28, 2010 at 1:18 AM
Karen said…
I'm always a little sad by how bare things look when I take down the decorations so I do it piecemeal, it takes the sting out of things. I usually start with the greenery that I hang. I always leave the tree, minus ornaments for last-I miss the glow of the lights at night the most.
December 28, 2010 at 6:14 AM
Blooming Rose Musings said…
I usually take them down on January 2nd. I like having them up for New Years Day. After the work of Christmas I like to relax for a few days and enjoy the beauty. I think January 2nd is perfect. I don't have lights up outside.

Having said that, I know if you live in a really cold and snowy area, climbing up on an icey ladder to take down lights is dangerous so in those areas I understand waiting a few days for a break in the weather.
December 28, 2010 at 6:19 AM
Unknown said…
i couldn't agree with you more...i take mine down the day after new year's as well. the need for a "fresh start" always pulls me in ever stronger. why is that?
December 28, 2010 at 6:33 AM
LRS4AMANDA said…
The light thing bugs me too. I have a couple of neighbors that leave their lights up all year. And they are icicle lights!

I used to leave my tree up until Jan. 2nd but it looks so sad without any gifts under it so sometimes I take it down before that.

Linda
December 28, 2010 at 7:05 AM
Anonymous said…
I know that Twelfth Night is traditional, but I itch to take down decorations once the day is past! Like taking my makeup off after a party...
December 28, 2010 at 8:57 AM
Acquired Objects said…
Everything comes down the 31st, I like to start the New Year off with everything clean and fresh. I'm with you it bugs me when I see people leaving Christmas items up well into February.
December 28, 2010 at 9:34 AM
Maya @ Completely Coastal said…
I like the lights in the winter..., sooooo... I'm one of those people who let their lights stay till, hmmmmm, will see, mid January or longer! The tree will go back to storage after New Years though.
December 28, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Kathysue said…
I take my down after I begin to notice I don't turn on the tree lights first thing in the morning. Today was the first day that I did not turn them on so I am only a few days away of taking them down. xo Kathysue
December 28, 2010 at 2:56 PM
Mary Ann Pickett said…
I took the swags from around the front door just in time to meet the garbage truck...the rest will happen more slowly. Pretty ornaments!
Mary Ann
December 28, 2010 at 5:23 PM
Anonymous said…
Usually I take it down Jan. 1st or 2nd, but I think the tree is coming down tomorrow..it's pretty dry. And yes, I bought some pretty half price bird ornaments yesterday...I don't need any more, but can't break the after Christmas habit. I enjoy your blog Teri.
Mona
December 28, 2010 at 5:46 PM
Pamela Hunt Lee said…
It just depends, on what, I'm not sure, I think it changes every year....but travel plans, house guests, family, and just state of mind...maybe the weather too. This year it looks like tomorrow will be the beginning of deconstruction at our home. I will miss the warm glow of the tree lights.
December 28, 2010 at 7:52 PM
sharon santoni at my french country home said…
My tree stays up until the kids go back to school, so I guess this year I'll pack up all the decorations between the 4-6 January. Need the uncluttered home, but hate the sudden bareness. I always try to compensate with flowers in bowls. Hyacinths are the easiest at this time of year.
Sharon
xx
December 29, 2010 at 8:39 AM
Lori said…
I don't hate the sudden bareness, I see it as a fresh slate. It drives me a bit crazy to see the lights up past the 1st as well. I also flinch when I see a dead wreath on the front door--how could you pull into your driveway every day, look at that and not just take 1 second to yank it down? Type A personalities will never understand....love your blog!
December 30, 2010 at 7:13 AM
Acanthus and Acorn said…
All of it...inside and out just after the New Year is celebrated! I am so with you in being irked by those who leave the lights up outside...forever!
December 30, 2010 at 7:37 AM
Splendid Market said…
I hate it when the tree comes down, I always try to delay it - but not beyond the epiphany. I love adding sale items to my christmas stash and then organizing and stowing everything away, so that it is a pleasure to unpack the next year. Happy New Year!
January 1, 2011 at 10:24 AM
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