How long do you leave your tree up?

I have been surprised that so many of my neighbors still put
on their holiday lights this long after New years. However I do admit I enjoy seeing them again, I get a little sad seeing the holiday over just like that.

I take mine down usually the weekend after New years.

Normally, I will leave mine up until at least mid-January. Got that from my mother, who said she could stretch the holidays out to Epiphany (when the Wise Men came), or around mid-January.

Unfortunately, this year the base on my artificial tree broke (and fell on my back while I was trying to get the last gift out from under the tree!) December 27, so it came down Jan. 1. We had it leaning up against some things, with all of the ornaments in a pile on the coffee table, for most of the week.

lol...I took mine down a couple of days ago...the kits were not happy...I would have left it up longer usually, but I am moving out on the 15th...so you know how that goes

I grew up with the superstition that having Christmas decorations up after December 6 meant bad luck (that makes sense, since cut trees are probably perilously dry by then), so I take everything down on December 2 or 3.

jcat- You take down the decourations before the holiday?

I had my tree up untill December 30th. I probably would have had it up untill the 2nd of January, but I was going to Vegas on the 31st, and didnt want an un-watered dry tree in my house while no one was there.

Originally Posted by Ilovecats

jcat- You take down the decourations before the holiday?

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Yes- December 2nd to the 5th. Usually January 2nd.

Well we aren't religious but we take our tree down on boxing day!

Well I haven't had a tree yet (how sad) BUT I believe it's bad luck to keep it up past New Year's so when I do get a tree, I probably will take it down before I ring in New Year's.

Originally Posted by valanhb

Normally, I will leave mine up until at least mid-January. Got that from my mother, who said she could stretch the holidays out to Epiphany (when the Wise Men came), or around mid-January.

Unfortunately, this year the base on my artificial tree broke (and fell on my back while I was trying to get the last gift out from under the tree!) December 27, so it came down Jan. 1. We had it leaning up against some things, with all of the ornaments in a pile on the coffee table, for most of the week.

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I do the same thing. I hate taking it down....it's just too pretty. This year Mardi Gras comes early so I'm taking my Christmas decorations off and putting some Mardi Gras decorations on it. It will be up prob until Valentines Day. Mardi Gras is Feb. 8th this year.

Originally Posted by jcat

I grew up with the superstition that having Christmas decorations up after December 6 meant bad luck (that makes sense, since cut trees are probably perilously dry by then), so I take everything down on December 2 or 3.

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Ilovecats asked the same thing but please explain it to me again. You actually have NO decorations at all during Christmas?

Oh, I'm like valanhb. My decorations stay up until the Feast of the Magi.

Originally Posted by jcat

I grew up with the superstition that having Christmas decorations up after December 6 meant bad luck (that makes sense, since cut trees are probably perilously dry by then), so I take everything down on December 2 or 3.

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I am confused do you mean it's bad luck having them up after January 6th?

We (read Sandie) Decorate the inside of the house the day after Thanksgiving, that's also the same day we go and tag the tree we want. I get the lights up outside the house as soon as I can thereafter. The tree doesn't go up until the second week in December, since it's a live tree and we leave it up until Jan 2nd or 3rd. I don't want to take a chance on having it dry out (even though I know it probably wont), and be a fire hazard. The decorations inside come down the same day as well, but the outside lights may stay up longer, depending on the weather.

Alot of people leave their lights up until the end of the 12 days of christmas, which concludes on the feast of the epiphany.

We leave ours up until Epiphany--well, realistically, until the first weekend after Epiphany, since taking it down is kind of a big job. So, I'm going to take the decorations off tomorrow, and then Saturday my bf will take it down and get rid of it.

Originally Posted by Rita

I am confused

do you mean it's bad luck having them up after January 6th?

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Hehe Im confused too

I took down my tree Dec 29th but my lights are still on my balcony because its just too cold to go out there and take them off

Our stuff comes down whenever someone gets up enough energy to do so...the stuff is still up!

Originally Posted by jcat

I grew up with the superstition that having Christmas decorations up after December 6 meant bad luck (that makes sense, since cut trees are probably perilously dry by then), so I take everything down on December 2 or 3.

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DEcember? or did you mean January? That would fit.

The norm for us is to put tree and whatever else up sometime after the 15th -- whenever is convenient, and leave them until Epiphany. They never got up this year, so there's no taking down to be concerned with. And of course there are years when they have stayed up till the end of January for one reason or another, usually inertia and procrastination. I really don't like seeing Christmas decorations way early or hanging on forever. Diminishes the pleasure for me. If it were practical, I'd put the tree up Christmas Eve and take it down on Epiphany -- just the actual season of Christmas. 'Taint practical, though!

I took mine down the day after Christmas..Yes I am a scrooge.LOL.