When do you take yours down?

The great thing about taking the Christmas tree down is that I get the few chocolate coins that the grandchildren missed.

Reluctantly I will take them down tomorrow - I have loved the twinkly brightness at this very dark time of year -I think I might leave the string of icicle lights up in the conservatory though - as it is a welcome diversion for the one year old currently living with us - she looks at them in awe and calls them "stars" ! !

I used to take everything down on twelfth night but in the last few years we have followed the medieval Christmas period and left everything up until Candlemass - 2 February. The tree is usually getting bald by twelfth night (and it takes up a bit of room even though it is always a small tree) so that goes out on twelfth night but the cards (on the hall side of the bannister with white tac) and the other bits and pieces stay until 2 Feb along with the Ikea strings of illuminated stars in the front room window.

I said earlier that we didn't actually put any decorations up this year, but in Norway we bought some 'candle style' Christmas tree lights, which my husband put up around the mirror in our hall yesterday. Perhaps he's finally got in touch with his feminine side.

What a lovely idea, Grandmama. I'm going to keep a few of my best bits out till Candlemass now to brighten the place up for at least another few weeks.