All gone …..

Personally, I just don’t bother putting any decorations up now as we don’t have visitors anymore, so it doesn’t seem worth the bother.
I still like Christmas cards dotted around though.

I didn't bother with Christmas this year. I bought presents ,and that's it. No special food,no decorations. I just put the cards up as people had bothered to send them.
I can't see the point if alone. Cards are down now.

It’s the 6 February, the Queen left them up until the anniversary of her father’s death.

My daughter has exactly the same mind set when it comes to taking the tree down..lol..Although I must say the big living room looks really sad and bare when everything gets put away, it does take a while to get used to it…

TerriBull

No! Certainly not, family have arrived in dribs and drabs, final departures tomorrow. I like all the lights and stuff I'm part woman, part moth, so lights are essential to my existence!

I’m on my own and along with all the cards and gifts to send away I’m still part working self employed… so made a feeble attempt at Christmas decs = cars and a couple of strings of lights, But love the phrase part moth… that’s me too … mine will stay up till they HAVE to come down! Then everything looks so dull and dreary! The weather is cold and dull ( tho bright over Christmas for a huge change) and the lights cheer everything up. Each to our own, but a ‘clinically’ clean house purged of light and cheer is not for me!

Had to take all my decorations and tree down today. I’ve chopped the tree up for the garden waste collection tomorrow and all the rest packed away ready to go back in the loft. I cleaned right through the house and everything is back in its rightful place.
I’ve cleared the fridge of leftovers and anything out of date too.
Now I can happily pack my suitcases as we’re off on Friday for a five week Caribbean cruise…….yay happy new year everyone 🍾🥂

I am with you Bluebelle. I live alone and when I came back from my Daughter's having spent Christmas with the family I have taken my small amount of decorations down. Plants back in place but not got to the hoovering just yet. It usually takes me a day to come around after the festivities. Again |I am with you, I really dislike people telling me what to do.

It is Advent until December 25 (penitential season) and Christmas lasts until Jan 6 (Epiphany) or indeed Candlemas in some traditions. Whatever it is we think we are celebrating in November or even earlier it’s NOT Christmas!

Even a post like this seems to bring out the worst in some people.
I was going to take my trees down today but may have visitors towards the wknd so thought better leave it up a while longer.

alisonsmith4

It is Advent until December 25 (penitential season) and Christmas lasts until Jan 6 (Epiphany) or indeed Candlemas in some traditions. Whatever it is we think we are celebrating in November or even earlier it’s NOT Christmas!

Advent began on 30th November in 2025.

Our decorations need to be sorted, we have boxes full accumulated over many years, some inherited too.

Mañana, mañana!

My tree is staying up a bit longer, after all! We’ve got visitors today and my cleaner is coming first thing tomorrow so I don’t have time to dismantle it all before then. It’ll be bright and cheery for new year anyway and I’ll take it down towards next weekend. Mind you, I’m not sure what day it is today so heaven knows when ‘next weekend’ will be!

I’m all for the leaving the battery operated fairy lights and twinkly tea lights up until late January.
The addition of a few new plants (I like hyacinths) a glossy new calendar or two to hang up, this years wintery scene jumpers and jolly socks and slippers.
The perfect atmosphere for getting going with a complicated jigsaw puzzle and all the newest books, not to mention enough chocolates to last until next Christmas😊
I’m saving my “cleaning up” energy for February when I’ll throw myself into painting and wallpapering with renewed enthusiasm.

BlueBelle I'm with you. We didn't have a tree this year just a twinkly light garland over the fireplace. It was put away yesterday. If you don't have lots of visitors once it is over that's it, looking forward to Spring.

I'll remove the cards and bits and pieces from the shelves tomorrow but leave the tree until 12th night. We have a family birthday in early January and the birthday boy likes the tree to be there. I've not put too much up this year.

The branches in vases with little lights will stay on until Candle Mass which I think is 40 days after Christmas.

The branches in vases with little lights will stay on until Candle Mass which I think is 40 days after Christmas.

Perhaps I'll get the Christmas candles out for then, which I left in the boxes this year.

Our tree went up at the beginning of the month and will stay in situ till 12th night so over a month. But I do love it.

I agree, we should all do what we are comfortable with. For me it’s decorative for Christmas the weekend before Christmas, never earlier (even if that means on Christmas Eve) and down on twelfth night. I love Christmas but it’s strictly only for Christmastide - never much more than the 12 days. I avoid shopping anywhere if they have Christmas gifts out before December (which does mean being well prepared and only using local butchers and markets) but that’s what suits me.

Totally understand BlueBelle. When we had a large tree it often went well before new year - the day after Boxing Day was my aim - much to the amusement of our more traditional neighbours.

No large tree now. Our conservatory had three battery powered light up metal shapes on the window ledges, as the batteries gave shapes have been put away. One plugs in on a timer, I love the reflections so that will stay longer.

Some other bits and pieces will disappear tomorrow. The two table top trees in our sitting room will stay awhile as they take no space and the soft lights are very relaxing. We keep some fairy lights on shrubs in the garden, I call them my winter lights.

Each to their own for sure. Our small sitting room looks so much bigger once Christmas is put away and always feels like a new room.

What a shame, in the cold, dark, depth of winter, to get rid of the cheery lights, and all the sparkle. Our tree goes up at the start of December, and often stays up until the beginning of February, emulating some ancient traditions. February 2nd is the pagan festival of Imbolc, when the earth begins to awaken and we can see that light really is gaining ground. Each to their own, of course, but my sparkles are firmly staying put for now!

Agree, mine will be down Wed as I have visitors tmw. I like everything away for New Year. 🤣

Mine will be down Wednesday can’t wait, aren’t I a misery! Roll on springtime.

Our Christmas crap will remain in place until 12th night - I hate it but she who must be obeyed puts it up and takes it fun - complete waste of time, energy and money.

Never before 12th night.

undines it’s not a shame for me, I really like seeing it all gone and put away, it’s very different being in ‘Christmas mode’ with visitors and family and busy times
If you are in the house alone without visitors as your family is spread around the world, and your friends are all busy with their own families, I give myself a pat on the back for putting a tree up in the first place, albeit for a week or ten days. I joined in and was glad to take it down, put it away and look forward to brighter days moving on towards the hope of Spring
I am happy for you that you like your tree up for two months,
and I happily manage two weeks (just about) each to their own

My neighbours decorate end of November and then remove everything on Boxing Day. Not being critical, each to their own.I don’t start until 15 December and they are there until twelfth night. I like the tradition as it reminds me of when I was a child.