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Christmas

Taking Christmas decorations down

(92 Posts)
Jane71 Fri 03-Jan-25 16:52:16

We normally take our decorations down the day after New Years Day, but its so dark and miserable outside that I'm minded to leave them up for a while. It helps to cheer things up.
What do others do?

Wheniwasyourage Mon 06-Jan-25 14:14:23

All done this morning!

Maggiemaybe Mon 06-Jan-25 14:09:30

I’m slowly working my way through dismantling it all now, with DH helpfully singing that it’s beginning to look a lot less like Christmas.

Cossy Mon 06-Jan-25 14:08:35

I’m doing ours right now

Norah Mon 06-Jan-25 14:02:56

We went to Church, Epiphany service, removed the exterior wreaths, greenery. However, it's Monday, needs must, I had to accomplish my husband's receipts, incomings, outgoings.

Tuesday we'll quickly remove all decorations - apart from lights inside and out. I hope the containers are stored away by tea time.

Jane71 Mon 06-Jan-25 10:12:26

The tree and decs are now down, but DH has agreed to leave the lights up for a while. I love the light that they give in these dreary days.
I'm so looking forward to seeing nature starting again after the winter. Our dafs are showing through nicely, but no sign of snowdrops though.

Jaxjacky Sun 05-Jan-25 18:14:44

Our real tree is now outside, (being collected 16th) and indoors all packed away, good idea to hang some bird treats outside, I’ll do that.

M0nica Sun 05-Jan-25 17:39:19

I have been doing mine at the rate of one room a day since Thursday, when I cleared the hall, then kitchen, breakfst room, Outside and study today and the living room tomorrow..

Hopefully everything will be back in the loft by Wednesday.

henetha Sat 04-Jan-25 23:29:06

I took half of mine down today. It involved a lot of clambering about so I ran out of energy and will finish it tomorrow. Hopefully.

merlotgran Sat 04-Jan-25 23:26:30

If only. 😂

emmasnan Sat 04-Jan-25 19:18:22

Took mine down yesterday.
I do love the tree but our house is small and it seems even smaller with the decs up.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 04-Jan-25 18:18:34

Ours are now all down (inside and out)

I have put everything in the dining room, to be sorted into keep, throw or charity shop (to be kept in garage until donated in November)

I have been meaning to do this for several years, but circumstances have intervened, all part of my declutterring plan.

escaped Sat 04-Jan-25 17:24:48

Ours will come down tomorrow. I always think the house looks so spacious, yet bare when they're gone.
We have a long, busy Christmas time because DH has sung in services and concerts since 1st December through to tomorrow's last Epiphany service, plus rehearsals leading up to these. I'm glad Easter is late in 2025, so he'll have a good break before then, (and I'll be on GN less!)

MayBee70 Sat 04-Jan-25 17:20:52

MaizieD

All we have up is tree and the cards. They'll come down on 12th Night, as usual. But then, they didn't go up until Christmas Eve.

I never get tired of my Christmas tree, I would willingly leave it up all year grin

I don't understand all this 'back to normal' stuff. Aren't January and February (and March) depressing enough without them being 'normal'?

Given that this is the first time in 6+ years that I’ve put up a Christmas tree I might just leave it up indefinitely. I could add the Easter decorations to it. It has a shelf above it that was meant to have a seasonal display on it but I filled it with Christmas things a couple of years ago and they stayed there because they looked really nice.

Maremia Sat 04-Jan-25 17:18:54

Might wait until the promised snow goes away.

Doodledog Sat 04-Jan-25 17:10:09

For me Christmas is special because it isn't 'normal'. It's a couple of weeks of having a tree, decorations, family and friends' visits and lots of food (and drink for those who partake). If that stretched to a month, it would lose its special status, for me, anyway.

I agree that the post-Christmas months can drag more than the run up to the holidays, as there is nothing to look forward to. Christmas does concentrate the mind by giving the winter some focus. After Easter, however, the days get noticeably longer and the weather starts to improve. Then there's a brief summer, and it all starts again grin.

Allira Sat 04-Jan-25 16:53:21

MaizieD

All we have up is tree and the cards. They'll come down on 12th Night, as usual. But then, they didn't go up until Christmas Eve.

I never get tired of my Christmas tree, I would willingly leave it up all year grin

I don't understand all this 'back to normal' stuff. Aren't January and February (and March) depressing enough without them being 'normal'?

I'm wondering whether to hang bird food from mine but then I thought I might have to clean off birdie poo.

Noah's Ark Zoo is making good use of Christmas trees if anyone is in that area

www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/whats-on/upcoming-events/christmas-tree-recycling-2024/

teabagwoman Sat 04-Jan-25 16:43:24

I’ve just taken down all my decorations and boxed them up ready for my SIL to put them in the loft. I enjoy having them up but am glad to put them away and get back to normal if that makes sense.

lixy Sat 04-Jan-25 14:42:59

I love our Scandi style Christmas decorations but the last visitor went home this morning so they are being put away this afternoon. It doesn’t take long apart from removing the lights from my big houseplant.
Having the decorations around for a short time keeps them special.

OH is out tomorrow so I shall take the day to clean through properly.

Ziplok Sat 04-Jan-25 14:32:14

I’ve taken some things down and put them away, (such as decorations in the hall and kitchen), but the trees and a few other bits are being packed away on Monday 6th. I like them up for our 12th night dinner (tomorrow). If we get the promised snow tonight, I’ll be glad of the twinkling tree lights to be honest 😂.

MissInterpreted Sat 04-Jan-25 12:44:10

If you're not a fan of xmas, then yes, it's good to get back to normal.

JdotJ Sat 04-Jan-25 12:44:07

I pack it all away before New Years Day. Otherwise decorations Are up twice in one year

Jane71 Sat 04-Jan-25 12:34:27

An interesting variety of responses. Some still think about the twelve days of Christmas and take them down on the twelfth night. And yet so many, and I know people like this, put them up at the start of December (or even earlier), and take them down right after Christmas Day. An interesting shift in attitudes.
I think I'll try and persuade DH to take down the cards, but leave the tree and lights for a while longer: perhaps even leave the lights up until the clocks go forward.

MaizieD Sat 04-Jan-25 11:25:23

All we have up is tree and the cards. They'll come down on 12th Night, as usual. But then, they didn't go up until Christmas Eve.

I never get tired of my Christmas tree, I would willingly leave it up all year grin

I don't understand all this 'back to normal' stuff. Aren't January and February (and March) depressing enough without them being 'normal'?

Witzend Sat 04-Jan-25 11:14:17

Allira

Ours is a smallish real tree which is going to need repotting in the spring.

We have one of those (last year’s) outside the front door. I dare say it should be re-potted, but OTOH I don’t want it getting too big. If we had a big enough garden I’d plant it, but alas it’s far too small.

BlueSapphire Sat 04-Jan-25 11:12:42

Was going to be today, but I decided to go to the shops and by the time I get home will not feel like doing it!
Tomorrow out to a rugby match, so it will have to be Monday, Twelfth Night.
I love them anyway and am glad to enjoy them for two more days.