Of the more hotly contested Christmas decoration debates, none strikes quite such a strong chord as the subject of timings. And that’s not helped by the fact that rules around when to put them up and how long before they’re taken down are, it seems, different in pretty much every house in the UK.

In some households, festive decorations need to be taken down as soon as the clock strikes midnight after Boxing Day. In others, Christmas isn’t truly over until Twelfth Night.

When is Twelfth Night?

Twelfth Night is a Christian festival that marks the coming of the Epiphany. It’s also known as Epiphany Eve.

The Epiphany is a Christian feast day that celebrates the visit of the three wise men, the baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana, which is when Jesus is said to have turned water into wine.

Some households believe it’s unlucky to leave Christmas decorations up after Twelfth Night; others just sort of go off vibes when deciding to pack up the tinsel. 

Well, Matt Siberry, head of home at Pinterest UK is here to tell you that if Twelfth Night isn’t your thing, there is no wrong or right answer, no matter what anybody thinks. 

He explains: “Of course, every Christmas tree that goes up has to come down. Once Christmas Day has passed, leftovers consumed and New Year’s Eve celebrations have been had, the tradition of Twelfth Night says you should take your tree and decorations down by 5 or 6 January [depending on whether you’re counting down from Christmas Day or Boxing Day].

“Although, there are no rules in the decor world. While some may prefer to start packing away their decorations ahead of the new year for a fresh start, others may wish to hang onto the festivities for longer. We often see users coming to Pinterest for home inspiration in January as they give their home a refresh for the new year.”

That being said, if you really wanted to, there’s nothing to say you can’t keep your decorations up all year round if you want to. Just keep the life cycle of your tree in mind.

Siberry says: “While it can feel meaningful to follow tradition, you should take down your Christmas tree when it’s the most convenient for you and your family – whether that’s the day after Christmas, sometime in January or even if you prefer to keep your fairy lights up all year round for a cosy feel to your space.”

Images: Getty