When do you take down your Christmas tree and/or your outdoor decorations?

[Stinky The Clown]

Today is Sunday, January 2. Most of the neighborhood is back to its normal "Winter Dark", but our house is still (literally) lit up like a Christmas tree with our big 'ol silly "Snoopy lights".

I grew up a Catholic Italian in southern Connecticut in the '40s and '50s. It was our tradition to leave Christmas decorations in place and lit until after January 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception?). All these years later, having evolved far from the Catholic Church, I cannot explain *why* this tradition existed, but I know it did .... and so I follow it.

Sparkly is all worried (as she is every year) that people will think we're weird because the lights are still up. The fact is, they think we're weird anyhow so the hell with 'em. Iyam wut Iyam.

What's your take on this? Are we out of step? Wierd? When do you turn off the lights?

And Happy New Year to all!

[Texasgal]

1. I took mine down today

Only because my homeowners association are NAZI's! My Mother on the other hand leaves hers up until the 8th too.

[Skittles]

2. Yesterday

I ain't no high class broad but I know when to take down the f***ing Christmas lights. :D

[0007]

20. LOL!! Hate the neighbors complaining that something might

be going on!

[Wcross]

3. Your supposed to take them down?????? n/t

[auntAgonist]

4. not till the 16th after my stepson arrives to spend a week

with us for "his" Christmas

[Bronco69]

5. I would have taken mine down today

but it rained most of the day so they're not coming down until it dries up. :-)

[bigwillq]

6. We took mine down yesterday (nt)

[Left Is Write]

7. I normally leave everything up until the Epiphany, January 6.

This year, however, we took everything down this weekend. My husband wanted to clean and reorganize the garage, and it seemed like a good time to get everything put away. I always feel a little melancholy when the lights and decorations come down.

He took down all the outdoor stuff this afternoon. I spent most of last evening taking down and carefully packing all of the indoor stuff. The house will look bare now for several days until I get used to it again.

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. Never until Epiphany

at the minimum, they have to stay up until Epiphany, since the Christmas Season is actually Dec. 25 to Jan. 6.

(for those not in the know, the period beginning the fourth Sunday before before Dec. 25 is called "Advent")

[Left Is Write]

12. Yes - the "Twelve Days Of Christmas" do not END on Dec 25.

My two younger kids were born on Dec 28 and Jan 6. People sometimes say to me, "Oh, almost Christmas babies!" Well - to me, they ARE Christmas babies. Jane was born within the Christmas season and Julian was born on the Epiphany.

[goodboy]

9. I take mine down after Russian Christmas...Jan 9th

[Nite Owl]

10. The tree is coming

down tonight. It's very brittle and we can't even turn on the lights anymore so might as well.

[nine23]

11. The date (January 8) you mentioned in your original post...

In my region that week coincides with:

a) The week when cities/municipalities have their recycling campaigns for scheduled Tree Pick-ups...

b) Most municipalities here hold annual "Tree Burnings"/bonfire celebrations. These are family events (with hot chocolate, food, entertainment, etc.) where everyone brings their trees to be burned while making a night of it. Fun for the kiddies, strictly family stuff...

[Stinky The Clown]

That makes sense, but

my recollection of the reason for the date had to do with religious holy days. And since my recollection is also from about 50 years ago, recycling was not an issue.:)

[madison2000]

13. I just put them up! Won't be time to take them down for 6 months or so

O8)

[trof]

14. On de-decorating:

Southern custom says bad luck to leave them up in the new year.

No de-decorating for us. Went to daughter's for Christmas week, so no tree or outdoor stuff here this year.

When we do have tree (artificial), Miz t. takes the Christmas decorations off and then decorates it for Mardis Gras. She has started a family tradition.
Cool.

[Crunchy Frog]

15. I usually have them down by sometime in April.

I think that's doing pretty well.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. I see my memory is failing badly

I had the date wrong - January 6, not January 8.

I had the holy day wrong - The Epiphany not the Immaculate Conception.

But my heart's in the right place.:)

And my **general** recollection seems right on.

Gettin' old sure sucks!

[RevolutionaryActs]

17. I took mine down...... like an hour ago. lol

:7

[0007]

18. Day after Christmas!

[sparky_in_ma]

19. Jan 2

I'm usually too tired to take them down the 1st.:hangover:

[Blue Diadem]

21. Indoor on Jan. 1st,

outdoor were taken down yesterday as well. It just happened to be warmer and the snow had melted. Sometimes they stay up longer outside if they're frozen in place.