How long do you leave holiday decorations up?

[artk2002]

Ours usually stay up through 12th Night (January 6 or Epiphany), but this year we took the tree down early -- we're getting all of our carpets replaced with hardwood and the installers started on the Thursday after Christmas.  Our "vacation" week and this week were spent taking down decorations and moving furniture... oh joy!

[Linda1967]

We're planning to take ours down this Sunday, since Saturday is Jan. 6, the start of Epiphany in our church calendar. We didn't put our decorations up until Dec. 10, since we didn't have time before then.

When I was a child, my Episcopal church was so strict about not having "Christmas" until "Advent" was over that it didn't put up the decorations until after the last Sunday in Advent, and the priest urged all families to do the same. So my parents never put up the decorations until Dec. 20 (which is after the third Sunday in Advent) and didn't take them down until Jan. 6.

Now DH and I go to a Methodist church that has decorations up soon after Thanksgiving - but he and I still tend to wait until after Thanksgiving weekend to decorate our house.

 

[Thipu1]

Our holiday decorations go up the first weekend in December and will come stay up until January 6.  On the seventh they come down.

[Xanthia, Maker of fine Tin-foil hats since 2007]

January 6th, the Ephipany.

Same here, but we always called it 3 kings day or 12th night and we always got a little persent.

[kingsrings]

What exactly is this Epiphany? I have been invited to an Epiphany potluck at someone's house tomorrow night. We are to bring a bough from our Christmas tree if we wish. I asked her, but I might as well ask you all as well since it's brought up now. I attended an Episcopal church for one year a while ago, but I guess I don't recall this part of it.

[Evil Duckie]

It varies a little from year to year. We try to wait until Epiphany but sometimes we take then down as early as the Jan. 2. It really depends on what is going on Jan. 6. This year we took everything down on Jan. 2 due to having a busy schedule. I never take them down before Jan. 2.

My grandmother and my ILs take theirs down on Christmas day.

[FoxPaws]

Epiphany is recognized as the day the Three Wise Men came and brought gifts to the Christ Child. It is also the Twelfth Day of Christmas. It's significance varies with different denominations - some just aknowledge it in passing, others hold special services or have specific rituals.

In some countries/cultures this is actually the day gifts are exchanged, with Christmas Day being reserved for worship/feasting/family.