The festive period is almost over. And that means one thing, it's time to start fresh and get your home ready for 2024.
That means it's almost time to pack away the Christmas decorations for another year. Different households take their decorations down at different times, but there's actually a date you're meant to do this.
But according to tradition, there's a certain time and day that you should actually box up your décor and stuff it back in the loft or garage - and failing to do so could be said to bring you bad luck, according to superstition. And while there's somewhat of a debate with regards to the perfect date to pack up your tinsel and tree - here's when you should roughly get going to avoid the bad luck 'curse' for 2024.
You're probably already familiar with the 12 Days of Christmas, which supposedly marks the period between the birth of Jesus and the Three Wise Men. It begins on December 25 and ends on January 6 - and this date is also known as the Epiphany.
However, the 12th night after Christmas falls on January 5 this year. It differs from year to year, depending on whether you count the 25th or not. This Twelfth Night is historically the time of year that your decorations should be taken down.
Leaving your tree, tinsel and lights up any longer than this - or even taking them down before - is thought to bring bad luck for the New Year. The bad luck superstition goes back hundreds of years, when it was believed that Christmas trees were home to spirits.
These tree spirits were thought to be set free by people as they removed their festive tree from their homes in the first week of January. It was widely believed that if this ritual wasn’t followed correctly, it would negatively impact agriculture in the year ahead.
The Epiphany on 6th January is a celebration in itself, marking the Magi – the Three Kings or Wise Men – visiting baby Jesus in his manger in Bethlehem, with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Church of England celebrates Twelfth Night on January 5, and the season of Epiphany from January 6 to February 2.
However, some mark 6 January as Twelfth Night, counting the 12 days after Christmas Day, which is where the confusion stems from. According to History.com, people used to believe that evergreens would ward away any evil spirits, witches, ghosts or bad luck if they were kept in your home.
Therefore, getting rid of them before they withered and died was essential in keeping your house free from evil. The date you want to take your tree down remains completely personal. However, for those of us who are superstitious, it's suggested you pack it away on January 5.
That means it's almost time to pack away the Christmas decorations for another year. Different households take their decorations down at different times, but there's actually a date you're meant to do this.
But according to tradition, there's a certain time and day that you should actually box up your décor and stuff it back in the loft or garage - and failing to do so could be said to bring you bad luck, according to superstition. And while there's somewhat of a debate with regards to the perfect date to pack up your tinsel and tree - here's when you should roughly get going to avoid the bad luck 'curse' for 2024.
You're probably already familiar with the 12 Days of Christmas, which supposedly marks the period between the birth of Jesus and the Three Wise Men. It begins on December 25 and ends on January 6 - and this date is also known as the Epiphany.
However, the 12th night after Christmas falls on January 5 this year. It differs from year to year, depending on whether you count the 25th or not. This Twelfth Night is historically the time of year that your decorations should be taken down.
Leaving your tree, tinsel and lights up any longer than this - or even taking them down before - is thought to bring bad luck for the New Year. The bad luck superstition goes back hundreds of years, when it was believed that Christmas trees were home to spirits.
These tree spirits were thought to be set free by people as they removed their festive tree from their homes in the first week of January. It was widely believed that if this ritual wasn’t followed correctly, it would negatively impact agriculture in the year ahead.
The Epiphany on 6th January is a celebration in itself, marking the Magi – the Three Kings or Wise Men – visiting baby Jesus in his manger in Bethlehem, with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Church of England celebrates Twelfth Night on January 5, and the season of Epiphany from January 6 to February 2.
However, some mark 6 January as Twelfth Night, counting the 12 days after Christmas Day, which is where the confusion stems from. According to History.com, people used to believe that evergreens would ward away any evil spirits, witches, ghosts or bad luck if they were kept in your home.
Therefore, getting rid of them before they withered and died was essential in keeping your house free from evil. The date you want to take your tree down remains completely personal. However, for those of us who are superstitious, it's suggested you pack it away on January 5.
