Why is it that right after Christmas, you instantly regret adding too many decorations to the Christmas tree? What once brought so much happiness when walking past that colourful beacon of joy now just leaves me sighing each time I gaze upon it writes Cape {town} Etc’s Micayla Vellai.
It’s been two days since the magic of Christmas dawned upon us, but post-holiday tidying up knocked on our door to give us a reality check. “Hey, Netflix can wait. I need to go back into the cupboard” – if trees could talk.
And while some people wait until mid-January to take down their Christmas tree, Good House Keeping outlines that there is actually a tradition that exists.
Dating back to the fourth century, many Christians have marked the end of the Christmas season on the The Twelfth Night (January 5 or 6, depending on the tradition), which is widely considered to be the Eve of the Epiphany.
This tradition dictates that it’s bad luck to leave your decorations up after this date, as people who used to decorate their homes with ivy and holly believed that sprits live in the greenery.
They made sure all their festive ornaments and trimmings were taken down in the first week of the New Year to set these spirits free, Belfast Live adds.
Of course, in the 21st century, everything has changed. And trees are often left up much longer because of the liveliness it brings to the home.
Some Twitter users had the same concerns:
Do you take off the christmas tree and decorations today or January 1st? ??
— Alamar Cosmetics (@AlamarCosmetics) December 26, 2021
At least @bts_whoopee was honest.
I’m way too lazy to take off the Christmas tree…I’ll just let it be like that ig
— ? whoopee ? (@bts_whoopee) December 27, 2021
It seems like @Jessikeeeee doesn’t have much of a choice.
We’re going to my inlaws for a couple days this week so I just had to take all of my precious ornaments off our Christmas tree because I’m terrified the cat is going to just destroy it while we’re gone. (Which is rad because we just bought this tree this year) ?
— [Haunted] Emo Jess ? (@Jessikeeeee) December 27, 2021
Very creative @DeSmetJo.
We bought a real Christmas tree again this year. When we take it down over the next few days, it will be sitting outside drying until all the needles can be rubbed off. Then the tree will be spray painted white and be back in the house next Christmas. Yes you can recycle the tree
— Jo De Smet (@DeSmetJo) December 26, 2021
Hmmm.
Cause on the 6th is the day you take the decoration off isn’t it? The day thay those wizards gave presents to jesus or did my mom create a new tradition so that shw wouldn’t have to take down the Christmas tree so soon? hahahahah
— Larry ❄️ (@SwiftieLaurent) December 26, 2021
Picture: Unsplash