Decorating your home with holiday lights can add a festive touch to your space. Not only do they make your living space look more beautiful, but they also promote feelings of coziness and warmth. But when the holiday is officially over, taking them down can be a pain. So much so, that many people leave their lights up well past the holiday.
Why Removing Holiday Lights Is Such a Big Deal
The question of when to take down holiday lights has been a topic of lighthearted debate for some time. Many people argue that keeping up holiday decorations past their prime takes away from the significance of the actual holiday. Others argue that not removing them after the holiday looks tacky, thus bringing down the curb appeal of the rest of the neighborhood.
But of course, there are always two sides to every argument. And those in favor of keeping holiday lights up say that the festive decor adds a cheerful ambiance during the winter months when it’s cold and dark. Not to mention, there are quite a few holidays that extend past December, such as Kwanzaa, which runs until January 1, or Orthodox Christmas, which extends until January 7.
When To Remove Holiday Lights After the Holiday Is Over
At the end of the day, the decision on when to remove your festive decor is entirely up to you. For many people, their personal values and beliefs have a lot to do with when they feel is the right time. Because of this, it’s important to make a decision based on what feels right for you and your house.
For ideas on when to start the takedown process, here are seven common times people remove their holiday lights:
December 26
Many people who celebrate Christmas consider the holidays to be over after Christmas Day. As a result, a lot of people start to take down their holiday lights on the day after to mark the end of the holiday season.
With every new year comes new beginnings. Leaving holiday lights and decor up past the first day of the year may feel like holding on to the past instead of looking to the future. Because of this, many people decide to take their holiday decorations down on January 1 to start the new year on the right foot.
January 6
Epiphany — also known as Theophany — is an Eastern Christian holiday that starts on January 6. It marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas, which is why many people who commemorate the big day leave up their holiday decor until after this date.
Second Weekend in January
Holiday decor isn’t always cheap, so many people try to get the most use out of their decorations by leaving them up until mid-January. The second weekend in January is a popular time to remove festive decor because it’s at least a couple of weeks after Christmas. Plus, work and school are back in session by that time, making the weekend the perfect time to tackle the chore.
Before Putting Up Valentine’s Decor
Another popular time to take down holiday lights is right before Valentine’s Day rolls around. The start of another major holiday is the perfect reason to refresh your home decor. On top of that, it falls in the middle of February, giving you plenty of time to get some use out of your holiday lights.
When the Weather Warms Up
While not extremely common, some people leave their lights up even past Valentine’s Day into late February or mid-March when the weather starts to heat up. As the temperature rises, displaying holiday lights from last winter can start to feel out of place. So if you prefer to enjoy your decorations for a little while longer, leaving them until it gets warmer might be a good idea.
The second weekend in January is a popular time to remove festive decor because it's at least a couple of weeks after Christmas. Plus, work and school are back in session by that time, making the weekend the perfect time to tackle the chore.
For many around the world, January 6th marks the Epiphany, celebrating the 12 days of Christmas and the time for all holiday decorations to come down. For others, the second week of January is a typical time for the holiday lights to be unplugged and stored away until next year.
However, some mark 6th January as Twelfth Night, counting the 12 days after Christmas Day, which is where the confusion stems from. 'Twelfth Night is the night before Epiphany and is the night, tradition says, when Christmas decorations should be taken down,' a Church of England spokesperson told The Telegraph.
While it might seem like a festive treat for the neighbors, it could lead to problems for your home and electricity over time. Before leaving lights on, check the label to determine whether the bulbs and wattage can handle a long night of illumination. Generally, we recommend turning them off before bed.
January 6. January 6 is known as the Epiphany, Little Christmas or Three Kings Day. From the perspective of religion tradition, it's the day that the Magi (the Three Kings or the Wise Men) brought gifts to the infant Jesus, so it makes sense for many to mark this as the last day for the Christmas season.
Christmas tree lights should not be left on for prolonged periods of time or overnight. Even LED lights can overheat, and with a combination of a dry Christmas tree, could cause a fire. Make it a habit to turn off your Christmas lights every time you leave the house or go to bed at night.
While some of the details were lost in time, the NWSS references an archived newspaper article from 1955 that encouraged locals to keep their lights up to welcome visitors. So as the tradition goes, leave your lights up until the end of the stock show to encourage more attendees and welcome visitors from all over.
While we don't always recommend it if you want to prolong the life of your lights as long as possible, the short answer is yes, you can leave lights on outdoor trees year-round.
“Make sure where everything plugs in is dry and not exposed to the elements because the electricity still goes through the equipment and the light portion, what goes outside is what's important.” He said Christmas lights are meant to be used outside, they will be fine in rainy conditions.
If you forgot to turn them off, LED bulbs are unlikely to overheat, trip electrics, or start a fire. On the other hand, incandescent, halogen, or fluorescent lights should never be left on for a week. These overheat and can cause a fire if left on for excessive periods.
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.
When To Take Down The Décor? Winter decorations predominantly consist of décor products to embellish the Christmas and New Year's Eve festivities. But if you are thinking about when to take down the winter decorations and wondering about a date to do so, then it is the 6th of January, which is regarded as the Epiphany.
Officially, it is any time after the Twelfth Night, which is the 12th night after Christmas Day (January 5). However, many people take down their decorations on the day of the Epiphany (January 6) as they consider that to be the 12th night after Christmas.
Frequently Asked Questions. Is it bad luck to take your Christmas tree down before the end of the year? Taking down your Christmas tree before the twelfth day of Christmas or Epiphany (either January 5 or 6) is thought to be bad luck by many people.
Incandescent lights typically can't handle extreme weather shifts. Too much sun and rain can damage your lights. LED lights not only last longer, but they're energy-efficient, which is perfect for yearlong use.
Traditionally, Catholics do not take down their Christmas trees and holiday decorations until January 7, the day after Epiphany. The 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day; the period before that is known as Advent, the time of preparation for Christmas.
Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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