What day should Christmas lights come down?

The tradition of when to take down Christmas lights varies, but there are some common guidelines that many people follow:

1. Twelfth Night - January 5th or 6th

• Twelfth Night refers to the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which is traditionally celebrated on January 5th or 6th (depending on your calendar and tradition).
• The day after Twelfth Night, Epiphany (January 6th), marks the end of the Christmas season, and many people believe it’s bad luck to keep Christmas decorations up beyond this point.
• For a traditional and widely-followed approach, January 5th or 6th is the ideal time to take down your Christmas lights.

2. Feast of the Epiphany - January 6th

• Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Magi (Three Wise Men) to the baby Jesus. In many Christian cultures, this marks the official end of the Christmas season. Taking down Christmas lights on or just after this day is a longstanding tradition.

3. New Year's Day (January 1st)

• Some people prefer to take down their Christmas decorations shortly after the New Year, believing that it helps to start the year fresh without lingering holiday decorations. However, this may feel a bit too early for others who want to extend the Christmas season a little longer.

4. After the New Year’s Festivities

• In many households, Christmas lights and decorations remain up until after New Year's Day, especially if you have guests or are still enjoying the festive spirit. If you're someone who enjoys having lights during the winter season, you might take them down around January 7th-10th.

Considerations for London

In London and many places in the UK, Christmas lights are often left up until early January, sometimes as late as the first weekend in January. This is particularly true for public light displays in cities, which can run until January 5th-7th.

Why Should You Take Christmas Lights Down on These Dates?

1. Tradition & Symbolism: Many cultures observe a long-standing tradition of removing decorations on Twelfth Night, marking the end of the festive period.

2. Superstition: Some believe that leaving lights and decorations up beyond this time brings bad luck for the upcoming year. This stems from old customs that were followed in both religious and cultural contexts.

3. Preserving Energy: After the festive season, taking down Christmas lights ensures they don’t consume unnecessary energy, which can also reduce your electricity bill.

4. Fresh Start: Many people like to start the new year with a clean and organized home. Taking down Christmas decorations signals a fresh beginning after the holidays.

Conclusion

The general recommendation is to take your Christmas lights down by January 5th or 6th, in line with Twelfth Night or Epiphany, to respect tradition and ensure a clean transition into the New Year. If you prefer a longer festive atmosphere, you can leave them up a bit longer, but ideally, the lights should be down by January 7th-10th to avoid bad luck and start fresh for the year ahead!