If there is one thing which comes as close getting you in the Christmas spirit as opening your advent calendar, it's decorating your house in time for the big day.

Of course the debate rages as to when is the right time to put up your Christmas tree and other decorations – there are some who do it as early as December 1.

Having a festive home for all of December is not a bad thing (although decking the halls in November might be pushing it!), it is down to the individual.

But is there a right time to take the decorations down again?

Since the Victorian era, tradition dictates the ideal removal of Christmas decorations is on Twelfth Night.

And according to the Mirror Online, each year this causes confusion as people are left scratching their heads wondering when the date falls.

When is Twelfth Night?

A Christmas tree decoration
A Christmas tree decoration

Depending on which faith you follow it's either January 5 or January 6, and the last day you should keep festive decorations up.

A day sooner or later is considered unlucky, and if decorations are not removed on Twelfth Night then according to tradition they should stay up all year.

Until the 19th century though, people would keep their decorations up until Candlemas Day on February 2.

Twelfth Night falls on January 5 and Epiphany on January 6. Twelfth Night is so called because traditionally Christmas was a 12 day celebration, beginning on December 25. This can create some confusion as some will class January 6 as Twelfth Night because it is the 12th day after Christmas.

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Why is it unlucky?


In the past it was believed that tree-spirits lived in the greenery – such as holly and ivy – that people used to decorate their homes.

While the festive season provided shelter for these spirits during the winter, they needed to be released outside once Christmas was over.

If this custom wasn’t followed, greenery would not return and vegetation would not grow as a result, causing agricultural and then food problems.

Even though Christmas decorations are now less about foliage and more about baubles, glitter, tinsel and singing Santas, many people still adhere to the superstition.