Gung Hoe Gardener: When Should We Take Down Holiday Decor?
By Neely Bower
Jan. 20, 2021: Driving through the Village last weekend and seeing lights on trees and wreaths on doors, it occurred to me, when should holiday decorations be taken down? This sent me home to do a little research on the subject.
In my family, it was always customary to take down our Christmas tree on the 12th night after Christmas when "the Wise Men went home." I was only right on one count. On checking the internet, I found that the 12th night is not when the Wise Men went home; rather, it's when the Wise Men came bearing gifts for Jesus.
Some people take decorations and the tree down on New Year's Eve to leave all the bad luck behind and not drag it into the new year. Others take them down on the 12th night to welcome spring. This year that was January 5th unless you don’t count Christmas Day, then it would be January 6th.
The Manchester Evening News says the following about Christmas decor:
"If you down decorations any sooner or later than the Twelfth Night, it's considered bad luck. Legend has it that tree spirits take shelter in Christmas trees, holly, and ivy during the festive season. Once the period has passed, those spirits need to be released outside once the holiday is over - or so the story goes. If custom wasn't followed, the tale has it that greenery and vegetation would not return as a result - leading to agricultural problems."
This is all well and good, but, during Covid times, the rules have changed. For example, as the Mayor mentions in her column today, many villages, including Bronxville, are leaving Holiday lights on through January and February.
Holiday lights do indeed give us all a good feeling and that's something that we all need these days. So, all bets are off this year. Leave your decor up and lights on for as long as you like.
Photo by Neely Bower
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