When should Christmas decorations be taken down?

Most people usually take them down in early January. Traditionally, it is taken down after the 12 days of Christmas are over, or the day after Epiphany.

The Epiphany Christian tradition tells us that Jesus was born on December 25, but the Magi did not arrive in Bethlehem until January 6.

However, The Bible does not record what date Jesus was born and tells us that the Magi did not arrive until almost 2 years after His birth (Matthew 2:1-16).

According to traditions (not the Bible), January 6 is the Epiphany - sometimes called "Little Christmas" or "Little Epiphany" - and is the day the Magi met the newborn King and presented him with his royal gifts.

It is explained to children that, if you take down your lights before January 6, the Wise Men may not be able to find their way, even though all the Christmas lights in the world, combined, would not be as bright as the star God used to guide them.

Taking down ornaments on January 6 is a European tradition still followed by many people of German, Polish, and Czech ancestry. The tradition, in part, dates from before 1900 when ornaments were often real fruit, nuts, and marzipan and would be eaten.

Additional opinions from WikiAnswers contributors:

• Traditionally, in the UK, Christmas decorations are taken down on 'Twelfth Night', January 6th.

• I live in Canada and there is no set time to take the decorations down and it depends on the individual. Some people never bother to decorate, others may leave their tree up until Dec. 27th, while others will leave the tree up until January. I take our tree down on the 2nd of January. Christmas house lights can be left out all year (not turned on) or if they are white some people will use them as a decoration during the summer evenings.

• 7 days after Christmas.

• I usually take my decorations down on the first Saturday of January. It is a good tradition to start taking them down on a specific day in January.

• Before you plant your tomatoes in the spring.

• That's really a matter of personal preference. Depending on where you live, leaving them up during winter storms may damage them, and they do look sort of silly beyond the middle of January.

• Christmas isn't officially over until Epiphany, on January 6th, so after January 6th.
• Before your Homeowners' Association starts hassling you about them. :-)