I always thought that christmas decorations were put up 12 days before christmas, and taken down 12 days after and if you kept them up to long or put them up to early then it was bad luck?
Hence the 12 days of christmas?
only saying because lots of people put up their decorations way early...
2007-11-01 03:11:51 · 16 answers · asked by k00lgoddard 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
The twelve days of Christmas are the twelve days from Christmas to the eve of Epiphany (Jan 6th). Epiphany is the celebration of the coming of the Magi (aka Three Wise Men)These are the traditional days during which celebrations took place. After all, you usually celebrate after a baby has been born, not before.
The period (4-5 weeks) before Christmas is traditionally known as Advent (still is by Christians). This is not a time for celebration but for quiet preparation and reflection before the coming feast.
With my parents, the tradition was that the decorations went up on Christmas Eve and were taken down on Epiphany. We have kept close to that, but have sometimes put up the decorations a day or so earlier.
I so think it is a pity that people put their decoration up so early and ditch them so quickly. They appear to have taken their cue from commercial interests who are only interested in Christmas as a time for selling things - so afterwards they are simply not interested.
2007-11-02 03:32:17 · answer #1 · answered by greenshootuk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is probably some truth to the 12 days of Christmas decorating idea. But I love the holiday! I like the decorations for as long as I want during December. I just like them to come down after Christmas as soon as possible. Right now I need my Halloween decorations down! Gotta get busy on that....
2007-11-01 03:18:38 · answer #2 · answered by Kathleen M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know - the decorations only went up a couple of days before Christmas - maybe the day before Christmas eve - and traditionally your are supposed to take them down 12 days after Christmas - simply because the 13th day is perennially associated with bad luck in the Christian mind. (Having said that I do still take them down by the 12th day...).
2007-11-01 03:23:42 · answer #3 · answered by sicoll007 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats the tradition I was used to but now days the stores are putting out decorations earlier and earlier !! I really dont like the idea of putting up the decorations too early either.
2007-11-01 03:45:08 · answer #4 · answered by dee dee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 12 days of Christmas is the days after Christmas and its unlucky to leave your decorations up after 12th night. However, I do agree with you, some people put their decorations up way too early, but if it makes them happy who are we to complain? It is the season of goodwill after all.....
2007-11-04 13:33:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take them down 12th night which is I think 5th January. Our decorations go up the weekend before Christmas
2007-11-01 03:21:48 · answer #6 · answered by Scouse 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I put my stuff out the day after Thanksgiving, but since I live in Colorado I try to put out my lights before it gets to cold I don't think their is an actual time to put up or take down your decorations personal choice and I don't beleve in the bad luck thing either.
2007-11-01 03:18:02 · answer #7 · answered by Mariana M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I guess their philosophy is that as long as it's up for 12 days it's okay. My family always puts the decorations up really late and then leaves them up for a month XD
2007-11-01 03:24:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That sounds more like 24 days of Christmas but I've never heard of that tradition anyway. Two neighbors of mine put up their Christmas lights a few days ago (before Halloween) and I think its wayyy too early. We should pass a law that says we can burn your house down if you put up Christmas lights before Thanksgiving. That would be nice.
2007-11-01 03:21:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It used to be that way but then going back a very long time, long before Christmas became such a commercial thing! But originally!!! You were right and this was indeed the tradition.
2007-11-01 03:18:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋