After you in some way handle to purchase everybody the fitting presents and survive the seasonal shenanigans comes essentially the most dreaded a part of winter—taking down the decorations. In the event you’re already beginning to marvel when to take down the Christmas tree, put these worries to relaxation, as a result of there’s no have to rush the method of snapping again out of your post-holiday comedown.

Deciding when to pack up the Christmas decorations into cardboard bins and neglect about them till subsequent 12 months is usually a level of rivalry in lots of households. Personally, I hate taking down the Christmas tree and I’m all the time doing no matter I can to hold onto the magic. Through the years, my accomplice has been fairly the other, wanting to start out the New Yr sturdy by starting with a very recent slate. For him, rigorously eradicating every decoration and wrapping up each string gentle is symbolic ritual that signifies a brand new chapter in life. Me? I already wish to return in time and relive Christmas morning.

In the event you’re extra like me, I’m right here to present it to you straight—you don’t need to take down the Christmas tree by January 6. In actual fact, there are many good causes not to take down your tree and to depart it up so long as February! In the event you don’t really feel like giving in to the stress of shifting gears the second January begins, I’m right here to validate and encourage your instincts. Right here’s why I’m personally leaving my Christmas tree up till February 1 (and why my accomplice finally agreed to this with me):

Why You Ought to Take Down the Christmas Tree in February

Has anybody ever instructed you that it’s truly dangerous luck to take down the tree earlier than January 6? In Christian traditions, Christmas all the time begins on December 25 (the delivery of Christ) and ends on January 6 (upon the arrival of the Three Smart Males). And if you happen to’ve ever questioned why January 6 appears to be the date everybody has agreed to take down the tree, it has quite a bit to do with the 12 days of Christmas.

Nonetheless, Christmas is a vacation that comes with a number of interpretations, traditions and cultural leanings. In actual fact, if you happen to have been to comply with the unique traditions of Yuletide—the Pagan celebration of the winter solstice that got here earlier than the custom of Christmas—you’d put your tree up on December 21 and take it down on February 1, upon the celebration of Imbolc. In Celtic Pagan traditions, Imbolc—which straight interprets to “within the stomach of the Mom”—is the celebration of the midway level between winter and spring. What higher a option to rejoice that transition than by taking down the tree on February 1?

Whether or not you’re curious about exploring your personal Christmas—or Yuletide—traditions otherwise you’re merely not within the temper to half methods with these glimmering lights and flashing bulbs, you have got each purpose to attend till February 1 to take down the Christmas tree.

Opposite to common perception, you don’t have to start out the brand new 12 months by hitting the bottom operating. In actual fact, the extreme “New Yr, New Me” stress may cause you to slam on the gasoline pedal earlier than you even know the place you’re going. And though my accomplice’s intuition has usually been to take down the tree ASAP, he’s coming round to the thought of slowly and step by step adjusting to one thing new. In any case, it takes time to thaw the ice of winter. Bear in mind—the bears are nonetheless hibernating.