It used to be that TV networks would continue showing Christmas-themed movies up through New Year's Day, and radio stations would have, if not 24-hour uninterrupted Christmas music then maybe 12 h thereof, on 01.01. I think one of the networks showed Christmas with the Kranks on 12.26, but after that nothing. And I generally leave my tree and decorations up until January 6 (Epiphany), or maybe take them down a couple of days earlier or later as time permits (but they're definitely back in storage by Martin Luther King day). What about you? When does Christmas end for you: January 6? January 1? somewhere mid-Kwanzaa? 11:59:59 on December 25? or even earlier?
The tree always comes down before Twelfth Night - it's bad luck to have it up any longer than that. Not sure if that's an Italian, Irish, Scots or Welsh tradition, but that's always been the way we've done it.
Christmas itself ends for me when I get home from my parents - usually Boxing Day or the day after...
Christmas ends for me on Christmas day. We always have ours on Christmas Eve and relax on Christmas Day. I have been known to actually take down the tree and stuff indoors on Christmas Day. The last couple of years though it has gotten later and later. I still have a small tree in the window but the big tree and everything else inside is packed up. Most of the outdoor too except the lights around the top of the house...we had lots of snow and DH just hasn't gotten around to doing it. But I think this is the first year in many that we actually left them up and on past Christmas, just about 4 days.
I just took down my tree (small one) & lights today. I usually take it down the weekend after New Years. I really like the lights (had icicle ones in window, a beaded garland set on the bookcase & a set each in both the doorways of my living room). They're a nice contrast to the dreary weather and early sunsets (I hate when it gets dark early & late sunsets are the best part of summer IMHO). I hate taking them down, but I don't want to leave them up year round. So I compromise by enjoying them through the New Year.
My family's scattered around and a blended one at that, so it's just not logistically possible to speak/see everyone within a set time. Plus we have a bunch of December & January birthdays (including my upcoming one), so the gatherings and celebrations pretty much continue throughout January. The rule growing up was that the Christmas stuff had to come down before my birthday. It wasn't mine, it was my parents. Personally, the first thing I did when I got a place of my own was leave everything up until after my birthday, just because I could
I have a number of fellow January birthday friends as well, which means birthday dinners & parties. And a professional organization I belong to has its holiday party in January (too many scheduling conflicts in December and I think they get a bit of a break on the cost of the event in January). It's nice to have the festivities to combat the cold, dreary time of year, but it also means temptation foodwise. So I'm extending my holiday strategy into the beginning of February. Which is moderate enjoyment, along with staying on track exercise wise and staying on plan, accounting for any excess with less food someplace else/more exercise. In the past, I let my guard down, thinking "oh, I got through the holidays". But I've learned from past experience, I really need to keep it up throughout January to avoid being blindsided by a February weight gain.
Christmas officially ends in my family on Epiphany (January 6). This was what my Mom's family did & we've kept the custom throughout the years. First to go is supposed to be the wreath on the front door, followed by the tree & all the other Christmas ornaments. And this officially marks the end of Christmas time and the start of the Carnival season, which lasts through Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras).
Seeing as today is Jan 6, I had better get going & finish putting my decorations away!!!
New Years day the "Christmas Season" is over and done with. Kind of helps that the weather has jumped up into the 60's for Long Island following the new year
The Christmas season goes all the way to Feb2 ( Mary's Purification), but usually I have the decorations down by the second week of Jan...the tree just doesn't last that long, and the kids get tired of having to vacuum the needles.
On a slightly different note, I live outside of chicago, and one of the major radio stations play christmas music from about thanksgiving to christmas, but I have noticed that recent years that on Christmas Day they are back to their regular format. This always drove me nuts. I was so happy this year when a more local station played all christmas music for 96 hours, and they included Christmas day...so I was able to sit at home and relax listening to the radio
Sorry for the rant, but I saw what ANOther wrote about the movies.
My decorations and tree must be down by sunset on the eve of Epiphany. I leave the outdoor wreaths and lights until January 14 which is my birthday. It brightens up those cold and dark January nights.
When does Christmas end for you?
and the start of the Carnival season, which lasts through Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras).
