For the superstitious among us, it’s important that Christmas trees are taken down today, as it’s considered the twelfth night, with some believing it’s unlucky to leave them up beyond this date.
Christmas Time UK explains, “The Epiphany falls on 6th January, which means the decorations should, in theory, be tidied away on the 5th”.
However, they acknowledged that “not everybody follows this tradition,” noting that “many countries, including Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic” see the Twelfth Night as the 6th January.
Taking down your tree can seem daunting. While putting up decorations is exciting, anticipating the holiday cheer, dismantling them after the celebrations can feel somewhat melancholic and lacklustre, especially as New Year’s resolutions start to kick in.
It’s enough to stir emotions even in those least enthused by the festive season as cherished ornaments are packed away for another year.
But when Katie Davidson, known on TikTok as @home_by_kt, revealed her ingenious method for tree disassembly, many, including her were left thinking, “Why haven’t we done this before?”. In her video, she shared a “pro tip for taking your Christmas decorations down,” which involved keeping the tree fully assembled and decorated, and simply wrapping it in clingfilm.
Once the tree was wrapped in clingfilm and removed from its stand, it was stored in the loft as is. However, this hack requires a loft spacious enough to accommodate the tree, and some social media users highlighted potential issues with the method.
One individual felt that wrapping the tree in clingfilm and storing it for next year took away the magic of Christmas, stating: “Decorating the tree is the best bit”. Another sarcastically suggested: “You could also leave it in the attic; that way, when it’s time to put the tree away, you’re already a step ahead”.
A woman expressed concern about the possibility of “spiders” hiding within the tree and clingfilm, with another person sharing a similar sentiment, writing: “I saw someone do this and put it in their loft, and a wasp nest was in the tree the year after when they got it down. Mine is being dismantled and sealed in the box.”
However, others praised the idea as a “great idea,” revealing that they’ve been storing their trees in a “duvet cover,” jokingly adding: “It can be a bit scary when you go up into the loft and forget it’s there because it looks like a person.”
When and how do you take your Christmas decorations down? Let us know in the comments…