12th Night

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Rob Houghton
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12th Night

Post by Rob Houghton »

A thread that was talking about Epiphany got me thinking about 12th Night and the tradition of taking down the decorations. I've researched into this, and it seems, for decades, since I was a child, we have been taking our decorations down a day late...or have we?!

So okay I know some take them down the day after Christmas, or New Year's Day etc...but when is 12th Night'? Apparently the Church of England class Christmas Day as 'the first day of Christmas' - and so 12th Night is 5th January - all decorations have to be down by midnight that night...but other people class Boxing Day as 'the first day of Christmas'...and so say 12th Night is 6th January.

It was usually my mom who determined such things, as my dad wasn't bothered...so its always been 6th January in our house...but apparently that means we were a day late, lol! :roll: :lol:
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Kate Mary
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Re: 12th Night

Post by Kate Mary »

When I was at my convent school many years ago we were told the Christmas season lasted 40 days until Candlemas Day, 2nd February.

I take my Christmas decorations down when I get fed up looking at them when is usually about 2nd Jan.
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith

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Rob Houghton
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Re: 12th Night

Post by Rob Houghton »

Kate Mary wrote:When I was at my convent school many years ago we were told the Christmas season lasted 40 days until Candlemas Day, 2nd February.
yes - I was reading that earlier today - traditionally in old England people took down their holly and ivy and mistletoe on 2nd Feb. :-)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: 12th Night

Post by Courtenay »

Kate Mary wrote:When I was at my convent school many years ago we were told the Christmas season lasted 40 days until Candlemas Day, 2nd February.
♫ ♫ "On the 40th day of Christmas my true love sent to me..." ♫ ♫ :shock: :mrgreen: :wink:
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Daisy
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Re: 12th Night

Post by Daisy »

Just imagine what outlandish gifts would have to be thought up if it was 40!
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Rob Houghton
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Re: 12th Night

Post by Rob Houghton »

It takes long enough to sing already!! :shock: :lol:
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: 12th Night

Post by Lenoir »

I think we took them down on the 6th because my mother said it was after the 12th night which was the 5th. But in the later years I think they were taken down just after new year.

It seems that quite a few people still put up a tree and some lights.
The shopping centres seem to keep them up until it's convenient to take them down, but some try to get it as close to the "correct day" as possible.
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Re: 12th Night

Post by sixret »

I have been wondering for so long about the Christmas tree. Doesn’t it turn into brown or wilt without water and soil?
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Rob Houghton
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Re: 12th Night

Post by Rob Houghton »

If its cut (with no roots, as most are) then it gradually dries out - although if its in a pot of some sort you can water it to help keep it longer). Christmas trees without roots generally last around two weeks in a warm room, but needles start dropping off throughout that time. It rarely goes brown - just loses its needles. :-)

We have a small real tree in a pot and its still green and hardly lost any needles, as its got a root, but often in the past by this time of year we'd have a lot of bare branches! :lol:
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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sixret
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Re: 12th Night

Post by sixret »

Thank you so much, Rob. I wonder how can they keep the trees longer than 2 weeks, then! :lol:
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
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Re: 12th Night

Post by Courtenay »

Artificial ones, probably. :wink:
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Re: 12th Night

Post by sixret »

Thank you, Courtenay! :D
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
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Re: 12th Night

Post by Darrell71 »

We take ours down on the 31st. Personally I would love to have it up till way later, but it starts getting all brown and dry and most pitiful, like it's begging us to take it down. :lol:
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Re: 12th Night

Post by Moonraker »

Rob Houghton wrote:but when is 12th Night'? Apparently the Church of England class Christmas Day as 'the first day of Christmas' - and so 12th Night is 5th January - all decorations have to be down by midnight that night...but other people class Boxing Day as 'the first day of Christmas'...and so say 12th Night is 6th January.
I'm sure Sunskriti will say it doesn't matter! :wink:
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Re: 12th Night

Post by Daisy »

I can't say it's ever mattered to me either! Our decorations will come down today though, and then we really will feel we're back to normal!
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.

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