ACCORDING to tradition, households should take down their colourful Christmas decorations and beautifully lit tree on the Twelfth night.
But when exactly is the Twelfth night? Here's everything you need to know.
When is the Twelfth night?
According to the commonly-followed Christian tradition, the Twelfth Night marks the end of seasonal festivities – occurring 12 days after the holiday began.
So if December 25 is the first day of Christmas, that means Twelfth Night lands on January 5 every year.
However, the date can cause some confusion – others have regarded January 6 as the Twelfth night, partly because the day is sometimes also known as twelfth day.
It really all depends on where your counting begins.
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What is the meaning of the Twelfth night?
The festival marks the end of Christmas and the coming of The Epiphany, a Christian feast day celebrated on January 6.
For the Church of England, the date falls on the fifth day of the New Year, with the first day of Christmas being on December 25.
Its name comes from it bringing to an end the 12 Days of Christmas – the length of time Christians traditionally celebrated the birth of Jesus.
When should my Christmas decorations come down?
Most people stick to the same date to take down their tree – January 5 or the Twelfth night.
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It's widely believed to be bad luck to keep decorations up after this date but you can take them down earlier, if you want.
The choice is entirely up to you.
What are the Twelve Days Of Christmas?
The twelve days of Christmas is sometimes referred to as Christmastide, covering the entire Christmas period.
With Christmas as the first day, the important celebrations can vary depending on the branch of Christianity and also the customs of different countries.
Although, every one of the 12 days celebrates a different saint, from St John the Apostle on December 27 to the Virgin Mary on January 1.
Christmas Day – the liturgical feast of the Nativity of the Lord
Boxing Day – St Stephen’s Day
December 27 – the Feast of St John
December 28 – the Feast of the Holy Innocents
December 29 – Memorial of St Thomas Becket
December 30 – the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
New Year’s Eve – the feast of Pope St Sylvester I and is known also as "Silvester".
New Year’s Day – the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
January 2 – the feast of Sts Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus
January 3 – the Memorial of the Holy Name of Jesus
January 4 – this varies on a regional level, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is celebrated in the US while St Eugene is celebrated in many countries in Africa
January 5 – The Memorial of St Tatiana
What is epiphany?
Epiphany also known as also known as Three Kings' Day is a Christian festival, which starts on January 6 and has been celebrated in Europe since the 4th century.
It is a special date in the Christian calendar as it's when people celebrate how a star led the the Three Wise Men to visit the baby Jesus after he had been born.
The Gospel of Matthew says the three kings followed a star across the desert to Bethlehem, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
'Epiphany' comes from the Greek word meaning 'to reveal', as it is when the baby Jesus was 'revealed' to the world.
This is why you might hear people say they've had an epiphany, when they've just realised something.
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