In the run-up to Christmas Eve, there's nothing more to get you in the festive mood than the Christmas tree in the corner of a room, festooned with twinkly lights and an array of baubles. But now as we welcome in 2017 thoughts are turning back to school and work, the sagging branches are looking a bit sad and rooms are feeling just a bit too crammed full. There's probably more pine needles on the floor than on the lower boughs, and that traditional Christmas tree smell has all but faded. You may have already taken them down, but the tradition, since the Victorian era, is to remove decorations on Twelfth Night. Read more: Can you match the stars to their very own Christmas trees? Every year this very tradition causes confusion, as people are left scratching their heads wondering when the date falls and why. Read on for the answers and the date when you should take down your decorations. Depending on which faith you follow it's either January 5 or January 6, and the last day you should keep festive decorations up.

A day sooner or later is considered unlucky, and if decorations are not removed on Twelfth Night then according to tradition they should stay up all year. Until the 19th century though, people would keep their decorations up until Candlemas Day on February 2. Twelfth Night falls on January 5 and Epiphany on January 6. Twelfth Night is so called because traditionally Christmas was a 12 day celebration, beginning on December 25. This can create some confusion as some will class January 6 as Twelfth Night because it is the 12th day after Christmas. Epiphany marks the end of Christmas, when Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist and the Three Kings came to visit bearing gifts, guided by the star which is now represented in the twinkling lights adorning our homes. January 5 is observed as the last day of Christmas festivities - the eve of the Epiphany. In the past it was believed that tree-spirits lived in the greenery – such as holly and ivy – that people used to decorate their homes. While the festive season provided shelter for these spirits during the winter, they needed to be released outside once Christmas was over.

If this custom wasn’t followed, greenery would not return and vegetation would not grow as a result, causing agricultural and then food problems. Even though Christmas decorations are now less about foliage and more about baubles, glitter, tinsel and singing Santas, many people still adhere to the superstition. Because there is disagreement as to whether January 5 or January 6 is actually Twelfth Night lots of countries end up taking down their festooned trees at different times. simple christmas decorations in officeThis can also depend on when people actually celebrate the festive season - for example in Russia Christmas Day falls on January 7. wall art decor targetBut January 6 is officially the day of the Epiphany. christmas accessories wholesale uk

This is from the Christian tradition that tells us Jesus was born on December 25, but the Magi didn’t actually arrive in Bethlehem with his presents until January 6. Children were traditionally told that if you took down your decorations before the Eve of the Epiphany, the wise men might not be able to find their way - because Christmas lights represent the Star of Bethlehem which guided them to Jesus. interior home decor bedroomA number of countries in Europe follow the January 6 tradition, including the Germans, Poles and Czechs. best paint for outdoor wooden chairsHowever for some people, simply having the decorations up into the New Year is too much and many will be taking them down today. home decor ideas for small homes in india

Real Christmas trees will be accepted at most household tips, but local authorities, garden centres and community groups may accept them for recycling. Find out where might be suitable for this in your area. If your decorations aren’t going into a loft or attic, make sure they’re stored in a watertight, plastic box - in fact, doing this wherever they are kept will protect them from damp and pests. It’s also worth wrapping fragile Christmas ornaments in tissue paper before storage - and, of course, coiling the lights in a neat circle round your arm. Obviously the loft fairies will have tangled them into a mess by next December, but at least you can say you tried when you open them in a frazzled temper next time. The UK is estimated to use almost 300,000 tonnes of card packaging at Christmas, enough to make a cardboard motorway stretching from Birmingham to Lapland and back 110 times. Recycle Now is urging consumers to recycle this material rather than bin it. Shiny and metallic varieties of wrapping paper are not recyclable, so the campaign advises people to use the ‘scrunch test’ to check.

If you scrunch the paper in your hand and it stays in a ball then it can by recycled but it can’t if the paper springs back. If you're recycling bin is full, several shops such as Marks and Spencer run card recycling schemes to raise funds for charity. For every 1,000 cards dropped in to M&S stores in January, a tree is planted by the Woodland Trust . Last year 32 million cards were collected and 32,000 trees planted.So Christmas is over and most of you are back at work and may just want to put all the decorations away for another year – but when should you actually take them down? Sticklers for tradition would tell you that they should come down 12 days after Christmas - but they would also say you were wrong if you put them up more than 12 days before the big day. Twelfth Night is so called because traditionally Christmas was a 12-day celebration, beginning on December 25. However, this in itself can create some confusion over which is the right day to remove all the sparkle as some will class January 6 as Twelfth Night because it is the 12th day after Christmas.

Watch below: who wants to have to remove all these lights? Epiphany marks the end of Christmas, when Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist and the Three Kings came to visit bearing gifts, guided by the star which is now represented in the twinkling lights adorning our homes.Read more: Christmas is only just over and the Easter Eggs are on sale! A day sooner or later than Twelfth Night is considered unlucky, and if not removed on that day, then they should stay up all year. If this custom wasn't followed, greenery would not return and vegetation would not grow as a result, causing agricultural and then food problems.Read more: January blues - 19 of the worst things you have to deal with going back to work Even though Christmas decorations are now less about foliage and more about baubles, glitter, tinsel and singing Santas, many people still adhere to the superstition. As there is disagreement as to whether January 5 or January 6 is actually Twelfth Night, lots of countries end up taking down their festooned trees at different times.

This is from the Christian tradition that tells us Jesus was born on December 25, but the Magi didn't actually arrive in Bethlehem with his presents until January 6.Read more: Tesco offers refund after customers complain glitter wrapping paper was too glittery Children were traditionally told that if you took down your decorations before the Eve of the Epiphany, the wise men might not be able to find their way - because Christmas lights represent the Star of Bethlehem which guided them to Jesus. However for some people, simply having the decorations up into the new year is too much and many will be taking them down today. Cornwall Council said it would only collect non-artificial Christmas trees in the weeks starting January 9 and January 16, advising: "Put your tree out on your normal rubbish collection day on the alternate week to your recycling collection. The trees will be collected for free and then shredded and composted."Read more: Newquay family Pie-Face and Speak Out mash up video seen by millions Alternatively you can take them to any household waste and recycling centre.