[enchantmentadm]

For the past few years, I have kept my Christmas tree up until February 2, the Feast of Candlemas (The Presentation of Our Lord and Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary). Traditionally this is end of the Christmas season, although in the current church calendar the Christmas season ends on the Feast of the Baptism (January 12 this year) and then we are back to "ordinary time." I was inspired by a priest who has spoken about how the true end of the Christmas season is the Feast of Candlemas and that he keeps his Christmas tree up until then. He is a priest who says the Novus Ordo and not the Traditional Latin Mass. By the way, I have a small artificial tabletop Christmas tree, which is very low maintenance. I am just curious if anyone else is keeping his or her Christmas tree up until February 2. If not, when did you take yours down?

[April Maccabees]

I haven't taken my tree down yet.

[susanb]

I haven't taken my tree down yet.

I didn't have a tree but my medium sized nativity came down the day after the church took
theirs down

[Stargazer186k]

I try to take my down or at least stop turning the lights on inside and outside the house on The Epiphany as it marks the 12 days of Christmas and has some recent tradition in our country. I think for a lot of people Christmas is over for them on December 26th...and most start decorating and celebrating long before Dec 24th. I don't think I could get all the lights I put up every year on the 24th even if I wanted to keep that older tradition.

I've been in two different Catholic Churches in the last 10 days and one of them had all their Christmas decorations still up inside the Church. The other had taken them all down except for some flowers.

[enchantmentadm]

I try to take my down or at least stop turning the lights on inside and outside the house on The Epiphany as it marks the 12 days of Christmas and has some recent tradition in our country. I think for a lot of people Christmas is over for them on December 26th...and most start decorating and celebrating long before Dec 24th. I don't think I could get all the lights I put up every year on the 24th even if I wanted to keep that older tradition.

I've been in two different Catholic Churches in the last 10 days and one of them had all their Christmas decorations still up inside the Church. The other had taken them all down except for some flowers.

On the current Church calendar, the Christmas season is over on the Feast of the Baptism, which is the second Sunday after Christmas (January 12 this year). After this Sunday, it is back to green vestments. For many people, Christmas does end with Epiphany. I noticed that even in the parish of the priest I noted in my post, the decorations were down after January 12. This may be because as pastor, he wanted to conform to the current Church calendar as far as the parish is concerned. However, he has expressed his personal view that the Christmas ends on February 2 (Candlemas) and that he leaves his Christmas tree up until then.

[MaryAlice]

For the past few years, I have kept my Christmas tree up until February 2, the Feast of Candlemas (The Presentation of Our Lord and Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary). Traditionally this is end of the Christmas season, although in the current church calendar the Christmas season ends on the Feast of the Baptism (January 12 this year) and then we are back to "ordinary time." I was inspired by a priest who has spoken about how the true end of the Christmas season is the Feast of Candlemas and that he keeps his Christmas tree up until then. He is a priest who says the Novus Ordo and not the Traditional Latin Mass. By the way, I have a small artificial tabletop Christmas tree, which is very low maintenance. I am just curious if anyone else is keeping his or her Christmas tree up until February 2. If not, when did you take yours down?

For years, I haven't had enough room in my home for a Christmas tree, but I still have The Manger Scene assembled... keeping it set up until Feb. 2, The Feast of The Purification of Mary, and Our Lord's Presentation in the Temple... Candlemas Day.

At the office, I took down the (artificial) Christmas tree on Monday and took it home; though I still have a couple Christmas-related items within eyeshot at my desk.

Over the past several days, I've been somewhat depressed ... sad that all the joy of Our Lord's coming into the world is behind us. 

---

I haven't taken my tree down yet.

I didn't have a tree but my medium sized nativity came down the day after the church took
theirs down

At my Church, we have The Manger Scene, all the characters and animals, The Three Kings, and all the lovely Christmas trees, poinsettias, and red bows still assembled ... keeping all of them up until after Candlemas Day, this Sunday, Feb. 2.  We're far more traditional at this Church than the rest of the diocese, for which I'm most grateful.

[Stargazer186k]

I try to take my down or at least stop turning the lights on inside and outside the house on The Epiphany as it marks the 12 days of Christmas and has some recent tradition in our country. I think for a lot of people Christmas is over for them on December 26th...and most start decorating and celebrating long before Dec 24th. I don't think I could get all the lights I put up every year on the 24th even if I wanted to keep that older tradition.

I've been in two different Catholic Churches in the last 10 days and one of them had all their Christmas decorations still up inside the Church. The other had taken them all down except for some flowers.

On the current Church calendar, the Christmas season is over on the Feast of the Baptism, which is the second Sunday after Christmas (January 12 this year). After this Sunday, it is back to green vestments. For many people, Christmas does end with Epiphany. I noticed that even in the parish of the priest I noted in my post, the decorations were down after January 12. This may be because as pastor, he wanted to conform to the current Church calendar as far as the parish is concerned. However, he has expressed his personal view that the Christmas ends on February 2 (Candlemas) and that he leaves his Christmas tree up until then.

Growing up and even in later years I always heard January 6th (or The Epiphany) was traditionally when Christmas lights and trees should come down from Catholics older than I...though the Baptism of the Lord would make perfect sense.  I am curious if others experiences were the same or different years ago...prior to the internet.

[Diane]

For the past few years, I have kept my Christmas tree up until February 2, the Feast of Candlemas (The Presentation of Our Lord and Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary). Traditionally this is end of the Christmas season, although in the current church calendar the Christmas season ends on the Feast of the Baptism (January 12 this year) and then we are back to "ordinary time." I was inspired by a priest who has spoken about how the true end of the Christmas season is the Feast of Candlemas and that he keeps his Christmas tree up until then. He is a priest who says the Novus Ordo and not the Traditional Latin Mass. By the way, I have a small artificial tabletop Christmas tree, which is very low maintenance. I am just curious if anyone else is keeping his or her Christmas tree up until February 2. If not, when did you take yours down?

I have it all down but it remains unorganized so that may be the same as up   This year I have had a wonderful time decorating. Valentines Day was wonderfully colorful here and I will be putting up my new Leprechauns I cut out in the next couple days. It took me longer to paint them than expected. Its fun now because of the little children next door. I have more of a zest for it now with them.