New Year celebrations are traditionally accompanied by festive decorations and a Christmas tree. These celebrations are followed by Christmas and the Feast of Epiphany, which is observed on January 19 in some traditions.
According to certain folk customs, the New Year tree should not be taken down immediately after the holidays. In these traditions, it is recommended to keep the tree not only until Epiphany, but for an additional eight days — until January 27. Only after this period are the winter holidays considered fully complete, and festive decorations are traditionally stored away until the next New Year.
It is important to note that these practices are based on cultural and traditional beliefs rather than strict rules. They are commonly viewed as recommendations rather than obligations, and personal preferences play a significant role.
For those who find it difficult to part with the festive atmosphere, it may be comforting to remember that spring is approaching, bringing with it new seasonal celebrations and equally vibrant traditions.
Different religious traditions also observe varying timelines. In Catholic practice, for example, it is customary to remove the Christmas tree after January 7. While popular culture often suggests that the “12 days of Christmas” precede December 25, within Catholic tradition these twelve days actually begin on December 25 and continue through January 6, the Feast of Epiphany. After this date, the Christmas season is considered complete.
In Orthodox tradition, Epiphany is observed on January 19, after which the holiday period is generally regarded as concluded.
