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Question of the day

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Illinois

* Today in the rotunda…

* The Question: When do you usually take down your holiday decorations?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:14 pm

Comments

We take the tree down the weekend after New Years. We use a real tree and it’s getting too dry by then. the outsides can wait another week or so if the forecast doesn’t look too rough.

Comment by Mason born Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:18 pm
Started yesterday…just got done today. 12 days of Christmas and all…

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:18 pm
The weekend after Epiphany - this weekend.

Comment by Proud Sucker Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:19 pm
Catholic tradition says to take down decoration on the Epiphany or Three Kings day - coincides with the 12 days of Christmas

Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:19 pm
Probably this coming Sunday…can’t rush these things.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:21 pm
New Year’s day, in between football games. This year got a real tree even though we have several artificial trees of various sizes. It was dry with needles all over the place, and we’ll be finding them until next Christmas.

Comment by Sir Reel Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:21 pm
The tree? After the Epiphany for sure, which was yesterday, but it’ll go down tomorrow (Saturday).

Been on the move quite a bit during the holidays so it’s been nice having the tree up when home.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:22 pm
We usually keep our little tree up until New Years day.

Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:23 pm
As the pie is served on Christmas Day.
Trying to send a hint to visitors.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:23 pm
Depends on the year and whether we’re traveling. Never later than Three Kings Day. This year they came down on New Year’s Day since it was about to snow and I didn’t want to have to dry everything out before packing it.

Comment by The Opinions Bureau Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:24 pm
12th night.

Comment by Jabes Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:25 pm
I’m with OW on this. Tree stays up through the Epiphany. It’s going out tomorrow though and I’ll be cleaning the pine needles up for the rest of the year.

I got my tree in November, kept it watered for a while, but it’s so dry it might spontaneously explode into flames any minute now.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:25 pm
Whenever my wife tells me to.

Comment by The Magnificent Purple Walnut Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:27 pm
Mid January.

Comment by Midwest Maven Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:29 pm
Preferably until after Epiphany, or the weekend after that day.

It always saddens me to see people take down or turn off their decorations and Christmas tree as early as Dec. 26. At least once I’ve even heard of people putting used Christmas trees out on the street for disposal as early as Christmas Day afternoon.

Likewise, I prefer that those radio stations that play all-Christmas, all-holiday, and all-winter music must continue playing it until New Year’s Day at the earliest. Rather than shutting it off at the stroke of midnight Dec. 26 after playing it since Halloween (some even end Christmas music on Christmas night).

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:30 pm
Depends on the year and all that. This year we started taking down indoor stuff Monday. Probably would’ve left the outside stuff for a while but ended up getting it all off the house Tuesday before the deep freeze came

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:31 pm
Orthodox Christmas is today. I didn’t know you were such a scrooge, Rich. Complaining about Christmas decorations being up on Christmas.

Bah humbug indeed.

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:34 pm
Goal/intention: First weekend in January
When it usually happens: Late January

My outdoor decorations are pretty low-key, however (just a few oversize ornaments hanging from a tree in front of the house). Inside, well–it’s nice to walk in and see a tree (artificial) with lights that turned on right before I got home. I stretch it out a bit.

Comment by Leslie K Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:35 pm
Normally New Years Eve or so. This year is different due to circumstances. Tree is down. Rest of decorations will follow as I get time. Not my first priority right now

Comment by thoughts matter Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:37 pm
Gradually getting everything packed away this week. Hopefully will be finished by tomorrow.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:37 pm
Ours comes down on Christmas day or the day after at the latest.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:42 pm
Usually try to get it done by the LRB submission deadline

Comment by TradedUpForMitch Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:42 pm
Glad to see that they finally removed Lil Satan on the 5th.

Comment by Chito Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:44 pm
Back in the day when we always had a “real” tree, my Mom would toss it out on New Year’s day. Or more accurately, would have my Dad toss it (as noted above, between football games).

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:46 pm
Usually on the third request so about 3 weekends after Christmas. Hard no on the first two attempts

Comment by twowaystreet Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:47 pm
What christmas tree? This year we decorated the festive citrus trees. We brought in our lemon, lime, olive, and hibiscus trees for the winter. Strung lights and ornaments on them. Already removed and put away for the year. Lights outside on the dwarf lilac trees are still up and lit until late February or March.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:47 pm
Mine come down tomorrow. But several years ago I saw a Christmas tree in somebody’s living room window that didn’t come down until Groundhog Day.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:53 pm
One day to one week following New Year’s Day.

Comment by yinn Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 1:59 pm
December 24 as I always go on a trip Christmas morning and want to come home and have it all done.

Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:03 pm
Am taking the decorations down today except for the red and green light strings outside around the front door. I will unplug the green strand and use the red lights for Valentine’s Day. Then I unplug the red and plug in the green lights for St. Patrick’s Day. After that, it’s time to take them down and put up the blue lights for Autism Month (April). Starting in May it is red, white and blue until October. Then the brown and orange for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Then comes the red and green again. Yeah, too much information but I have fun with the lights.

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:11 pm
=== Capfax commenters don’t have Christmas trees===

I know it’s Friday and all, but please, don’t operate a motor vehicle, machinery, stay inside, don’t hurt yourself or others being so inebriated.

The new war on Christmas is when trees go down…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:16 pm
Yesterday was the Epiphany.

TBH though: There is no way I’m going up on the roof to take down lights when it’s single-degree weather. It looks like the Red household is on the “maybe February” plan.

Comment by Dirty Red Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:17 pm
Mir boziji, hristos se rodi!

Today is Christmas Day for Christians of churches still on the Julian calendar. I try to keep everything up until at least after Jan. 7 in honor of my Eastern Orthodox ancestors.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:19 pm
Not my holiday so I don’t decorate for it. I do usually put lights in the windows for the solstice. This year I got the boxes of lights out of storage, they sat on the floor for a couple of weeks,then I put them back in storage.

Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:20 pm
Certainly by 1/6 indoor and outdoor. Took outdoor down on 12/31 this year due to impending snowstorm and below freezing forecast. Learned lesson years ago when they got buried in over a foot of snow and were not seen again until February.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:20 pm
=== GoScience - Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:10 pm:
Capfax commenters don’t have Christmas trees===

That’s silly. Some of us have more than one Christmas tree.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:21 pm
-Capfax commenters don’t have Christmas trees, that’s silly. But a fair question is when they take their hammer and sickle down?-

A buck private in the nonexistent “War on Christmas” are we?

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:22 pm
=== Capfax commenters don’t have Christmas trees===

I actually LOL’d at that. But then I realized there was no “/s” added at the end. Now, I’m SMH.

Oh, and I take down Christmas decorations either New Year’s Eve or day. I like to start the new year fresh and unencumbered by the year that is ending.

Comment by The younger Manners Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:23 pm
===in your mom’s===

Not really, Friday is the *only* day we have meatloaf.

Is that your best? I know you might be impaired so I factor that in.

:)

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:25 pm
The pope takes them down on Feb. 2.

Comment by Suburban Mom Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:27 pm
Interior decorations: first day off work after the 25th, which was the 26th this year.

Exterior illumination: whenever weather allows, which also happened to be the 26th.

It takes an entire 3-day weekend (after Thanksgiving) to get everything up, but only a few hours to take it all down. What a relief.

Comment by Irma Gerd Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:27 pm
“Capfax commenters don’t have Christmas trees, that’s silly. But a fair question is when they take their hammer and sickle down?”

Here’s a piece of undeserved attention you seem to need…there…feel better?

Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:29 pm
=== Complaining about Christmas decorations===

Who’s complaining???

It was a question. Sheesh. Maybe go take a nap or have a drink or something.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:30 pm
Jan 2, period

Comment by walker Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:32 pm
In our Christian-Jewish household we take them down January 2nd.

Comment by Old Illini Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:34 pm
That would be the day after Christmas 2016. The Festivus pole stays up year round though.

Comment by Captain Obvious Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:37 pm
Jan 6 at my wife’s insistence or I would take it down the week after christmas.

She is an epiphany person.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:40 pm
Always before New Years Eve.

Comment by Get it solved Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:42 pm
Usually Epiphany or shortly thereafter. I did it today. It doesn’t take long, as I don’t have a tree, and, living in an apartment, no outside stuff.

Comment by JoanP Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:42 pm
Chanukah decorations (a banner, a single strand of blue lights & a single Menorah) are still up/out…and, heck, Chanukah came pretty early this year. Oh well… we’ve had lots of other priorities since then.

Comment by Yiddishcowboy Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:56 pm
On or after January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. Technically we Catholics celebrated it last Sunday, January 2. But I’m old school.

Comment by Me2 Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 2:58 pm
Outdoor decorations were taken down NYE, as the weather was still good. Indoor decs will be removed this weekend.

Comment by bogey golfer Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 3:37 pm
We have a fake tree so we like to leave it (plus inside lights) up for about a month. Everything goes up around Dec. 15, so it all comes down about Jan. 15.

Comment by jackmac Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 3:57 pm
Tomorrow–Chicago has a tree recycling program that allows you to dump the old tree at certain park sites and they will turn them in to mulch you can then pick up in the spring. However, you cannot start dumping them until tomorrow which seems really late to me. I have seen multiple Christmas trees set out at the trash in our alley; I wish Chicago program started earlier.

Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 4:06 pm
===Maybe go take a nap or have a drink or something===

Way to tell me to do things I was already going to do.

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 4:08 pm
Epiphany, or a bit after.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 4:11 pm
Indoor: whoever gets motivated first
Outdoor: depends on weather.
Both usually done by New Years.
Stuff got put up right at Thanksgiving only because the weather was nice.

Comment by zatoichi Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 4:13 pm
Well I hate to say but I did not even put them up this year just here myself and son in college. I should have but got lazy and busy. Manger is the real Christmas for me and I did not even get my out. But I held the baby Jesus so Father could bless him as Rome Tradition.

Comment by clec dcn Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 4:19 pm
I usually let the satanic temple guys go first taking theirs down… JK

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 4:22 pm
After the Epiphany, aka January 6th, which also happens to be Mrs’ birthday. We’ve both been under the weather, so when we get feeling better. Only put a bit up inside, tree & manager, so it will be about a half day the properly pack away the old aluminum tree (I’ve allergic to something in the pine family). Outside will wait until warmer weather and my son’s free time. We did unplug the timer for the outside lights.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Jan 7, 22 @ 4:34 pm

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