Undecking the Halls: When to take down Christmas decorations and how to make it less of a bummer

An illustration of several Christmas ornaments lying in a partitioned ornament storage box; next to the box is a garland of brightly colored wooden beads, several loose C9 Christmas light bulbs, ornament hooks, little red bows with elastic hoop attachments, and small evergreen branches.

Whether you’re just dreading the task of cleaning innumerable loose tree needles or genuinely sad about the end of the holiday season, it can be hard to know when to take down Christmas decorations. Is it unlucky and rude to leave them up? Is it unlucky and grinchy to take them down early? How can you make winter still feel warm and cozy?!

Deep breaths, dear reader. Like with most things in life, the “right” time is totally up to you. Read on for some advice on how to decide when to take down Christmas decorations, how to make it more fun and how to get some loved ones involved in the process.

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Superstitions about when to take down Christmas decorations  

First things first: What’s all this about bad luck? Unfortunately, there are some superstitions for both ends of the early-late spectrum when it comes to taking down Christmas decorations.

Some say you have to wait until January 6, which is when the three kings arrived in Bethlehem. This is also known as The Twelfth Night, The Feast of Epiphany and Three Kings Day—what some see as the true end to Christmas. It’s considered bad luck to take down Christmas decorations before the celebration is fully over.

Others follow the tradition of taking down Christmas decorations before midnight on New Year’s Eve. If you don’t, it’s said that you risk taking old problems into the new year.

When is the “right” time to take down Christmas, then?  

Whenever is right for YOU. Which, unfortunately, might be dictated by your HOA. But if it’s not (or if you’re one to flout the rules), here are some things to think about:

 Vibe check

If keeping the decorations up makes you wallow in sadness about Christmas being over, then taking them down early might be the best option for you.

But if you’re still getting joy from your decorations, you shouldn’t cut that short! Feel free to keep them up until you have new seasonal decorations you want to trade them out for—even if that’s all the way to Valentine’s Day.

Popular poll

Another thing to consider: How does the rest of the household feel about when to take down decorations? If you don’t live alone, and if your cohabitants have differing opinions on when to take down Christmas decorations in the common areas, it might be helpful to vote on one date when everyone can come together and undeck the halls.

How to make taking down Christmas decorations at least kind of fun  

It’s hard not to have fun if you have some combination of music, movies, food and cozy stuff. Below are some thematic ideas to get you started on undecking the halls without undecking your happiness.

What about second Christmas?

If you want one last Christmas hurrah, you could basically throw yourself a second Christmas. It’s just one in which you’ll be putting stuff away. Here’s how to do it:

  • Play your favorite carols.
  • Watch your very favorite Christmas movies.
  • Reheat Christmas leftovers.
  • Remake your favorite Christmas dish.
  • Wear your favorite Christmas pajamas.

 

If what’s making you sad is not getting to do those things until next year, who’s to say you can’t just break the rules and do them one more time?

If you feel like that makes your Christmas traditions less special, though, that’s totally valid. Read on for a few more options.

Pretend that you’re actually “taking down” Christmas  

Since you’re about to be putting away decorations, why not make it a little theatrical?

  • Act like you’re the Grinch or Scrooge and take down the decor with a little gusto. We even have some headwear, both subtle and obvious, to get you in character. If you’re really dramatic, a blanket cape is always a good idea.
  • Play your favorite grumpy Christmas movies in the background, or at least take down decorations with people who can help you quote those movies! Just remember not to get too dramatic with the fragile decor.
  • Continue the rebel streak by undecorating while listening to your favorite alternative Christmas music—the stuff your grocery stores don’t overplay (or ever play).
  • Take the opportunity to listen to new-to-you Christmas music, since you won’t be risking any mood-killing duds on actual Christmas.

Emphasize the transition  

Sometimes, one of the best ways to emotionally deal with something ending is to lean into the new beginning coming your way. Christmas might be over, but both winter and the new year just started!

  • Make some resolutions that feel exciting and motivating for you. If thinking about self-improvement makes you feel energized, you could try this free kindness journal. If those kinds of resolutions fill you with dread, you could make a resolution to try every mozzarella stick in town.
  • Watch some winter-specific movies or content about starting the New Year.  
  • If just consuming content feels too low-key, it might be fun to mark the transition into winter with more of a to-do. Motivate yourself to take down your Christmas decor by planning a winter party that you’ll want to have the decor down by.
  • You could also make the party about taking down Christmas decorations with your guests, and/or about putting up winter-specific decorations that add coziness and light without emulating Christmas.
  • A New Year’s party would fit great here, even if it isn’t on or for New Year’s Eve specifically. Some folks might appreciate the option to celebrate the New Year a little later in the season.

Focus on comforting yourself  

We realize that this can be a really hard time for folks—especially those who have seasonal affective disorder.

If you’re someone who finds taking down Christmas decorations and the start of winter legitimately depressing, there’s no need to make light of those feelings. Turn it into a self-care activity with these ideas:

  • If you have a show, podcast or album that sounds soothing, consume that comfort content. No matter whether it’s Christmassy or winter-related or something else entirely.
  • If you want to lean into the emotion a little bit, consume content that makes you happy-cry. Sometimes it’s good to get the tears flowing and feel your feelings, but try to pick something that leaves you feeling a little hopeful at the same time.
  • Give yourself the connection time you need. Don’t be shy about inviting others over—especially if they can commiserate and need an end-of-Christmas support friend, too.

Take this time for memory-keeping  

Being intentional about not only remembering what made you happy this Christmas but also documenting it is a wonderful way to keep your spirits up.

Before you put everything away—or as you’re putting things away—find some ways to memorialize your merriest moments.

  • Scrapbook or make digital collages of your favorite cards, wrapping paper and holiday pictures.
  • Record the things about Christmas that made you happiest this year in a journal. You can tuck it away in a box of decorations and relive it next year as you put everything back up!
  • If you have multiple people involved in memory-keeping, make a gratitude jar together. Everyone can write down what they’re grateful for from that year, and you can feel warm and fuzzy reading them together.

Let yourself think about NEXT Christmas  

For real! This might sound a little overeager at best and dismissive of the rest of the year at worst, but right after this Christmas is the perfect time to think about next Christmas.

It’s fresh on your mind, and you might benefit from the reminder that this wonderful holiday is going to come around again. Take advantage of these tips:

  • After-Christmas sales, y’all. There are some great deals out there as stores try to get rid of the products they don’t want to keep until next Christmas. And the cutest thing? You can surprise your future self with whatever you buy. There’s nothing better than pulling out a decorating tub a whole year later and seeing a gift bag with a new goodie you don’t even remember buying.
  • Take some time to plan. Think about what you wish you had for your Christmas festivities this year. Would piping bags have made cookie decorating more fun? Is your old tree stand a pain in the neck? Make note of these things so that you can be better prepared for next year.
  • Write a letter to your future self. This is a meaningful thing to do at any time of year, but it can feel particularly special during a time of the year that means so much to you. Write about what you loved about this Christmas and what you’re hoping for the next.

Some logistical tips for when and how to take down Christmas decorations  

A big part of making undecorating into a fun ordeal is making it easier. Organizational tips coming in hot!

  • Feel free to drag it out. You don’t have to undecorate all in one day. Every time you’re about to head near your storage space, take one tub of Christmas stuff with you. This might also help the transition from decorated to undecorated feel less jarring.
  • Label boxes with EVERYTHING they have. It doesn’t have to look neat and pretty, just legible. Future you will be so glad to know which boxes have what things.
  • Group your items however it suits you to do so. You can categorize by room, difficulty to put up, fragility, etc.
  • Opt for plastic tubs rather than cardboard boxes. If they’re good quality, they can last a lifetime, which makes them more sustainable than cardboard boxes. Plastic tubs are also important for certain ornaments and decorations if you don’t have a temperature-controlled storage environment that’s safe from bug infestations.
  • For our Keepsake Ornament fans especially, find more ornament storage tips here.

Ways to involve others when you’re taking down Christmas    

Whether family, friend or neighbor, involving others can help the process go faster and feel a whole lot more positive.

  • Make a game out of it! For example, you can incorporate a scavenger hunt. This way, as folks clean up, they can look for new items to distract from the sadness of saying goodbye-for-now to Christmas decorations. You could use candy, clues or whatever motivates your people.
  • Create little jobs and duties for the littles. Jobs that involve unbreakable things are a great option here. For the really-littles, gathering Christmas blankets, pillows, stuffies and other soft things is recommended. For kids who are a little older, making labels is a great way to have them practice their handwriting.

 

 

We hope these ideas help to make the undecorating process easier, less sad and maybe even outright fun for you and yours. Have a happy new year, and let us know if you like any of our tips!

 

 

Want more ideas to start the year off in a fun, fresh way? Check these out: