Exact date you should take down Christmas tree as 'bad luck' and 'evil spirits' could remain

dailyrecord.co.uk:

With Christmas now over, you may be wondering when it's acceptable to take down your tree up pack up any decorations.The date you decide to pack up the Christmas tree for another year is down to personal preference, but those who follow tradition will know it's actually bad luck to keep it up for too long.According to tradition that dates back hundreds of years, leaving your tree up past a certain date could allow evil spirits or bad luck in your home.It's based on a Christian tradition dating all the way back to the 4th century called Twelfth Night.

You're probably already familiar with the 12 Days of Christmas, which supposedly marks the time period between the birth of Jesus and the Three Wise Men.It begins on December 25 and ends on January 6 - and this date is also known as the Epiphany.

However, the 12th night after Christmas falls on January 5 this year. It differs from year to year, depending on whether you count the 25th or not.

This Twelfth Night is historically the time of year that your decorations should be taken down.It's believed that until the 1800s, the 12-day period after Christmas featured several other holidays and celebrations until they were thought to be taken off the calendar by Queen Victoria.After the Twelfth Night, the Victorians expected people to halt the celebrations and get back to work.