But now Christmas Day has passed, how long should you keep your festive lights on display and when should you take your Christmas tree down?

Superstition decrees that all Yuletide decorations must come down by the 12th day of Christmas on January 6.

The date marks epiphany, also known as Three Kings’ Day, when the three wise men visited Jesus in Bethlehem and gifted him with gold, frankincense and myrrh.

According to the Church of England, “the season of Christmas lasts for twelve days, culminating in another feast - that of the Epiphany on January 6”.

In some countries Epiphany is held as early as the first Sunday after January, as these countries follow the Julian calendar rather than the Georgian calendar.

When is Twelfth Night?

There is some disagreement over whether festive decorations should come down on January 5 or January 6.

Twelfth Night falls on January 5 and is called so because Christmas was traditionally a 12-day celebration, beginning on Christmas Eve.

However some will class January 6 as Twelfth Night because it is the 12th day after Christmas.

But popular superstition states it is unlucky to leave decorations up past January 5.

If this happens, then they should by left up until Candlemas Day on February 2.

The festival commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, celebrated 40 days after the birth of Jesus.

It was traditionally the day the church’s candles were blessed for the year ahead.

Why is it unlucky to keep your tree up after Twelfth Night?

Legend has it that tree spirits lived in Christmas greenery, such as the holly and the ivy. 

While they are provided with shelter for the festive period, they need to be released once Christmas is over otherwise greenery will not grow back in the spring.

This, in turn, will lead to problems in farming and food production.

As a result, many people still choose to adhere to this tradition today.