Chicken bald back

[patsylabrador]

Quick question and this forum seems ideal because some of you live in Europe.

I was in France overnight and I was really surprised by how many Christmas decorations are still up. The town I stayed in was still so Christmassy (Montreuil sur mer) which delighted me and I saw so many decorations up in other towns too.

We are a bit obsessed by sixth night here and I was wondering if there is a different important date on the continent.

I confess that I leave up some fairy lights through the winter months because they are necessary and I call them Winter lights after Christmas.

[Daphne]

Well in Portugal there are hardly any decorations as such anywhere even during the real Xmas period - I think its because traditionally things are really real. Not only do we have real animals in the Nativity scenes outside, sometimes there are also real people in them as well!

 

I'm just back from Germany and Austria - and there were quite a few outdoor decorations still up, more than I remember seeing before. We weren't sure why, or what the tradition is, I thought Epiphany would apply across Europe, but perhaps not.

[Cat tails]

Here in the Netherlands it's general consensus that you get rid of your Christmas tree before 6th of January. Although some area's have a traditional New Years eve bonfire, with Christmas trees.