A partridge and a Mardi Gras tree

Sheila Alldredge
January 22, 2008
Lillie Reed
January 24, 2008
Sheila Alldredge
January 22, 2008
Lillie Reed
January 24, 2008

Christmas has just ended and Christians are now taking down their Christmas decorations.


What’s that you say? You took down your Christmas decorations on December 26.


If so, you’re not alone as many people recognize December 25 as the end of the Christmas season. However, according to Christian tradition, December 25 is actually the beginning.

The 12 days of Christmas are more than just the title of a popular song, it is the traditional time for celebrating the birth of Christ. A holiday tree doesn’t become a Christmas tree until December 25.


Last Sunday marked the 12th day of Christmas and the traditional end of the season.

Now that the green and red decorations are being put away, it’s time to put up the purple, green and gold, because the 12th night not only marks the end of the Christmas season, but the beginning of another – Mardi Gras.

With a few changes in ornaments, my wife and I converted our Christmas tree into a Mardi Gras tree. The pumpkin pie is gone – replaced with king cake – and Bing Crosby has been replaced with Professor Longhair.

Mardi Gras is early this year, occurring on February 5, so that means it won’t be long before we’ll be decorating for Saint Valentine’s Day and then decorating for Easter.

The 12 days of Christmas may be over, but decorating for religious holidays is just beginning.