Keeping up Christmas decorations could fight lockdown blues
According to experts, we could have another month of festive cheer
Last updated 7th Jan 2021
It may be the last day of Christmas, but this year experts are encouraging people to keep their lights up until February to lift the nation's spirits amid surging Covid-19 cases.
English Heritage want people to take a leaf out of history’s book and leave their decorations up until Candlemas on February 2, just like our medieval ancestors.
Lesley from Aylesbury is one of those keeping her lights up:
"Of course people can put away reindeers and snowmen, but maybe keep a small display up.
"January is a gloomy month at the moment, so we thought it could bring a bit of cheerfulness as people are driving around.
"Or a little bit of light if you're jogging around and of course children love lights, so it's great for them."
What is Candlemas?
The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, otherwise known as Candlemas, marked the official end of Christmas in medieval England.
Every year on February 2, people enjoyed big feasts and blessed candles to be used in the church.
The traditions of Candlemas have not been completely forgotten, with some churches today displaying Christmas cribs until February 2.
But now historians hope it might make a bigger resurgence.
Despite popular belief that Christmas ends on January 6, historian Michael Carter argues it continues until Candlemas, meaning "there's no real reason why you should take your decorations down earlier."
As a long winter looms and we enter yet another lockdown, maybe maintaining some festive cheer is exactly what we need!
If you are still in the festive mood, take our ultimate Christmas quiz below:
1) What colour was Father Christmas' suit originally?
2) What year did The Pogues release Christmas classic 'Fairytale of New York'?
3) If you combine the number of drummers drumming, ladies dancing and gold rings from 'The Twelve Day Of Christmas', how many gifts will you have?
4) How many gifts in total were given in 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' Song?
5) What is the name of Will Ferrell's character in the classic film Elf?
6) Which European country started the tradition of having Christmas trees?
7) What drink, which is traditionally drunk on Christmas Day, has the ingredients two parts champagne and one part orange juice?
8) Which popular Christmas song is the highest-selling UK single of all time to not reach #1 in the charts?
9) What year did Home Alone get released?
10) Which one of Santa's reindeers are missing from the list - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph?
ANSWERS!
1) Green
2) 1987
3) 26
4) 364
5) Buddy
6) Germany
7) Bucks Fizz
8) 'Last Christmas'
9) 1990
10) Cupid
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