According to tradition this is the 'correct' date to take down your Christmas decorations

Twinkling lights and glistening tinsel bring some much needed festive cheer during the cold days of winter. And although you can take your Christmas decorations down whenever you want, did you know that, according to tradition, there is a correct date to do so?

And if you are superstitious you might take the deadline more seriously, as it's believed it can bring bad luck into the New Year if you don't adhere to it, North Wales Live reports.

The first day of the Christmas festivities is Christmas Day. The Twelfth Night (January 5) is widely considered to be the last day, or the eve of the Epiphany. And according to superstition, if you leave your decorations up after the 5th, it can bring you bad luck.

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This belief harks back to when people used to decorate their homes with ivy and holly. They used to think tree spirits lived in the greenery and made sure all their festive ornaments and trimmings were taken down in the first week of the New Year to set them free. If the custom wasn't followed it was said to affect the vegetation and greenery for the next twelve months.

January the 6th is the day of the Epiphany and in Christian religions it celebrates the time the Three Wise Men (also referred to as Magi) visited baby Jesus. It also remembers his baptism.