My Grandmother would always insist on the Christmas decorations being taken down before or on 12th Night.  She would tell stories of how bad luck would come to those who flouted this rule by means of Goblins jumping from the picture rails and bringing mayhem to the New Year. If one decoration was left up by accident it had to stay there all year then the Goblins would be appeased, somehow.  Whether as a consequence of this from my childhood or because the weak winter sun makes things look grubby after the festivities I don’t know but I have always taken my decorations down on the day after New Year, perhaps just to be on the safe side!

Whatever you do with your decorations I wish you a peaceful and joy filled 2014.  Should misfortune attend you I wish you the inner strength and familial love to cope with it.

Denny Bradbury