Tonight, I was talking with my dad, and he mentioned that he was going to take his Christmas tree down on Twelfth Night (January 6), figuring that was the traditional ending of Christmas.

“Well, actually there’s another tradition that says you take down your Christmas greens on Candlemas Eve,” I said, “which is February 1. There’s a poem by Robert Herrick about it.”

“Well, your mother always said that Christmas decorations should stay up until February,” dad said.

“That’s right,” I said, “and all these years I’ve uncharitably thought it was just because she was procrastinating, but maybe she was just living out some old Christmas custom.” Mom was full of old New England customs, so full that I think there were times she didn’t realize that she was following some old, time-hallowed custom. Mom was also very fond of Robert Herrick, so perhaps she had read his poem on the subject:

Ceremonies for Candlemasse Eve

Down with the Rosemary and Bayes,
   Down with the Mistleto;
Instead of Holly, now up-raise
   The greener Box (for show).

The Holly hitherto did sway,
   Let Box now domineere;
Until the dancing Easter-day,
   Or Easters Eve appeare.

Then youthfull Box which now hath grace,
   Your houses to renew;
Grown old, surrender must his place,
   Unto the crisped Yew.

When Yew is out, then Birch comes in,
   And many Flowers beside,
Both of a fresh and fragrant kinne,
   To honour Whitsontide.

Green Rushes then, and sweetest Bents,
   With cooler Oken boughs,
Come in for comely ornaments,
   To re-adorn the house.

Thus times do shift; each thing his turne do’s hold;
New things succeed, as former things grow old.

(This version of the poem from The Poems of Robert Herrick, Oxford University Press (1902/1920), p. 267.)

In short, if you choose to leave your Christmas greenery up for another month, you can cite Robert Herrick as your authority for doing so. And is you want to sing while you’re taking down your Christmas greenery, it turns out that there is a Candlemas carol that sets Herrick’s poem to an old West Gallery folk tune. Here’s my adaptation of this carol, or you can find versions online in a higher key, and in four-part harmony.