Keeping the party going: People beating lockdown blues by not taking down Christmas decorations

A handful of residents have ignored superstitions this year and kept their Christmas decorations shining bright to keep spirits high during winter in lockdown.

Twelfth Night is often seen as the standard time to take decorations down which means trees, tinsel, wreathes – the lot – need to be packed away by January 5.

But as Covid still looms above us in 2021, some Christmas fans have decided to fight off the gloomy January nights by keeping their homes twinkling with fairy lights and festive decorations.

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Lyndsey Rafferty, from East Lothian, shocks her clients and colleagues when on Zoom calls for work as her Christmas tree still stands boldly behind her desk.

Some residents are keeping the Christmas cheer going to fight off Covid blues this winter picture: suppliedSome residents are keeping the Christmas cheer going to fight off Covid blues this winter picture: supplied
Some residents are keeping the Christmas cheer going to fight off Covid blues this winter picture: supplied

"’Oh you’re one of those people’ is the response I usually get when people see it still up,” the 31-year-old laughed.

"I thought January is always a bit gloomy and it’s been made worse with lockdown so I wanted to keep it.

“It is a fake one which is why it has lasted so long.”

Lyndsey, who works at Edinburgh International Conference Centre, has a running joke with colleagues that her tree is going to stay until the Easter Bunny “steals it away.”

Lyndsey Rafferty in the top right hand corner keeping her colleagues on Zoom amused with her Christmas tree still standing strong in the background picture: Lyndsey RaffertyLyndsey Rafferty in the top right hand corner keeping her colleagues on Zoom amused with her Christmas tree still standing strong in the background picture: Lyndsey Rafferty
Lyndsey Rafferty in the top right hand corner keeping her colleagues on Zoom amused with her Christmas tree still standing strong in the background picture: Lyndsey Rafferty

"It’s giving people a bit of a laugh during this grey month and it certainly keeps the living room looking bright” she added.

Whitney Curry Wimbish, who lives in Edinburgh, has also gone against the grain and decided to keep her Christmas tree standing proud during Scotland’s long winter months.

“It's just something bright in the house to lift the spirits a bit,” she said, “especially on a gloomy day it's nice to have the lights on.”

The writer, who also has a few festive candles on display and some lights around her fireplace, said she has no plan to take the decorations down any time soon.

Whitney Curry Wimbish's tree still standing strong in her home in Edinburgh picture: suppliedWhitney Curry Wimbish's tree still standing strong in her home in Edinburgh picture: supplied
Whitney Curry Wimbish's tree still standing strong in her home in Edinburgh picture: supplied

"They could be up for months,” she added.

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Queensferry resident Bruce Beaton has also kept his lights up well into 2021 to fight off Covid blues.

“We love Christmas,” he said, “and most Januarys are a bit flat.

“And this year I think we need a bit of a pagan and diwali light boost.”

Bruce Beaton's house shining bright in Queensferry picture: suppliedBruce Beaton's house shining bright in Queensferry picture: supplied
Bruce Beaton's house shining bright in Queensferry picture: supplied

While it is rare, it is not uncommon for some festive types to keep decorations up until Candlemas which this year lands on Tuesday, 2 February.

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