Christmas revelers determined to keep the festive spirit alive are defying the curse of Twelfth Night and saying 'mine will stay until February'

Today is Twelfth Night, the day when the Christmas decorations have to be taken down and packed up again for a new year.

For some, however, it's still too early to say goodbye to the twinkling lights and decorative streamers that brighten some of the gloomiest months of the year.

According to tradition, trees should be cut down on the 12th evening of the festive calendar, also known as Epiphany, which falls on January 5.

In the Christian calendar, Epiphany, derived from the Greek word meaning 'manifestation', commemorates the day when a star led the three kings or wise men to the baby Jesus.

On social media, many have said they will defy tradition and instead return to celebrating the medieval Candlemas – also known as 'long Christmas', where it is considered acceptable to keep things festive until February 2.

Social media was flooded today with people saying they wouldn't be tearing down trees or pulling the plug on the festive lights, with many saying the biggest reason was because the decorations cheered them up during the gloomiest months of the year.

One person wrote: 'January is depressing. Beautiful Christmas lights make me happy. I would like to start a petition for everyone to keep the Christmas lights on (no trees or other decorations, just lights) until the end of January. Who's with me?'

Many agreed, with some saying they leave their homes decorated all year round.

One person wrote: 'I've had a unit of Christmas decorations on display all year. My excuse is that they are too delicate to wrap. Every time I walk by it makes me happy.'

On X, formerly known as Twitter, hundreds of people shared images of their windows still lit with colored lights and of trees still standing all the way up

Another added the emotional reason why they are reluctant to clear out a seasonal village this year, writing: 'I have decided to leave the village until the end of January. Christmas was sad this year as my 89 year old mother's health is declining. She lives with us and enjoys looking at the village. Time with her becomes more precious.”

One person said they would stay until “Valentine's Day,” when they will be replaced with romantic candlelight and flowers, in romantic anticipation of the end of winter and the coming spring.

Scandinavian countries, especially Sweden, like to keep their lights on during the darkest months of the year.

According to historian Dr. Michael Carter, the tradition that it is bad luck to leave decorations in place after Twelfth Night is a “modern invention” that may stem from the medieval superstition that decorations left after Candlemas Eve would become possessed by goblins.

Last year he told MailOnline: 'I believe that after the year we have all had, we certainly deserve to continue the Christmas spirit for a little longer.'

English Heritage's senior property historian explained: 'In medieval times, houses were decorated with greenery on Christmas Eve for the Christmas season.

'The Christmas celebration started around 4pm on Christmas Eve afternoon and continued until Epiphany on January 6.

'But contrary to popular belief, the Christmas period runs until Candlemas on February 2, so there's no real reason why you should take your decorations down earlier.'