Mum-Of-Two Defends Keeping Christmas Tree Up All Year

Mum-of-two Claire Holdroyd, 38, from Newcastle, has refused to pack up her Christmas decs this year, and will be redecorating her ceiling-high tree with roses and hearts (for a love-themed Valentine's design) before switching it up for Easter, too.

Speaking about her decision, Claire - who is a key worker in a care home - explained: "Christmas makes me happy. We all waited so long to celebrate after such an awful year, so why the rush or need to pack everything away?

"January is so glum and dull anyway and I love how cosy the house looks when we have the Christmas lights on.

"So many people have said they are going to do it too, because they are sad to take down the only little bit of happiness we have experienced in months.

"There are no rules to say we can't. I have had the odd comment that it will bring bad luck, but I don't believe in superstitions and frankly we have had plenty of bad luck already."

"I always put my tree up early - as soon as I can in November - and I've joked for years about keeping my tree up all year round, so my family are really not surprised. My daughter's think I'm mad but agree it looks great and my husband is more than used to my crazy ideas," she continued.

"At work, we like to do lots of crafts with the residents and I love to be creative - what else is there to do when we are stuck in lockdown."

Claire posted her idea on a Christmas appreciation group on Facebook and instantly had thousands of positive comments and shares.

While her Valentine's tree is complete with hearts, feathers, ribbons and tags on which she will write positive messages for her husband and daughters, her Easter themed ideas include hanging painted eggs and decorating with daffodils.

She added: "I would have great ideas for Halloween too but I don't want to think that we could still be in lockdown come October.

"For now it's a bit of fun until we see a light at the end of this lockdown tunnel."

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