The Queen Keeps Christmas Decorations Up Until February As A Tribute To A Special Family Member

Jan 13, 2020 by apost team

The holiday season is a time of enchantment and wonder. Crisp wintry air is filled with scents of pine wreaths and baked goods. Homes and businesses display lights and special decorations. Children’s choirs jubilantly burst forth into song, and the world is filled with good cheer. For one particular family, Christmas and one of its traditions carry an even deeper meaning.

The yearly royal Christmas demands a special home away from the traditional fray of Buckingham Palace and the big city. Sandringham is the country home the royal family purchased in 1862. It sits on 20,000 acres of pristinely beautiful land and is located approximately 100 miles north of London. It also has found such a home in the collective royal heart that it escaped demolition and has been open for public tours since 1977.

This mystical retreat is also the historic home of royal shooting events. Hunting was such a popular sport that King Edward VII had all clocks set back by half an hour to increase the amount of daylight available. From 1901 to 1936, the royal family operated on “Sandringham Time” during these sporting vacations.

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While Sandringham is full of holiday activities and glamour, there’s a more private side to holiday celebrations. Each year, the Queen keeps her holiday decorations up until February 6. This is to commemorate the date in 1952 when her father, King George VI died at Sandringham. The decorations serve to honor his memory in the home he loved.

The royal family’s holiday traditions provide meaningful ways to involve one another, and the general public while keeping sacred the memories of loved ones who have passed. We all have different ways we make the holidays unique for those we love. 

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? Have you tried incorporating any royal traditions into your own Christmas celebration? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to others.