Mom Sparks Debate by Taking Down Christmas Tree at 6PM on December 25
In Ireland, many follow the tradition of leaving festive decorations up until Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) on January 6. However, Georgia Schofield, 27, from Hartlepool in England, has a unique tradition that has captured the internet’s attention—she removes all her Christmas decorations by 6pm on Christmas Day.
Georgia’s reasoning for this early clean-up is deeply personal and thoughtful. Speaking to Mirror UK, she explained: “It’s my daughter’s birthday on St Stephen’s Day, and if it was me, I wouldn’t want the tree still up. I try to make it as normal as possible for her special day. I’ve done it every year so she knows no different, and she’s never questioned it. If it weren’t for her birthday, I’d leave the decorations up longer.”
As the mum of Ava and Leo, Georgia has embraced this routine to ensure Ava’s birthday feels special despite its proximity to Christmas. To prepare for this unique schedule, Georgia starts early. “I buy and wrap the kids’ presents by mid-October, and the tree goes up at the end of November. I like to be organised,” she said.
On Christmas Day, after a festive family dinner, Georgia gets to work. “We open presents in the morning, then head to my mum’s for dinner. After the kids are in bed by 5:30pm, I take down the Christmas decorations and replace them with Ava’s birthday decorations,” she shared. Georgia spares no effort for Ava’s birthday, setting up balloons, decorating the table, and preparing gifts.
Celebrations include a trip to Pizza Hut for lunch and a party buffet for tea. While having a birthday right after Christmas comes with challenges, such as sourcing a cake, Georgia ensures Ava never feels overlooked. “It’s hard buying a birthday cake so close to Christmas, but I make sure it’s a special celebration just for her,” she said.
Georgia’s videos about her tradition, posted under the username @bruh.georgia, have gone viral on TikTok, garnering millions of views. While some viewers question the decision to take down decorations so early, many have praised her thoughtfulness. “I love this, it’s thoughtful,” one parent commented. Another said: “My daughter’s is the 29th, and I take the tree down so she knows there’s a difference between Xmas and her birthday.”
Despite mixed opinions, Georgia focuses on positive feedback. “I didn’t expect my TikTok to blow up like it did, but I focus on the positive feedback,” she said.