Why has the Duke of Westminster still got Christmas decorations up in Motcomb Street, Belgravia in late January 2021? Bad luck or spirit lifting?
Last April, the 29-year-old Duke of Westminster continued the generosity of spirit of his late father by providing £12.5 million in support to NHS staff, key workers and their children and families at the start of the first coronavirus lockdown.
Now, however, as February 2021 approaches, one is left wondering what is going on with his main business, the Grosvenor Estate – owners of huge swathes of Belgravia and Mayfair as they’ve still got their Christmas decorations.
With it widely considered bad luck to leave Christmas decorations up beyond 6th January – unless you are the Queen, who leaves up her decorations at Sandringham until February as she supposedly “likes to mark the anniversary of her late father’s death” in the presence of such – Motcomb Street, at the heart of the estate is still festooned in trees and lighting right now.
In these bizarre times of ‘Lockup 3.0,’ however, it seems the Duke may be opting to “keep the Christmas cheer going a little longer” to lift the spirits of residents “after the year we’ve all had.”
Earlier this month, the Daily Echo revealed that leaving Christmas decorations up until February is actually a medieval tradition. They quoted Dr. Michael Carter, senior properties historian at English Heritage and remarked:
“English Heritage is appealing to the public to follow the traditions of their medieval ancestors and leave festive decorations up.”
“Contrary to popular belief, the Christmas season actually continues right through to Candlemas on 2nd February so there’s no real reason why you should take your decorations down earlier.
“The tradition that it is bad luck to keep decorations up after Twelfth Night and the Epiphany is a modern invention, although it may derive from the medieval notion that decorations left up after Candlemas eve would become possessed by goblins.”
What do you think? Will there be bad luck in Belgravia as a result of this decision or has the Duke of Westminster made a timely change turning back time to an old tradition at a time when spirits need to be lifted? We’ll be fascinated to hear your views.
