A mum has revealed the heartwarming reason she takes down her festive decorations on Christmas Day - and said this year will be no different. Georgia, 24, went viral on TikTok last year when she posted a video of her taking down her tree on December 25 to make a special day for her daughter.
The mum from Hartlepool made the decision to make her daughter's birthday - which falls on Boxing Day - even more special. Though not everyone agrees with her abrupt end to the festive season, she says it is important to her that three-year-old Ava gets to experience a proper birthday celebration.
Speaking to the Mirror, Georgia explained: "It's my daughter's birthday on Boxing Day and if it was me, I'd hate the tree being up. So I try and 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 requested or questioned it. If it wasn't her birthday, I would have them up for longer."
Georgia, who is also mum to two-year-old Leo, makes sure to keep the Christmas magic alive by preparing extra early.
"My kids' presents are all bought and wrapped by mid-October and the tree goes up at the end of November. I like to be organised."
Then on December 25 at around 6pm, it's her tradition to remove all traces of Christmas, just a couple of hours after polishing off her roasties.
"We get up early and open our presents, then get ready to head to my mum's house for dinner. At 4pm we'll have a buffet and the kids are both in bed by 5.30pm. That's when I pack away all of Christmas and replace it with Ava's birthday decorations.
"Last year she had a Paw Patrol theme and she will again this year. I'll get out balloons, banners, presents and decorate the table with a cover and plates.
"We usually go to Pizza Hut for lunch and have a party buffet for tea. It's a nightmare buying a birthday cake. I've ordered a personalised Paw Patrol one for this year and the baker will drop it off on Christmas Eve."
Recalling the day Ava was born, Georgia said: "She was due January 17 but my waters broke early on Christmas morning.
"I was fuming that I missed Christmas dinner so my mum brought it to the hospital, but it had been microwaved too many times to eat. It's quite hard having a birthday so close to Christmas as there's only so much you can buy, but we can't change it."
While some fellow parents have praised Georgia for making the extra effort for Ava, others have suggested she should keep the tree up.
The viral video, which has garnered 2.6 million views, is flooded with thousands of comments.
"I love this, think it's really thoughtful that you bring Christmas celebrations to an end to celebrate her birthday," one person wrote.
Though another said: "Why not keep the Christmas vibe and birthday vibe both on at the same time?"
Someone else explained: "My daughter's is 29th and I take the tree down so she knows there's a difference between Xmas and her birthday."
"I didn't expect my TikTok to take off so much and I had a lot of mixed opinions but I focus on the positive ones," Georgia said
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