With Christmas just around the corner, an old debate is making a comeback. “When should you take down seasonal decorations?”

Ultimately it comes down to personal preference.

But for those who aren’t sure when to take down their Christmas tree, religious traditions, research data, and social media discourse can serve as a guide.

There is no consensus on the “right” time to take down Christmas decorations, but some say it depends on how early you take them down in the first place. Others, either by choice or by Christian teaching, recognize the decorating season as extending to early January.

As the debate heats up online, let’s take a look at when people pack up their trees and prunings.

When do most people take down their Christmas trees?

If you think the ornaments should have already come down, you might be barking up the wrong tree, at least according to recent research.

George Clooney, his wife Amal, and their two 8-year-old children, Alexander and Ella, have been granted French citizenship, according to government documents seen by USA TODAY.

The Ocean’s Eleven star, 64, has previously talked about moving his family to France so his children can grow up with a more normal life outside of Hollywood.

“We live on a farm in France,” Clooney told Esquire in an October profile. “I grew up on a farm for a good part of my life, so when I was a kid I hated the whole idea of ​​a farm. But now, for them, it’s like not having an iPad. They have to eat dinner with the adults and bring in the dishes. They have a much better life.”

he continued. “I was worried about raising my kids in the culture of Los Angeles, Hollywood. I felt like my kids would never get a proper shake up in life. France is completely unconcerned about fame. I don’t want my kids walking around worrying about paparazzi. I don’t want them to be compared to someone else’s famous kids.”

Clooney has residences in England and a home in his native Kentucky, but a farm in France is his and his family’s primary residence, according to a profile of Clooney in the New York Times published in February.

george clooney I have no interest in retiring.

“Growing up in Kentucky, all I wanted was to get off the farm and escape that life,” he told the Times. “Now I find myself back to my old life. I drive tractors and stuff. This is my best chance at a normal life.”

Clooney married his wife Amal, a human rights lawyer, in 2014 and gave birth to twins in 2017.

The Oscar-winning actor is leaving his role in the Netflix drama Jay Kelly, where he plays a fictional A-list movie star with similarities to Clooney himself.

George Clooney reflects on fame and the ‘Jay Kelly’ what-if story

George Clooney reflects on fame, failure, and the life lessons his father taught him to pursue forever through movies.

Speaking to USA TODAY about the film, Clooney said that until he met his wife, he “wasn’t really interested in starting a family.” “Listen, I’m 64 years old and a father of two eight-year-olds, so obviously I was putting something off,” he joked.

george clooney Remembering the moment I chose fatherhood over fame

Clooney also recalled a memorable conversation he had with his father 25 years ago about having children.

“I remember saying, ‘Having kids is kind of living forever. Well, my version is the movies I’m in, and those are my kids,'” Clooney said. “And my dad said, ‘How many stars can you name from 1920?'” He came up with about five names. He said, “That’s five.” That’s all I can name, but that was 80 years ago. ”

“He said, ‘You’re not buying eternity with these movies. You’re probably buying 80 years.’ And it was funny. I didn’t agree with him at the time, but now I completely understand what he’s saying, because I’m so happy in my life.”

Contributor: Brian Truitt, USA TODAY

The 44-year-old Canadian is on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitive List for allegedly running an international drug ring that transported cocaine from Colombia to Mexico, Canada and the United States. Just last month, the U.S. Department of Justice increased the reward to $15 million for information leading to Wedding’s arrest and conviction.

On Monday, December 29, the FBI Los Angeles office released several photos of what Mexican authorities had recovered. Mexico’s Secretariat for Security and Civil Protection said 62 motorcycles, two vehicles, artwork, two Olympic medals and drugs were among the items found.

Last month, authorities executed search warrants on four properties in Mexico City that led to the recovery. However, weddings are still widely held. Officials believe he is in Mexico and being protected by the Sinaloa cartel.

The French actress, who passed away on December 28 at the age of 91, was mentioned in Rohan’s 2023 song “Red Wine Supernova.” “She was a playboy, Brigitte Bardot,” Lorne sings at the beginning. “She taught me things I didn’t know.”

Shortly after news of Bardot’s death was announced, Rohan took to Instagram to pay tribute to the “and God created woman” icon, writing, “Rest in peace, Bardot. She was the inspiration for my Red Wine Supernova.”

The post received immediate backlash from the pop star’s fans, who pointed out Bardot’s documented history of racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks. “Oh my god, I had no idea about the outrageous things that Bardot was representing,” Roan wrote on Instagram on Dec. 29. “Obviously I can’t tolerate this. I’m so sorry to know.”

more: 10 Best Songs of 2025, including Chapel Lawn’s ‘The Subway’

In her 2003 book, The Silent Cry, Bardot criticized immigration and what she called the “Islamization of France.” The actress has publicly referred to gay people as “venue freaks” and once called the #MeToo movement “hypocritical and ridiculous and not funny.”

U.S. District Judge Vince Chabria of California said in his ruling that the federal government can legally share “basic biographical, location, and contact information” under the law. The ruling will take effect on January 6, according to court documents.

The move comes months after 20 states, including California, filed a lawsuit in July seeking to prevent the federal government from sharing data on illegal immigrants obtained by the Department of Health and Human Services with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“We are disappointed in the court’s decision to allow some Medicaid data to be shared with ICE,” the office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, one of about 20 Democratic officials who filed a lawsuit seeking to block the information-sharing effort, said in a statement.

1. Los Angeles Rams (1): What? they are still Are they still at the top of the rankings despite losing consecutive games and being relegated to wild card status? In short, yes. Matthew Stafford remains the best quarterback this season. Puka Nacua remains the best wideout this season. Defense is one of the best in NFC when fully equipped. LA will return WR Davante Adams, DB Quentin Lake, and several starting offensive linemen for the playoffs. The Rams’ beleaguered special teams made some big plays in Monday night’s loss to Atlanta, but it was a game that suddenly didn’t mean as much after the weekend unfolded. Yes, we continue to run with a talented team that can beat anyone and, more importantly, do it anywhere.

2. Seattle Seahawks (2): Why aren’t they No. 1, even though they could end up there in the overall NFC standings? Their defense is formidable and elite, and their special teams are second to none. But QB Sam Darnold still doesn’t have a playoff win on his resume, and Seattle’s run game will be feast or famine. This team could struggle to climb out of a two-score hole against playoff contenders.

A team led by a quarterback who could win his first career NFL MVP is headed to the NFC playoffs.

The other team was eliminated from the playoff race a few weeks ago amid speculation about the job security of a major power broker.

So what good is that equation?

Now, when you add Falcons wonderback Bijan Robinson into the mix, anything can happen.

And it happened.

Buoyed by Robinson’s 195-yard rushing show, including a scintillating 93-yard touchdown run, the Atlanta Falcons dominated the Los Angeles Rams 27-24 in a dramatic performance that kept on giving.

With 21 seconds left, Zane Gonzalez made a 51-yard field goal for the winning point. But the Rams still had a chance to force overtime.

The calendar kicks off with the kickoff of the yearlong U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations, followed by the Winter Olympics in Italy and the much-anticipated Super Bowl halftime show in the San Francisco Bay Area in February.

In pop culture, Hollywood will host the Oscars in March, this time on YouTube instead of ABC, culminating with the Emmy Awards in September. Major film releases include the star-studded Dune Part 3, the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, and the new installment of the Hunger Games series.

This year also brings major criminal trials, including those of Luigi Mangione and Tyler Robinson, and the potential for political turmoil as midterm elections begin.