I know, as I have reading around, that many people take the Crib and the Tree down and all the decorations after Christmas or after New Year's Day but there are Twelve Days of Christmas, we should only take it down AFTER the Epiphany and the Crib after the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. But it's ok to put also the Crib down after the King's Day.
This was a way to teach the basics of Faith without the risk of being persecuted in that calamitous time in England when Catholics were arrested and killed In Odium Fidei.
The meaning of the lyrics is:
The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
The three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The five golden rings rerepresented the first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-----Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity].
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.
(https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55904/the-history-of-the-twelve-days-of-christmas)
As for me I will keep the Crib on till the Presentation of the Lord, Candlemas, also known as Our Lady of the Candles or the Light Day (2.February), and take the Tree and decoration after today, slowly, without stress.
