When to Take Down Your Christmas Tree
Putting up your Christmas tree is incredibly exciting – but taking it back down again can be a bit of a sad affair. We all want to prolong the Christmas magic as long as possible – which includes delaying taking down the tree!
Interestingly, there’s a lot of history behind when we put up and take down our Christmas trees, and a lot of families have their own traditions. Many people tend to take decorations down when their real tree begins to wilt, but others tend to be a bit stricter, in order to avoid ill fortune for the new year.
If you’re unsure on just when to take down your tree, then this little guide will help you to make the best decision. With advice on interesting traditions, and how to avoid any bad luck, taking your Christmas tree down will be effortless.
Taking Down Your Christmas Tree
It can be tricky to find the right time to take your Christmas tree down, especially if you’re not ready to let go of the festive season. Here are a few common traditions, to help you pick the best date for you.
Twelfth Night
Everyone has heard of the 12 days of Christmas – but these actually begin on the big day itself, and end around the 5th of January each year. When Christmas trees first came into use, many people wouldn’t actually put up their Christmas tree and decorations until December 24th – in time for the first day of Christmas the following day.
Whilst we usually think of the 3 wise men visiting the baby Jesus on that first day, they actually arrived on the Twelfth Night of Christmas. Many families try to have their Christmas decorations taken down by day 12, due to fears it could bring ill fortune to leave them up any longer!
Two Weeks After Christmas
Similar to the Twelfth Night tradition, several families choose to put away their decorations once two weeks have passed since the 25th. Many do this to avoid affecting their luck for the new year, but it’s also just a good time to tidy away anything festive. By the time two weeks have passed since Christmas Day, it’s usually approaching mid January, which is a great point to start focusing on the exciting new year ahead!
When Your Tree Starts to Wilt
If you prefer having real trees in your home, they can be a good indicator of when it’s time to pack away your decorations. With the right care and attention, real trees can last for weeks in good condition. However, when they start to dry out and lose needles, they won’t look as attractive, and it can be a sign to clear away the Christmas ornaments!
It’s also important to keep in mind that an older, dried out tree can actually be a fire hazard. For this reason, it’s important to keep an eye on the condition of your tree once Christmas has passed, and correctly dispose of it once it has wilted.
Overall
Ultimately, when to put your tree away is up to you. Whether you’re looking to avoid misfortune, or simply want a convenient time to clear up, it’s best to pick a date that works for you and your family. Once Twelfth Night has passed, there’s only 355 days until you’ll need to have everything back up again, anyway!
