After a magical holiday season, the last thing you might want to do is shift into cleanup mode: packing up the Christmas lights, finding spots for all those new presents, putting away decorations, and, of course, taking down your Christmas tree.
It might be tedious, and you might have put a lot of effort into decorating it, but it will have to come down eventually. Even though we know this part of the cleanup is inevitable, we always ask ourselves when is the best time to take down the Christmas tree—do you even remember when you took it down last year? Whether you have a real fir or an artificial tree, we’re here to help with guidance on the best time to take down your holiday decorations—and spoiler alert: There’s more than one right answer!
January 5 or 6
If you love holiday decor, give yourself permission to enjoy it a little longer! Dating back to the fourth century, many Christians have observed Twelfth Night—the evening before the Epiphany—as the ideal time to take down the Christmas tree and festive decorations.
Traditionally, the Twelfth Night marks the end of the Christmas season, but there’s reportedly some debate among Christian groups about which date is correct. By custom, the Twelfth Night falls on either January 5 or January 6, depending on whether you count Christmas Day as the first day. The Epiphany, also known as Three Kings’ Day, commemorates the visit of the three wise men (or magi) to baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
A word of caution: According to folklore, leaving Christmas decorations up too long after the Twelfth Night is said to bring bad luck.
New Year’s Eve
If you don’t have big New Year’s Eve plans, consider it a convenient time to pack away ornaments, wrap up string lights, and dispose of your Christmas tree. While plenty of people choose to leave trees up well into January, some feel that January 1st is the official end of the holiday season. Some superstitions suggest taking down your tree before the new year, or you risk bringing the previous year’s baggage into 2025.
Whenever your tree starts dying
Dry and dying Christmas trees pose a higher fire risk, making it crucial to dispose of your tree promptly. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments respond to the majority of Christmas tree fires in January. If the needles are turning brown or falling off, or if the branches are sagging or breaking, it’s a clear sign that your tree is drying out and needs to be removed to avoid potential safety hazards.
The bottom line: Is there a right time to take down your tree?
In short: No, there’s no hard rule. While following tradition can be meaningful, you should take down your Christmas tree whenever it’s most convenient for you and your family—whether that’s right after Christmas, sometime in January, or if you prefer to keep it up year-round. After all, you put in the effort to decorate your tree—enjoy it for as long as you like!
