When should you take down your Christmas tree and decorations?

When to Take Down the Tree and Christmas Decorations

Here are different opinions and other input from visitors:

• I always believed that your tree and decorations should be put up 12 days before Christmas and taken down 12 days after, on the 6th January.

• You take the tree down on or after the 12th day of Christmas; the 6th of January. The 6th of January is celebrated as 'three kings' in a lot of countries (France, Belgium and the south of the Netherlands that I'm sure of, all Catholic regions). The story is that Jesus was born on the 24th, at which point a star appeared in the sky and the kings, who had to travel much farther than the shepherds, set off, and arrived 12 days later. That is why Christmas lasts for 12 days, but only in some traditions.

• It's purely subjective. There is no right or wrong. Most years we put OUR tree up the weekend following Thanksgiving. But when our children were small we waited and put it up later -- so we didn't have to 'redecorate' the tree when little hands couldn't resist the colorful decorations and because it was less frustrating for the little ones. After all, a month is a long time to wait when you are a little kid, especially if you have a big ol' Christmas tree in your living room to remind you every day. And I always like to take the tree down immediately after New Years Day. By then, we've had the tree up for all of the holiday festivities and parties and I'm ready to get my house back to normal. Just do what is convenient or preferable for you and your own family.

• Take down the Christmas Tree and all decorations BEFORE the new year. You are celebrating the birth of Christ in one year and even though I have heard it is bad luck to leave it up after the 1st, it just seems logical to take it down before the year is over.

• My mother always said that it was bad luck to take down the decorations before 12th night which we always took to mean 6 January. However, I believe that now people just take them down whenever it's convenient to them or they've become just too dusty to put up with any longer!

• My mother, grandmother and all my elderly relatives instilled into me that it was bad luck to take Christmas decorations down before the twelfth night: 5th January. 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th.

• My wife says her tradition is to take down decorations and not turn on the lights after New Year's Eve. She says it is bad luck to bring the old year into the new. Frankly, I miss not having the lights on on New Year's Day. It always seemed more festive for the holiday.

• 12 days of Christmas were Celebrated prior to Epiphany which begins on the 6th of January. Therefore, the 12th night is the 5th January and is when decorations should come down.

• The last answer is correct. In the liturgical calendar the Twelve Days start on December 25th, and the Twelfth Night is January 5th, which is when we traditionally take down the decorations.

• Liturgically Jan 6th is ABSOLUTELY the correct day to take down the decorations. Do it when you are on your own & hubby and the kids are out, a large drop of left over liquid Christmas cheer is recommended before starting to make the chore more palatable.

• Since many folks nowadays are not that fussed about religious or superstitious beliefs, i think you should put them down as soon as you have some spare time at some point after new year....

• Traditionally the Christmas tree, along with all Christmas decorations and wreathes would be taken after the Feast of Epiphany which is 12 days after Christmas Day.
  

• Many take down their tree right after New Year's Day. However, there are many who wait until the day after what is known as "Little Christmas" which is on January sixth. Little Christmas reflects on the Three Wise Men following the Star of Bethlehem and bringing gifts to the Lord Jesus. It is considered the last day of the Christmas season.
  
  
• A lot of people take theirs down before New Year's but you can take yours down whenever you want to.

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