When to take down Christmas decorations is a common debate, with some taking them down on Boxing Day and others waiting well into the New Year. For some, taking down the tree and removing decorations is a sign of a fresh start and a chance to declutter the home, making it ready for the New Year.
Experts at Christmas Tree World said: “Taking down your Christmas tree may feel like the end of a joyful period, and when you do, it is entirely down to you. For some, the date of choice is Twelfth Night on January 5, but many opt for an alternative.
“Do you take them down on Boxing Day after the relatives have departed and the festivities are over? Or do you leave them up for longer, enjoying the carols and baubles as long as possible?”
Twelfth Night falls on January 5, and this is the “most popular time” to take down Christmas trees and decorations.
According to the pros, it’s a tradition that dates back to the 4th century. It’s popular because it’s the natural end of the festive season.
They added: “Popular as Twelfth Night, Epiphany of January 6 is the other favourite time to take down Christmas trees, Christmas baubles and other Christmas lights.
“Over time, Epiphany became the Feast of the Three Kings, and people celebrate it on January 6. Over the years, it has acquired various other names, including Theophany, Three Kings Day and Little Christmas.”
According to the Catholic Church, the best time to put festive decorations down is Candlemas Day.
One superstition that many believe is that if you leave your tree up later than midnight on December 31, you risk bringing the old year’s problems into the new one.
For that reason, some opt to take down their festive decor before midnight on New Year’s Eve.
The pros continued: “Other traditions explicitly state that you cannot bring mistletoe into the house earlier than New Year’s Eve, meaning that whatever decorations you’re taking down, this is one you should be putting up as the old year dies.”
While some traditions may claim it is bad luck to leave decorations up for too long, it often comes down to personal choice.
While some superstitions say it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations up past January 6, the experts noted: “An answering superstition suggests it is bad luck to take them down before Candlemas.
“Sometimes called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple or the Purification of Mary, Candlemas celebrates the presentation of baby Jesus and Mary at the temple 40 days after his birth.”