Here's When You Should You Take Down Your Christmas Tree to Avoid Bad Luck
After the holidays are over, we often turn our attention toward tidying the house, finding a home for new holiday presents and putting away Christmas decorations. After admiring your festive style all month, it's time to pack up Christmas lights, organize the ornaments and, of course, take down the Christmas tree.
Even though it's a yearly occurrence, the question of when to take down the Christmas tree always seems to pop up — can you remember when you took down last year's tree? Whether you've got a real fir tree or artificial Christmas tree this year, we're sharing the best time to take down holiday decorations — and there's more than one answer! Plus, keep scrolling for ways to recycle or repurpose your real spruce tree.
January 5 or 6
If you're all about holiday decor, leave your decorations on display for a bit longer! Dating back to the fourth century, many Christians have marked the end of the Christmas season on the Twelfth Night — an evening also known as the Eve of the Epiphany — as the best time to take down your Christmas tree and festive decorations.
While Christian groups reportedly disagree over which date is the correct one, tradition dictates that the Twelfth Night (or 12 nights after Christmas) lands on either January 5 or January 6 — depending on whether or not you count Christmas as day one. The Epiphany, also known as Three Kings' Day, marks the day the three wise men visited baby Jesus and hailed him as a king in Bethlehem.
Keep in mind: It's believed that keeping Christmas decorations up for too long after the Twelfth Night can 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 2024.
Whenever Your Tree Starts Dying
Dry and dying Christmas trees are more likely to catch on fire — which means the longer you leave your tree up, the more likely it'll become a safety hazard. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that U.S. fire departments respond to most Christmas tree fires during the month of January. If needles are turning brown or dropping needles, or if the branches begin sagging or breaking, your Christmas tree may be dying and it's time to dispose of it.
Is there a right time to take down your Christmas tree?
Long story short: No. While it can feel meaningful to follow tradition, you should take down your Christmas tree when it's the most convenient for you and your family — whether that's the day after Christmas, sometime in January or you prefer decorating your tree all year long. After all, you worked hard decorating your tree — you should enjoy it for as long as you want.
What can you do with your real Christmas tree?
Christmas trees can stay fresh for five weeks or more when given proper care, according to experts. Chances are your spruce is still in good condition, so long as you've periodically trimmed the trunk and kept it well watered. Instead of tossing it to the curb, consider one of these clever ways to breathe new life into your tree:
Use branches to make a pretty winter wreath.
Break it into pieces and start your own compost.
Depending where you live, you may be able to bring your old tree to a recycling center.
Donate your real tree to a local farm, beach or charity, if there's any available in your area. As for artificial trees, your local thrift store may accept the donation.
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