With Christmas now over, you may be itching to tidy the house and pack up your festive decorations. But when is the right time to take down the tree?
Three experts have now shared their insights on this age-old question, including David Sumner, sales manager at Christmas Tree World. While there's no right or wrong answer, he claimed there are a few traditions surrounding this time of year, with some actions considered 'bad luck'.
"For some, Christmas decorations bring endless cheer and they almost can’t bear to part with them once the holiday season ends," he said. "Others may be eager to pack away the tinsel and baubles as soon as the festivities conclude, desperate to reclaim their normal living space.
"Tradition recommends the Twelfth Night as the exact date to get the boxes down from the loft and pack away your tree and other decorations. Twelfth Night commemorates the eve of the arrival of the Three Wise Men and the end of the Christmas festivities."
Twelfth Night, also referred to as Three Kings' Day, falls on the evening of January 5, 2025. It's not a public holiday but typically arrives around 12 days from December 25.
Sumner continued: "Rushing to take your decorations down before (or after) the traditional festive season can be considered bad luck, so... 5th [of] January is a great date to choose." Despite this, Loren Taylor, gardening expert and owner of Outdoor Fountain Pros, warned that you might want to check your local recycling programs before keeping up a tree for longer.
Often council-led, these schemes are usually open from the end of December to mid-January. However, if you wait too long, you may be left 'figuring out disposal on your own'.
"Many places also won’t accept trees that are too dry, because they’re harder to process," she said, before noting: "A dried-out Christmas tree is a major fire hazard.
"The drier it gets, the more flammable it becomes, and it can go up in flames incredibly fast. If you’re still running lights on a brittle tree, even a small spark or overheated bulb can be enough to ignite it. It’s a risk that’s easy to avoid by taking the tree down before it dries out too much."
If you've got a fake tree, this won't be an issue. Though, Mac Harman, CEO of luxury Christmas brand Balsam Hill, claimed that storing these trees the 'right way' will keep them in good condition for next year.
"You need to compress the foliage of each branch in each section and then flip upside down, squeezing the branches into the main trunk," he said. "A top tip here is, once flipped, tie up each section using a ribbon so that all the branches are held down together, preventing them from falling open when moving the tree."
Using a large bag help protect your tree in storage too. He added: "Your bag needs to be large enough to comfortably hold your tree and made from durable material so that it can’t be torn by protruding branches. Rip-stop nylon is a great option for this.
"Store your tree in a cool, dry location as this helps to protect it from moisture and musty odour."
