When should you take your Christmas tree down?
2 min read · Published
Twelfth Night is 5 or 6 January, depending on how you count. Here's where the tradition comes from, the goblins of Candlemas, and when a real tree should come down for safety.
Traditionally, the tree comes down on Twelfth Night. BBC Bitesize puts that on 5 January, twelve days after Christmas (BBC Bitesize). Some people count from 26 December instead of Christmas Day, which makes it 6 January (BBC News). Either date is fine.
Why Twelfth Night?
Twelfth Night is a Christian festival that marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas. Many people believe it’s unlucky to leave decorations up after it (BBC News). BBC Bitesize adds “not everyone agrees!”
The older tradition: Candlemas and goblins
BBC Bitesize cites English Heritage: in medieval England, decorations stayed up until Candlemas on 2 February, forty days after Christmas. Candlemas was the day the church blessed the candles for the coming year. Medieval superstition said that decorations left up past Candlemas Eve would be possessed by goblins (BBC Bitesize).
When a real tree should come down
For a real tree, the date matters less than how dry it is. London Fire Brigade says a real tree “will only remain relatively safe for about two weeks” before it’s likely to become more flammable (London Fire Brigade). NIST, the US research body, notes that none of the ten days with the most Christmas tree fires falls before Christmas (NIST).
Take it down before Twelfth Night if:
- the needles fall when you brush past
- the tree has stopped drinking even after a fresh cut on the trunk
- branches have started to droop
Taking it down without needles everywhere
- Unplug the lights. Keep the tree watered until you are ready to remove it, then empty the stand with a jug or siphon.
- Take decorations and unplugged lights off from the top down.
- Lay an old sheet or a tree removal bag on the floor. Lift the tree, stand and all, onto it and wrap it before you carry it through the house.
- Carry the wrapped tree carefully through doorways, with another person helping if it is heavy.
- Sweep hard floors with a soft brush. On carpet, pick up the bulk with a dustpan first, because a lot of needles at once can block a vacuum hose.
In Brighton and Hove, see Christmas tree recycling in Brighton & Hove for drop-off points, garden waste and charity collections.