When is the best time to take the Christmas tree down?

After the buzz of Christmas Day and Twixmas, many of us feel a New Year’s impulse to clean up the house and remove all the festive decorations, including the Christmas tree.

However, some families prefer to enjoy their beautifully decorated tree well into January, so we’ve turned to the experts for their insights on this heated debate…

When is the best time to take down the Christmas tree?

"For some, Christmas decorations bring endless cheer and they almost can’t bear to part with them once the holiday season ends," recognises David Sumner, sales manager at Christmas Tree World. "Others may be eager to pack away the tinsel and baubles as soon as the festivities conclude, desperate to reclaim their normal living space."

There is no right or wrong time to start taking your decorations down, but many people tend to follow tradition.

"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," says Sumner. "Twelfth Night commemorates the eve of the arrival of the Three Wise Men and the end of the Christmas festivities.

Is it bad luck to take the tree down early?

Nollaig na mBan (also known as Women's Christmas or Little Christmas) is celebrated in Ireland on the twelfth and final day of Christmas and the feast of the Epiphany in the Christian calendar. Traditionally, this is the day when the women of Ireland have their chance to celebrate following a busy few weeks of hosting festivities.

On 6 January, traditional roles were supposed to be reversed in the home: men did the women's work in the house while women rested and gathered together informally. As such, it was considered unlucky to take down the Christmas decorations before the twelfth day of Christmas, a custom which is still recognised and practised by many.

If you leave it up too long is it harder to get rid of?

"Most local recycling programs and councils set a window for collection or drop-off, usually from the end of December through mid-January," says Loren Taylor, landscaping and gardening expert and owner of Outdoor Fountain Pros. "If you wait too long, the programs close, and you’re left figuring out disposal on your own.

Dublin City Council will provide a free Christmas tree disposal service at a selection of bring centres, civic amenity sites and local drop off points from 6-18 January 2025. All trees will be recycled for use as compost and wood chips.

Are dying trees a safety hazard/more likely to catch on fire?

"A dried-out Christmas tree is a major fire hazard," warns Taylor. "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."

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How can we keep a fake tree in good condition for next year?

According to MyWaste.ie, fake Christmas trees are made of many types of material which generally renders them unsuitable for recycling.

Many trees of this type are reused over and over and the most sustainable tree for your house is the one you already have – so if you already have one of these, keep using it!

"You need to compress the foliage of each branch in each section and then flip upside down, squeezing the branches into the main trunk," instructs Mac Harman, CEO of luxury Christmas brand Balsam Hill. "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."

A storage bag will also help protect your tree while it’s stored.

"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," recommends Harman. "Store your tree in a cool, dry location as this helps to protect it from moisture and musty odour."