Now that Christmas is over, you may be wondering when the right time is to take down your Christmas tree and pack away the decorations. The date for removing your Christmas tree largely comes down to personal preference, but those who follow tradition will know that keeping it up too long can supposedly bring bad luck.
This belief, steeped in a centuries-old tradition, suggests that leaving your tree up past a certain point could invite evil spirits or misfortune into your home. This is based on a Christian tradition from the 4th century known as Twelfth Night.
You’re probably already familiar with the 12 Days of Christmas, which are said to represent the time between Jesus’ birth and the arrival of the Three Wise Men. This period begins on December 25 and ends on January 6, also known as the Epiphany.
This year, the 12th night after Christmas falls on Sunday, January 5. The exact date changes each year, depending on whether you start counting on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
Historically, Twelfth Night is the deadline for taking down your decorations. It’s believed that until the 1800s, the 12-day period after Christmas included several other holidays and celebrations, until they were reportedly removed from the calendar by Queen Victoria, reports the Express.
After Twelfth Night, the Victorians expected people to stop celebrating and return to work. This might explain why it’s now considered unlucky to leave the decorations up beyond this point.
Another theory as to why your tree could bring bad luck beyond Twelfth Night is due to superstitions surrounding the trees themselves. According to History.com, it was once believed that evergreens could ward off evil spirits, witches, ghosts or bad luck if kept in your home.
Therefore, removing them before they withered and died was crucial to keeping your house free from evil. The date you choose to take down your tree is entirely up to you, especially if a tree is dropping needles, smelling musty or the limbs are stiff or droopy.
However, for those who are superstitious, it’s recommended to pack it away on January 5.
Get all the latest and breaking news in Yorkshire by signing up to our newsletter here.