With Christmas festivities over, the question of when to dismantle the tree arises. Three experts, including David Sumner from Christmas Tree World, have lent their opinions on the matter.
While there’s no definitive rule for removing festive décor, traditions suggest that adhering to certain dates may prevent ‘bad luck’. “For some, Christmas decorations bring endless cheer and they almost can’t bear to part with them once the holiday season ends,” Sumner 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 known as Three Kings’ Day, falls on the eve of January 5, 2025. It typically arrives around 12 days from December 25, but is not a public holiday.
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, cautioned that it’s wise to check local recycling programs before deciding to keep up a tree for an extended period.
These council-led schemes typically run from the end of December to mid-January. If you wait too long, you might find yourself ‘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.”
For those with artificial trees, disposal isn’t a concern. Mac Harman, CEO of luxury Christmas brand Balsam Hill, mentioned 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.”
Making use of a large bag can 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.”