Now that Christmas is over, you might be pondering when it’s appropriate to take down your tree and pack away the decorations.
The date for packing up the Christmas tree varies from person to person, but traditionalists believe it’s bad luck to keep it up too long.
This belief, dating back centuries, suggests that leaving your tree up past a certain date could invite evil spirits or bad luck into your home. It’s rooted in a Christian tradition from the fourth century known as Twelfth Night.
You’re likely familiar with the 12 Days of Christmas, which supposedly represents the time between Jesus’ birth and the arrival of the Three Wise Men. This period starts on December 25 and concludes on January 6, also known as the Epiphany.
However, this year, the twelfth night after Christmas falls on Sunday, January 5. The date varies annually, depending on whether you include December 25 in your count.
Historically, Twelfth Night is when your decorations should be taken down. It’s thought that until the 1800s, the 12-day post-Christmas period included several other holidays and celebrations until Queen Victoria reportedly removed them from the calendar.
After Twelfth Night, the Victorians expected people to cease the festivities 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 believed that evergreens would ward off evil spirits, witches, ghosts or bad luck if they were kept in your home.
Therefore, removing them before they withered and died was crucial in keeping your house free from evil. The date you choose to take down your tree remains entirely personal.
However, for those who are superstitious, it’s suggested you pack it away on January 5.
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