There are no hard and fast rules about when you should take down your Christmas decorations and everyone has their own traditions, but there are certain traditions that suggest an exact date you should de-holiday your home.
Christmas decorating ideas have their season and while putting them up is such a joy, taking them down is a task that can't be avoided, so when should you get on with it? To help settle the debate, we asked interior designers and Christmas decor experts their opinions, and this is what they told us.
When to take Christmas decorations down
When a Christmas tree should be put up is not a subject on which there’s universal agreement, and the same goes for when to take Christmas decorations down. But there is general consensus.
'Largely, we've found the majority of people like to take their trees down the first week of January, with most taking theirs down on the 12th day of Christmas (January 5) or the Feast of Epiphany (January 6),' explains Mac Harman, the CEO of luxury Christmas tree company Balsam Hill.
Katie Davis, of Katie Davis Design, is a follower of this practice. ‘We wait until the twelfth night – January 5,’ she says.
These dates follow Christian tradition – with the Feast of Epiphany marking the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem and the baptism of Jesus. Some western churches, including Roman Catholics, Lutherans and Anglicans, observe the Feast of Epiphany on January 6. Meanwhile, some Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Epiphany on January 19 because Christmas Eve falls on January 6, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Do you have to take your decorations down on January 5th?
While taking Christmas decorations down on January 5 or January 6 is a tradition followed by many, it is, of course, an individual choice – and you may want to keep yours up for longer.
‘We think you can keep decorations up well into January if they aren’t over the top or too themed,’ says Jennifer Walter, owner and principal designer for Folding Chair Design Co. ‘We like wintery decorations from November through January that nod to the season without being overtly Christmas.’
And April Gandy, principal designer of Alluring Designs Chicago sometimes leaves her Christmas tree up in the first month of the new year. ‘I am guilty of leaving my tree up well into January from time to time. However, I think New Year’s Day is a great time to put the tree away,’ she advises.
How to store Christmas tree decorations for next year
Once you have decided on the best day put away your holiday ornaments, you'll need to ensure you store your decorations properly.
Dismantling the tree is often the biggest job and just be sure you have taken everything off it first, especially if you have an artificial one that will need to be stored away. 'It may seem a bit obvious but another last sweep to check you've got all the decorations off the tree is vital to avoid any unwanted damage to tree and ornaments,' says Balsam Hill’s Mac Harman. 'If your tree is pre-lit, you'll also want to ensure your lights are unplugged from the wall. Many larger trees will come in several sections, so be sure to detach the lights of each section of your tree.'
Mac also recommends picking up a storage bag that will protect your tree and ornaments until next year. '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,' he says.
Opting for clear bins, like these means you can see exactly which ornaments you are taking out of storage when it comes to decorating again next year.
Opting for hard shell storage containers will stop your artificial wreaths from getting crushed in storage so they look just as fresh the next year.
With built-in wheels, this tree storage bag is perfect for moving your tree in and out of storage without the risk of hurting your back.
Is it bad luck to leave Christmas decorations up?
Some people believe it is bad luck to leave their decorations up beyond the Feast of Epiphany, but it's a modern idea to take Christmas decorations down on January 5 or 6. In fact, in Medieval times in the United Kingdom, people kept their Christmas decorations up until Candlemas – or the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ – which falls on February 2.
This was an important date in the Christian calendar, and traditionally there would be a banquet and candlelit procession on that day, plus candles for the year to come would be blessed in church – hence the name of the celebration.
Both January 5 and 6 are popular, but Balsam Hill’s Mac Harman suggests you should take your decorations down whenever you please – although you’ll want to get in there early if your tree is dropping lots of needles on the floor.
So the main takeaway is there isn’t really a rule for when to take your Christmas decorations down. There are, however, customs when it comes to the dates and January 5 or 6 are often chosen, but it’s up to you.
‘Sometimes, taking the decorations down feels important to starting the new year,’ says Lucy Searle, Content Director or Homes & Gardens. ‘And I'd always advise it if yours is a real Christmas tree and starting to look past its best. A live tree in a pot will also appreciate moving out of the heat of the house, but if you live in a northern climate, don’t plant it out until spring. It should be kept watered in a shed or garage without heat until then.’
