Christian tradition says the Christmas tree should be taken down on the eve of the Epiphany. Either way, with 2025 upon us, it’s time to start thinking about taking down the decorations and kicking your fir to the curb (or boxing it up). So, when is the appropriate time to officially say goodnight to your Christmas tree, real or faux?.
Following Christian tradition, the official last day of the Christmas season, and the time to remove your tree, is considered by many to be the Twelfth Night, also known as the Eve of Epiphany. The Epiphany is typically celebrated with a feast on January 6, which also marks the beginning of the “season of Epiphany.”.
In many Catholic households, the Christmas tree is not to be put away until January 7, a full day after the Epiphany. Superstitious folks believe ignoring this timeline could result in bad luck for the foreseeable future. Indeed, dying trees should be thrown out before the first week of January as they pose a greater safety risk to the entire household.
“Flammable structures” include the inside and outside of the house, and the garage. All ornaments must be removed from the tree before you take it to the curb to be recycled and picked up by your local trash or tree disposal. Dried trees can also be repurposed into make-shift bird feeders for your yard or cut into small pieces and saved as fire wood.
