Why January 6 Is the Most Meaningful Day to Say Goodbye to Your Christmas Tree

Why You Should Always Wait Until January 6 to Take Down Your Christmas Tree

If you’ve been looking for a reason to keep your Christmas decorations up a bit longer, here is your excuse.

When it comes to holiday decorations, there are two kinds of people: Those who take down their Christmas trees on December 26 and those who aren’t quite ready for the season to be over. And while taking down the Christmas tree is usually a bit less fun than putting it up, there’s actually another good reason many people wait to do it. So, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to keep listening to Christmas music and admiring your yuletide decor for a few more weeks, you’re in luck: Tradition says you should be celebrating the Christmas season (and leaving your decorated tree up) all the way through January 6.

Why You Should Leave the Tree Up, According to Tradition

You’re probably familiar with the song about the 12 days of Christmas—but you may not have known that the 12 days don’t actually start until Christmas Day, which means there are almost two full weeks of celebrating left to do after Santa Claus arrives. According to Christian tradition, January 6 marks the day the three kings actually arrived in Bethlehem after Jesus was born, so this day signals the official end of the Christmas celebrations.

This day is called The Feast of Epiphany, The Twelfth Night, or Three Kings Day, and in some parts of the world, it's a celebration just as big as the one on Christmas Day. And while we’ll welcome any excuse to leave the red and gold ornaments and multicolor strand lights up a little longer, tradition says it’s actually unlucky to take your tree down before this date. So if you’re in favor of leaving the decor up as long as possible, use this excuse when your family asks why the tree is still up past New Year’s.

How to Keep a Real Tree Alive Until January 6

Live Christmas trees are notoriously difficult to keep in good shape until Christmas, especially if you like to put the tree up early in the season. Choosing the right tree to begin with can help your display last through January: Look for a fresh tree with a slightly sticky trunk and needles that aren't dry or don't snap in half easily.

Once you bring the tree home, follow our best tips for keeping it healthy: Trim the trunk, water it consistently, and use the right kind of tree stand. You should also keep it away from heat sources, as these can dry out the tree and create a fire hazard. Some of the best spots to put your Christmas tree include the living room, family room, and foyer.

What to Do With Your Tree Once You Take It Down

When you finally do take down the tree, get the garbage can ready to hold debris, but you don’t have to leave the tree on the curb—you can actually recycle live Christmas trees! Find a recycling program near you, or look for a service that will chip your tree into mulch for your garden.

If you've invested in an artificial tree, carefully remove all ornaments and properly clean and store them away for next year. While the Christmas festivities technically end on Epiphany, the holidays aren’t over just yet. The day also marks the official start of the Mardi Gras season, so it’s tradition to serve King Cake on January 6. The tradition of Three Kings Day is actually where the name “king cake” comes from—and why there’s a tiny plastic baby hidden inside.

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