Rachel Evans
There is no strict consensus on how long Catholics should keep their Christmas trees up. Some sources suggest that Catholics should keep their Christmas trees up until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the first Sunday after Epiphany (January 6th). Others suggest that Catholics keep their Christmas trees up until Candlemas on February 2nd, which marks the end of the Christmas season and the start of Ordinary Time.
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What You'll Learn
- There is no strict rule about when to put up or take down a Catholic Christmas tree
- Some Catholics put up their trees after Thanksgiving
- Epiphany is considered a good date to take down the tree
- The Vatican keeps its tree up until the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd
- Some Catholics keep their trees up until Candlemas
There is no strict rule about when to put up or take down a Catholic Christmas tree
There is no strict rule about when a Catholic should put up or take down a Christmas tree. Some people are certain they have the "One Right Answer" to this question, but there is no consensus. The Christmas tree is neither a sacramental nor part of a liturgy, so Catholics can decide when to put it up and take it down based on their family's holiday traditions and spiritual needs.
Some Catholics put up their Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving, while others wait until later in the Advent season. Some consider it sacrilege to put up the tree before Gaudete Sunday, while others think it's wrong not to wait until Christmas Eve.
As for when to take down the tree, many Catholics leave their Christmas decorations up until after Epiphany, which falls on January 6 or the Sunday between January 2 and January 8. Some churches don't take down their decorations until the Sunday after Epiphany, which is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The latest feast in the Catholic celebration of the Incarnation is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2, and the Vatican keeps its Christmas tree and crèche up in St. Peter's Square until this day, so Catholics who keep their trees up until this point are certainly within the bounds of tradition.
Some Catholics even leave their trees up until Candlemas, which is forty days after Christmas on February 2. This helps them remember what liturgical season they're in, although a real tree may become a fire hazard by this point.
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Some Catholics put up their trees after Thanksgiving
While there are no strict rules about when Catholics should put up or take down their Christmas trees, some Catholics put their trees up after Thanksgiving.
Some Catholics put their Christmas trees up after Thanksgiving and decorate them as soon as they are up. They may also put up their trees on Christmas Eve and take them down a day or two after Christmas. However, there is nothing to prevent Catholics from setting up a Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving if they so choose.
The Christmas tree is neither a sacramental nor part of a liturgy, which is why there are no strict rules about when to put it up or take it down. However, Catholics who want to follow specific dates can consider the
Some Catholics also consider the feast of the Epiphany or "Three Kings' Day" on January 6, which marks the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. The Christmas season officially ends on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is celebrated the Sunday after January 6.
In addition, some Catholics may choose to keep their Christmas trees up until Candlemas, which is considered a "sign of contradiction." This feast, known as the Presentation of the Lord, falls on February 2 and is the last day that the Vatican keeps its Christmas tree and crèche in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
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Epiphany is considered a good date to take down the tree
While there are no strict rules about when a Catholic should take down their Christmas tree, many consider the Feast of the Epiphany, which falls on January 6, as a good date to do so. This is because the Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season and the twelve days of Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas begin on December 25 and last until January 5, with Epiphany being the twelfth day.
In some traditions, the Christmas tree may be left up until the Sunday after Epiphany, which is known as the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This is considered the official end of the Christmas season, and some Catholics may choose to wait until this day to take down their tree and other decorations.
Additionally, some Catholics may choose to keep their Christmas tree up even longer, until Candlemas on February 2. This is considered the last day of the Christmas season in some traditions, and leaving the tree up until this date can help Catholics remember what liturgical season they are in.
Ultimately, the decision of when to take down the Christmas tree is a personal one, and Catholics are free to choose the date that best suits their family's holiday traditions and spiritual needs.
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The Vatican keeps its tree up until the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd
There is no strict rule regarding when a Catholic should put up or take down a Christmas tree. However, the Vatican keeps its Christmas tree up until the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd. This date marks the end of the Christmas season, and it is also known as Candlemas. The feast celebrates the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, which is described in the Gospel of Luke. It is a significant day in the Catholic Church, and some Catholics choose to follow the Vatican's lead and keep their Christmas trees up until this date.
The period from December 25th to February 2nd is a distinct portion of the Liturgical Year, filled with immense joy in celebration of the mystery of Christmastide. The feast of the Presentation of the Lord is the latest celebration in honour of the Incarnation, and it is a fitting conclusion to the Christmas season.
While there is no one right answer regarding the timing of Christmas decorations, some Catholics find meaning in keeping their trees up until the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This practice helps them remain in the Christmas spirit and connect with the joy of the season.
The decision to keep Christmas trees up until February 2nd is a personal choice for Catholics worldwide. While some may opt to follow the Vatican's example, others may choose to take down their decorations earlier. Ultimately, the choice is left to the discretion of individual Catholics and their families, allowing them to create their own holiday traditions and spiritual practices.
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Some Catholics keep their trees up until Candlemas
There is no strict rule on when a Catholic should put up or take down a Christmas tree. However, some Catholics keep their Christmas trees up until Candlemas, which falls on February 2. This is because the forty days of Christmastide, which begins with the Nativity of Our Lord on December 25, ends with the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary on February 2.
The feast in the new rite is called the Presentation of the Lord, and some Catholics keep their trees and decorations up until this date. This is also the last day that the Vatican keeps its Christmas tree and crèche in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
The Christmas season officially lasts until the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on January 8. However, some Catholics extend the celebrations until Candlemas. This is also in line with the traditional Christian calendar, which marks the Twelve Days of Christmas from December 25 to January 5, with Epiphany falling on the Twelfth Night or January 6.
While there is no one right answer, some Catholics choose to keep their Christmas trees up until Candlemas to mark the end of the Christmas season and the liturgical season they are in.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no strict rule on how long Catholics should keep their Christmas trees up, and different families will have different traditions. Some common dates that Catholics keep their Christmas trees up until are the Feast of the Epiphany, the Sunday after Epiphany, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Candlemas, and the Presentation of the Lord.
The Feast of the Epiphany is on January 6 or the Sunday between January 2 and January 8.
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is the first Sunday after January 6.
Candlemas is on February 2.
The Presentation of the Lord is on February 2.
