Joshua Bennett
There are no strict rules for when Catholics should put up their Christmas trees, but there are several traditions that Catholics follow. Some Catholics put up their Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving, while others wait until the Third Sunday of Advent, or Christmas Eve. Some Catholics also believe that the tree should be put up on December 17, when the church starts praying the O antiphons, or on the first Sunday of Advent. The Christmas season officially ends on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls in early to mid-January, but some Catholics keep their Christmas trees up until Candlemas Day on February 2.
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What You'll Learn
- There are no strict rules for Catholics about when to put up a Christmas tree
- Some Catholics put their Christmas tree up on December 17
- Some Catholics put their Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve
- Some Catholics take their Christmas tree down on Epiphany
- Some Catholics keep their Christmas tree up until Candlemas
There are no strict rules for Catholics about when to put up a Christmas tree
Some Catholics may choose to put up their Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving, while others may wait until closer to Christmas, such as during the week before Christmas Eve or even on Christmas Eve itself. The third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, is also considered a liturgically fitting day to set up a Christmas tree, as it marks a shift in the church's liturgy, with a more immediate sense of urgency in anticipating Christmas.
The date of Epiphany on January 6th marks the end of the traditional twelve days of Christmas. Some Catholics may choose to take down their Christmas trees by this date or shortly after. However, the church's celebration of the Incarnation extends beyond Epiphany to the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which occurs on the first Sunday after January 6th. Therefore, Catholics can also choose to keep their Christmas trees up until this date or even until Candlemas Day on February 2nd, which marks the end of the forty-day Christmastide celebration.
While there are no strict rules, some Catholics may prefer to align their Christmas tree traditions with the liturgical calendar and the church's celebrations. Ultimately, the decision of when to put up and take down the Christmas tree is left to the discretion of individual Catholics and their families.
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Some Catholics put their Christmas tree up on December 17
While there are no strict rules about when Catholics should put up their Christmas trees, some choose to put them up on December 17. This is one week before Christmas Eve, and it is when the church starts praying the "O antiphons" before the Gospel at daily Mass and before the ""Magnificat" prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours. The "O antiphons" mark a shift in the church's liturgy, with Christmas being anticipated with a more immediate sense of urgency.
Some Catholics choose to put up their Christmas trees on December 17 as it is liturgically fitting. However, others may prefer to wait until closer to Christmas, such as within a week before or on Christmas Eve. Some Catholics may also choose to put up their trees after Thanksgiving but before Advent to avoid the rush of getting a real tree closer to Christmas.
Ultimately, the decision of when to put up a Christmas tree as a Catholic is a personal one and may depend on family traditions and spiritual needs. There are no right or wrong answers, and Catholics are free to choose the date that best suits their own holiday celebrations.
When it comes to taking down their Christmas trees, some Catholics may choose to do so on Epiphany or the Feast of Theophany, which falls on January 6. Others may keep their trees up until the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which is celebrated on February 2 and marks the last day of the Vatican's Christmas decorations in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
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Some Catholics put their Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve
There is no strict rule for Catholics regarding when to put up a Christmas tree. Some Catholics put their Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve, leaving it up until Epiphany on 6 January, the traditional date of the feast of the Epiphany or "Three Kings' Day". This is the last day of the 12 days of Christmas, but the Christmas season continues until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the Sunday after Epiphany.
Some Catholics may opt to put up their tree earlier, on 17 December, one week before Christmas Eve, when the church starts praying the "O antiphons", marking a shift in the liturgy as Christmas is anticipated with urgency. Another option is to put the tree up on the Third Sunday of Advent, leaving Christmas Eve free for preparations for Mass and Christmas dinner.
For those who want to be traditional, the Christmas season, or "Christmastide", lasts for 40 days, ending on 2 February, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or Candlemas Day. This is the last day that the Vatican keeps its Christmas tree and crèche in St. Peter's Square, Rome, so Catholics may choose to keep their decorations up until this date.
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Some Catholics take their Christmas tree down on Epiphany
There are no strict rules about when Catholics should put up or take down their Christmas trees. Some people put up their Christmas trees on Christmas Eve, while others put them up earlier, after Thanksgiving, or even as early as November 15th. Some Catholics take their Christmas trees down on Epiphany, which is on January 6th, or the Sunday between January 2nd and January 8th. Epiphany marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which begin on Christmas Day.
The Christmas season officially ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany. Some Catholics leave their Christmas trees up until this day, or even until Candlemas on February 2nd.
The date when people take down their Christmas trees may depend on various factors, such as when the tree dries out and becomes a fire hazard, or when they have space for a New Year's party. Some people may also take their trees down earlier if they feel that having a Christmas tree up after Christmas is depressing.
In terms of liturgical seasons, the Advent season is a time of preparation for Christmas, and some people feel that putting up Christmas trees and decorations during this time muddles the distinction between the two seasons. By putting up their Christmas trees closer to Christmas Day, people can distinguish between the Advent and Christmas seasons and celebrate Advent more fully.
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Some Catholics keep their Christmas tree up until Candlemas
While there are no strict rules about when a Catholic should put up or take down a Christmas tree, some Catholics keep their Christmas tree up until Candlemas. Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, takes place on 2 February. It is the last day that the Vatican keeps its Christmas tree and crèche in St Peter's Square in Rome, so Catholics who keep their decorations up until this date are certainly not outliers.
In the old rite, before the liturgical reforms that followed the Second Vatican Council, Christmastide lasted for 40 days, from 25 December to 2 February. This was to correspond with the 40 days of Lent and the 40 days from Easter to Ascension Thursday. On Candlemas Day, the faithful take the candles they will use throughout the year in their homes to Mass to be blessed.
Some Catholics keep their Christmas trees up until Candlemas because it helps them remember what liturgical season they are in. However, others do not, as they believe that their tree will die and become a fire hazard.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no strict rule for when Catholics should put up their Christmas tree. Some families put their tree up right after Thanksgiving, while others wait until the Third Sunday of Advent or Christmas Eve.
A liturgically fitting date to put up a Christmas tree is December 17, one week before Christmas Eve. This is when the church starts praying the "O antiphons", marking a shift in the church's liturgy as Christmas is anticipated with urgency.
Many Catholics take down their Christmas tree on the feast of the Epiphany on January 6, which marks the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. However, the Christmas season officially ends on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, usually celebrated on the first Sunday after January 6.
If following tradition, Catholics can keep their Christmas tree up until Candlemas, also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on February 2. This is the last day that the Vatican keeps up its Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
While there are no strict rules, some Catholics may choose to wait until after Thanksgiving or until closer to Christmas to put up their tree. This helps to respect the season of Advent as a time of quiet and penitential preparation for the coming of Christ. Additionally, some Catholics may prefer to gradually decorate their tree, with the final decorations added on Christmas Eve.
