Sarah Mitchell
The Christmas tree is neither a sacramental nor part of the liturgy in the Catholic Church, so there are no strict rules about when to put it up or take it down. Some Catholics take their trees down on 2 January, the day after the octave concludes, while others wait until the traditional date of the feast of the Epiphany on 6 January, which marks the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. Some Catholics even keep their trees up until Candlemas Day on 2 February, which is the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Earliest date to take down the Christmas tree | 2nd January |
| Latest date to take down the Christmas tree | 2nd February |
| Date to take down the Christmas tree according to older tradition | 6th January |
| Date to take down the Christmas tree according to newer tradition | 7th January |
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What You'll Learn
- There are no strict rules about when Catholics should take down their Christmas tree
- The Christmas tree can be taken down on January 2, the day after the octave concludes
- The tree can be taken down on January 7, the day after Epiphany
- The Christmas season ends with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord
- Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, is on February 2
There are no strict rules about when Catholics should take down their Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is neither a sacramental object nor part of a liturgy. Therefore, Catholics have the flexibility to decide when to put up and take down their Christmas trees without any right or wrong answers. For some families, taking down the tree after the Octave of Christmas on January 2 could be a suitable option. This marks the eight days following Christmas Day, almost as if they were an extension of Christmas itself.
Others may prefer to keep their Christmas trees up until the traditional date of the feast of the Epiphany on January 6, also known as Three Kings' Day. This date marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas, during which Catholics celebrate the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God and his manifestation of divinity at his baptism in the River Jordan.
Some Catholics may even choose to extend their celebrations until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which usually falls on the first Sunday after January 6. This marks the official end of the Christmas season in the liturgical calendar. However, it is worth noting that Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, on February 2, is also considered a Christmas-related celebration during which many Catholics bring candles to church for blessing.
Ultimately, the decision about when to take down the Christmas tree is a personal one for Catholics, allowing them to respect their family traditions and spiritual needs while enjoying the joy and celebration of the Christmas season.
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The Christmas tree can be taken down on January 2, the day after the octave concludes
There are no strict rules for Catholics on when to put up or take down a Christmas tree. However, one source suggests that January 2, the day after the octave concludes, could be a good day to take down a Christmas tree.
The octave is the eight days following Christmas, almost as though it were Christmas Day itself. The first day of the octave is December 26, and the octave concludes on January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This is a Holy Day of Obligation, and while it is the final day of the octave, the Church extends the celebration of the Incarnation to Epiphany.
Twelfth Night, as it is known in England, Australia, Canada, and Vatican City, is celebrated on January 6. This is the traditional date of the feast of the Epiphany or "Three Kings' Day", which marks the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. The 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, and the period before that is known as Advent, a time of preparation for Christmas.
The liturgical season of Christmas ends with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls in early to mid-January. In 2024, this will be celebrated on a date in January after Epiphany. Some Catholics may choose to keep their Christmas trees up until this date, or even longer, until Candlemas on February 2. On this day, Catholics bring candles to church to be blessed and then use them at home during prayer or difficult times as a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
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The tree can be taken down on January 7, the day after Epiphany
There are no strict rules about when Catholics should take down their Christmas trees. However, it is traditionally considered appropriate to keep the tree up until Epiphany, which marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas. Epiphany falls on January 6, so the tree can be taken down on January 7.
The 12 days of Christmas begin on December 25, with the period before this known as Advent, a time of preparation for Christmas. During Advent, Catholic churches are minimally decorated, with the nativity scene and other decorations only being placed on Christmas Eve.
The Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day, commemorates the arrival of the Magi, who paid homage to the child Jesus and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This event also signified the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God.
While some Catholics may choose to take down their Christmas trees on Epiphany, others may keep their trees up until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which usually falls on the first Sunday after January 6. This feast marks the official end of the Christmas season in the Catholic Church.
In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Epiphany is known as Theophany and primarily commemorates the manifestation of Jesus' divinity at his baptism in the River Jordan.
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The Christmas season ends with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord
There are no strict rules for Catholics on when to put up or take down a Christmas tree. However, the Christmas tree is neither a sacramental nor part of a liturgy. Thus, the decision to take down the Christmas tree can be based on liturgically informed prudential decision-making.
The Christmas season officially ends with the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the first Sunday after January 6. The day marks the end of the liturgical season of Christmas. The clergy switch to wearing green vestments of Ordinary Time after this feast.
The twelve days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, with the period before being known as Advent, a time of preparation for Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas end on Epiphany or Three Kings' Day, which marks the arrival of the Magi to pay homage to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God.
Some Catholics may choose to keep their Christmas trees up until Epiphany, which falls on January 6 or 7, depending on the year. The day after Epiphany is also known as the Twelfth Night, and it is celebrated with bonfires, grilled meat, singing, and wine.
The celebration of Christmas can be extended beyond Epiphany to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This feast is observed on the first Sunday after January 6 and marks the official end of the Christmas season for Catholics.
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Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, is on February 2
There is no strict rule on when Catholics should take down their Christmas trees. However, the celebration of Christmas in the Catholic Church extends beyond Christmas Day itself and ends on February 2, Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Candlemas is a liturgical feast that marks the end of Christmastide, a distinct portion of the Liturgical Year that begins with the Nativity of Our Lord on December 25 and ends with the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This period encompasses forty days, during which the faithful celebrate and keep the same mystery in view.
On Candlemas, Catholics bring candles they will use throughout the year in their homes to Mass to be blessed. These blessed candles are then lit during prayer or challenging times as a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a joyful event that commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple by Mary and Joseph, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. It is a significant day in the Catholic Church, marking the conclusion of the Christmas season and serving as a reminder of the centrality of Christ in our lives.
While there is no definitive rule on when to take down Christmas trees, some Catholics choose to keep their trees and decorations up until Candlemas, extending the Christmas spirit and embracing the joy of the season.
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Frequently asked questions
Traditionally, Catholics keep their Christmas trees and decorations up until Epiphany, which is on January 6. This marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas, which begin on Christmas Day.
Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day, celebrates the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. It commemorates the arrival of the Magi, or Three Wise Men, who visited Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Some Catholics may take down their Christmas tree the day after Epiphany, on January 7. Others may wait until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the first Sunday after January 6, bringing the liturgical season of Christmas to a close.
In some Catholic traditions, Christmas decorations are kept up until Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, on February 2. On this day, Catholics bring candles to church to be blessed and then use them at home during prayer or difficult times as a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
