Michael Brooks
There is no strict rule on when Catholics should take down their Christmas tree, and the date may depend on family traditions and spiritual needs. Some Catholics take their tree down on 26 December, while others wait until the Feast of the Epiphany, which marks the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. Some Catholics may prefer to keep their tree up until the feast of the Lord's baptism or Candlemas on 2 February. Ultimately, the decision of when to take down a Christmas tree is a personal one, and Catholics should do what works best for them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date to take down the tree | Epiphany, Feast of Theophany, 26th of December, 30th of December, mid-January, 2nd of January, 6th of January |
| Factors determining the date | Family tradition, practicality, the liturgical season of Christmas, the condition of the tree |
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What You'll Learn
There are no strict rules
Some Catholics believe that Christmas trees should be taken down by 2 January, the day after the octave concludes. However, others argue that the Christmas season doesn't end until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is celebrated on 2 February. Ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference and family tradition.
While there are no strict rules about when to take down a Christmas tree, some Catholics believe that it is important to keep their homes as "domestic churches", with God at the centre of their family life. In this view, it is recommended to keep Christmas decorations up until the end of the liturgical season of Christmas. However, this is not always practical, especially if one has a real tree that starts to shed its needles and becomes a fire hazard. In such cases, some Catholics opt for artificial trees or potted trees that can be replanted.
In terms of putting up Christmas trees, some Catholics believe that it is best to wait until Christmas Eve to set up a tree, in order to respect the season of Advent as a time of quiet and penitential preparation for the coming of Christ. Others put up their trees earlier, such as the weekend closest to 10 December, or within a week before Christmas. There are also those who put up their trees on 15 November, which is the start of the Nativity Fast or Saint Philip's Fast for Eastern Catholics.
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Some take it down on 26 December
There is no hard and fast rule about when Catholics should take down their Christmas trees. Some Catholics take their Christmas trees down on 26 December, the day after Christmas. Some people do this because they find a Christmas tree depressing after Christmas. Others do so to make room for a New Year's party.
There is controversy between Catholics of the Eastern and Western stripe about how long a Christmas tree should stay up. Some people are certain they have the "One Right Answer" to this question, while others are scared they might not. For example, a priest once lamented in an earnest homily that he gets sad when he sees Christmas trees left out for the garbage the day after Christmas, because those people are missing out on the whole liturgical season.
According to the traditional Christian calendar, the 12 days of Christmas end on Twelfth Night, or the Eve of Epiphany. Epiphany marks the visit of the Magi and is connected to Christmas. The Gospel of Matthew says that the magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
In terms of putting up a Christmas tree, there is nothing to prevent a Catholic from setting one up right after Thanksgiving. But for other Catholic families, waiting until Christmas Eve to set up a tree is a helpful way of respecting the season of Advent as a time of quiet and even penitential preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas.
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Some wait until Epiphany
In Catholicism, the 12 days of Christmas begin on 25 December and last through 6 January, which is known as Epiphany. Epiphany marks the visit of the Magi to honour the infant Jesus and is also when the Three Wise Men came to pay homage to the child Jesus. Many Catholic churches observe this ancient feast and will leave their Nativity displays and decorations up until the Sunday after Epiphany, which is celebrated as the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord.
Traditionally, Catholics do not take down their Christmas trees and holiday decorations until 7 January, the day after Epiphany. This is in keeping with the belief that the 12 days of Christmas start on Christmas Day, with the period before that being known as Advent. By waiting until after Epiphany to take down their tree, Catholics can distinguish between the Advent season and the Christmas season, allowing them to celebrate both fully.
Some Catholics may choose to keep their Christmas trees and decorations up even longer, until Candlemas Day on 2 February. This day, also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, marks the end of Christmastide, a distinct portion of the Liturgical Year. On Candlemas Day, the faithful take candles they will use throughout the year in their homes to Mass to be blessed.
While there are no official church rules or regulations on when to take down Christmas decorations, some Catholic priests recommend keeping them up through the entire liturgical season of Christmas. This allows for a more extended celebration of the incarnation and a calmer time to appreciate the gift of the saviour after the busy pre-Christmas sales and parties.
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Others wait until the Feast of Theophany
While there are no strict rules on when a Catholic should put up or take down a Christmas tree, some people choose to take their decorations down on the Feast of Theophany, also known as the Epiphany. This is a Christian feast day commemorating the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana. In Western Christianity, the feast celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, marking Jesus Christ's physical manifestation to the Gentiles. In Eastern Christianity, the feast celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, marking his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.
The Feast of Theophany is celebrated annually on January 6th, also known as Three Kings' Day. The date marks the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. Theophany is derived from the verb 'phainein', meaning 'to appear' in classical Greek. The word was used to describe the appearance of a deity to a worshipper. The feast has also been called the Day of Illumination and the Feast of Lights, as it celebrates the illumination of the world by the light of Christ.
The celebration of the feast begins on January 5th, with an evening or morning service, followed by the service of the Blessing of the Waters. On January 6th, the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom is conducted, followed by the second Blessing of the Waters. The holy water is then given to the faithful to consume and use in blessing their homes.
The date of January 6th is significant as it corresponds with the custom of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which celebrates the birth of Jesus and the Theophany of Our Lord on this day. The name of the feast, Theophany, also reflects this significance, meaning 'God shining forth' or 'divine manifestation'.
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It's a personal preference
Ultimately, the decision of when to take down a Christmas tree is a matter of personal preference for Catholics. While some may argue that keeping the tree up until a certain date is more pious or traditional, there are no strict rules or liturgical requirements dictating when to do so.
Some Catholics may choose to take down their Christmas trees on the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as "Three Kings' Day," which marks the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. This date can vary, but it typically falls around January 6. Others may opt to keep their trees up until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is considered the official end of the Christmas season in the Catholic Church. In 2024, this feast will be celebrated on January 9 in the United States.
However, there are also Catholics who prefer to take their Christmas trees down earlier, such as on December 26, to make room for New Year's celebrations or because they find the tree depressing after Christmas. Some may even choose not to have a Christmas tree at all. These decisions are often influenced by practical considerations, such as the condition of the tree, especially for those who use real trees that may start shedding needles or becoming a fire hazard.
The timing of putting up and taking down Christmas trees is often influenced by family traditions and spiritual needs. For some Catholics, waiting until Christmas Eve to set up the tree is a way to respect the season of Advent as a time of quiet and penitential preparation for the coming of Christ. Others may put up their trees earlier, such as after Thanksgiving, or even before Advent, depending on their personal preferences and family traditions.
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of when Catholics should take down their Christmas trees, the important thing is to live liturgically and worship God in a way that feels meaningful to them and their families.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no official rule on when Catholics should take down their Christmas tree. Some sources suggest that the 12 days of Christmas end on the Eve of Epiphany, so trees should be taken down before this date. Others suggest that the Christmas season doesn't end until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, so trees can be left up until this date.
Epiphany marks the visit of the Magi and is connected to Christmas. It is celebrated on 6 January, or 7 January if the 6th falls on a Sunday.
Some Catholics choose to leave their tree up until the feast of the Lord's baptism or Candlemas on 2 February. However, real trees may not last this long, and some consider it depressing to leave the tree up beyond the Christmas season.
There is no strict rule on this either. Some Catholics put their tree up on the first Sunday of Advent, while others wait until closer to Christmas or even Christmas Eve.
