New Year’s Day is upon us, and as we kick off 2025, households across Ireland are facing the inevitable: the close of the merry season. It’s a day when many indulge in reflection and set resolutions, but it also raises a divisive question – when is the right time to take down the Christmas tree?
For some, the act of packing away the decorations is tinged with sadness, marking the conclusion of cheerful times. Meanwhile, others see it as simply practical, ringing in a new beginning and making room for what’s to come in the new year.
One Irish tradition calls for taking down all festive adornments by Nollaig na mBan, which lands on January 6, sparking ample debate over exact timing.
With your own plans unfolding for the post-Christmas tidy-up, experts have offered their two cents on how to smoothly and superstitiously navigate tree disassembly.
There’s plenty to ponder – from averting bad luck linked to flouting traditional removal dates to savvy advice on eco-friendly ways to dispatch real trees – as you bid adieu to the yuletide focal point of your household. Here’s the inside scoop on wrapping up your Christmas this year.
David Sumner, sales guru at Christmas Tree World remarked: “For some, Christmas decorations bring endless cheer and they almost can’t bear to part with them once the holiday season ends. Others may be eager to pack away the tinsel and baubles as soon as the festivities conclude, desperate to reclaim their normal living space.”
He stated that there’s no definitive right or wrong time to start packing away your decorations, but many folks tend to stick with tradition. Mr Summer explained: “Tradition recommends the Twelfth Night as the precise date to retrieve the boxes from the loft and pack away your tree and other decorations. Twelfth Night marks the eve of the arrival of the Three Wise Men and the conclusion of the Christmas festivities. It is typically celebrated on the evening of the 5th of January.”
So, if you’re adhering to the Christian tradition known as Twelfth Night, the Christmas tree and decorations should be packed away this Sunday, January 5.
Mr Sumner further added: “Hastily taking down your decorations before (or after) the traditional festive season can be seen as bad luck, so Sunday, January 5 is a fantastic date to choose.”
A Christmas tree ready for Santy
(Image: Pexels)
Another theory about why your tree could bring bad luck beyond the Twelfth Night revolves around superstitions linked to the trees themselves. As per History.com, people used to believe that evergreens would fend off any evil spirits, witches, ghosts or bad luck if they were kept in your home.
Therefore, ensuring they are removed before they wither and die was crucial in keeping your house free from evil.
Loren Taylor, a guru in the realms of landscaping and gardening who helms Outdoor Fountain Pros, imparted wisdom to the Liverpool Echo, stating: “Most local recycling programs and councils set a window for collection or drop-off, usually from the end of December through mid-January. If you wait too long, the programmes close, and you’re left figuring out disposal on your own.”
For instance, Dublin City Council is all set to offer a complimentary Christmas tree recycling service across an array of bring centres, civic amenities, and neighbourhood drop-off points, pencilled in from January 6 to January 18, ensuring all trees are repurposed into compost and wood chips.
Should the deadline escape you, transforming your tree into garden compost is a handy alternative. Guy Barter, top horticulturist at the Royal Horticultural Society, advised: “If you’re composting it you can remove it to your garden, cut into small pieces and let it feed the soil and wildlife naturally.”
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Scott Morahan, nursery mastermind at British Garden Centres, commented on the lifespan of festive firs, explaining: “Generally, they will start dropping their needles and, depending on what type of tree and the warmth and dryness of the location they are in, they’ll shed them until they are bare.
A drying Christmas tree isn’t just a sad sight; it’s a potential fire hazard. Mr Taylor emphasised, “A dried-out Christmas tree is a major fire hazard. The drier it gets, the more flammable it becomes, and it can go up in flames incredibly fast. If you’re still running lights on a brittle tree, even a small spark or overheated bulb can be enough to ignite it. It’s a risk that’s easy to avoid by taking the tree down before it dries out too much.”
When storing your tree, Mac Harman, CEO of the luxury Christmas brand Balsam Hill, gives insider advice: “You need to compress the foliage of each branch in each section and then flip upside down, squeezing the branches into the main trunk. A top tip here is, once flipped, tie up each section using a ribbon so that all the branches are held down together, preventing them from falling open when moving the tree.”
In addition to careful packing, using the right storage bag is crucial for maintaining your tree’s quality. Mac Harman further advised: “Your bag needs to be large enough to comfortably hold your tree and made from durable material so that it can’t be torn by protruding branches. Rip-stop nylon is a great option for this. Store your tree in a cool, dry location as this helps to protect it from moisture and musty odour.”
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