You may love leaving your home all done up until New Year's Day or for as long as fresh greenery stays healthy. Or you may be in the camp of immediately taking your Christmas tree down on December 26. But there's actually some interesting history behind packing it up.



To help you figure out when to say goodbye to your evergreen, we're breaking down everything there is to know about dismantling your Christmas tree right here.



——When do you take down your Christmas tree? Does it have to be by a certain day?
Some people take their tree down the day after Christmas; others wait until the first or second week of January.

There are Christmas fanatics who are willing to start decorating as soon as the plates are cleared from the Thanksgiving table (if not before then) and will do everything they can to keep their Christmas tree up for as long as possible. After all, according to experts, putting your holiday decorations up early could make you happier, so leaving them up could have the same effect.

——Is there history behind when to take down your Christmas tree?
If you keep Christ in Christmas, this may inform your decision a bit. According to Catholic religion, you should hold off taking down your Christmas tree until January 7. While that might seem like a bit of a stretch, prepare to have your mind blown. Many people believe that the 12 days of Christmas are the days leading to December 25 (that’s thanks to popular songs and movies tending to misrepresent it).

But in Catholicism, the 12 days actually start on December 25 and last through January 6, which is known as Epiphany (aka when the Three Wise Men came to visit Jesus). Once Epiphany is over, it’s time to toss the tree.

————When should you take down your Christmas tree to avoid a fire hazard?
Here’s the kicker that’s imperative to keep in mind. If you opt for a real Christmas tree, you need to consider how long it will last before drying out. Most home and garden centers will tell you that five weeks is where it starts to become a fire hazard.

But if you want to keep your Christmas tree alive as long as you can and religiously water it every day, you can likely stretch it to a sixth week—
just be sure to keep a close eye on the needles. If you notice they’re turning yellow or brown or feel crunchy to the touch, it’s time to take your
Christmas tree out to the curb. If that thought shatters your heart, there’s always a solution: artificial Christmas trees or potted Christmas trees you can replant.