- Tree goes up
- 24 December (Christmas Eve / Badnjak), even though real trees are commonly sold from around 20 December
- Tree comes down
- 6 January (Epiphany)
- Local superstition
- No prominent distinct bad-luck belief documented beyond the general regional Epiphany-end custom.
Why that date
Croatian custom, similar to other Central European Catholic countries, traditionally reserves tree-decorating for Christmas Eve itself, even though the broader Advent season (sometimes beginning as early as 25 November, St Catherine’s Day, in some regions) marks the informal start of festive preparations.
What actually happens
Some Croatian regions treat 25 November (Sveta Kata / St Catherine’s Day) as informally opening the pre-Christmas season, well ahead of the actual tree-decorating date of Christmas Eve.
Taking it down again
6 January (Epiphany). No prominent distinct bad-luck belief documented beyond the general regional Epiphany-end custom.
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Sources
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