- Tree goes up
- First Sunday of Advent (fourth Sunday before Christmas), though early December is the modern practical norm
- Tree comes down
- Twelfth Night — 5 January per the Church of England’s traditional reckoning, though many now say 6 January; some follow Candlemas (2 February) as the older medieval end-point
- Local superstition
- Widely repeated belief that leaving decorations up past Twelfth Night brings bad luck; English Heritage historian Dr Michael Carter has called this specific “bad luck” superstition a modern invention rather than a genuine medieval belief.
Why that date
Traditional Western Christian practice ties tree-raising to the start of Advent, the season of spiritual preparation for Christmas; strict Roman Catholic custom instead waits until Christmas Eve.
What actually happens
The 5th vs 6th January dispute stems from whether the 12 days are counted starting at sunset on Christmas Eve (Dec 24, giving 5 Jan) or from Christmas Day itself (Dec 25, giving 6 Jan) — the Church of England holds the former view.
Taking it down again
Twelfth Night — 5 January per the Church of England’s traditional reckoning, though many now say 6 January; some follow Candlemas (2 February) as the older medieval end-point. Widely repeated belief that leaving decorations up past Twelfth Night brings bad luck; English Heritage historian Dr Michael Carter has called this specific “bad luck” superstition a modern invention rather than a genuine medieval belief.
If you would rather not have this argument again next year, the calendar reminder on the home page will put both dates straight into your phone.
When the answer is finally yes
The bit you actually need
A short, unsentimental list. We only link to categories worth browsing, not to a hundred near-identical products.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links marked “Browse on Amazon” are paid links — if you buy something after clicking one, this site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change the dates. See our affiliate disclosure.