When should I put my Christmas tree up? Exact date tradition says you should put trees up and take them down

The festive season is fast approaching and with just over a month to go until Father Christmas arrives, the big day will quickly roll around.

Shops are now brimming with Christmas toys and gifts, while seasonal fare is dominating supermarket shelves in anticipation of 25 December.

Buying presents and stocking the cupboards with festive goodies are always high-up on the Christmas to-do list, but deciding when to put the Christmas tree up is a task that often comes under much debate.

For some, the Christmas tree won’t make its appearance until mid to late December, while others like to start decorating much earlier to make the most of the festivities - particularly after a difficult year which has seen households face significant pressures amid the cost of living crisis.

If you are looking forward to the Christmas season and a fresh start next year, here’s what tradition says about getting the festivities rolling.

When should I put up my Christmas tree?

Traditionally, Christmas trees should be put up and decorated at the start of Advent, which is the season in which Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, known as Advent Sunday, and always ends on Christmas Eve (24 December). That means that this year Advent falls on Sunday 27 November.

So, if you are eager to get the festive decorations up early, this is the earliest date that tradition dictates you should be putting your tree up.

However, the British Christmas Tree Growers Association recommends buying your tree at the beginning of December if you want it to last throughout the festive season.

The association says trees can last up to four weeks if they are looked after properly, so if you buy it in November, you do run the risk of the pine needles dropping and your tree branches drooping by the time Christmas Day rolls around.

To be on the safe side, putting your tree up a little later, such as the first week of December, will help to keep it looking healthier for a bit longer.

For those who aren’t as eager to get the Christmas decorations up that early, there is another tradition in which people decorate their trees 12 days before the big day.

In the past, decorations and trees were left as late as Christmas Eve to put up as any time earlier than this was thought to be unlucky, while in Roman Catholic tradition, the Christmas tree is not put up until the afternoon on 24 December.

When should I take my Christmas tree down?

Many people may be keen to take the Christmas tree down once the big day celebrations are over, while others like to hang on to that festive cheer for as long as possible.

In Christianity, the traditional date to take your Christmas tree down is twelve days after Christmas.

This is because celebrations last for 12 days from the birth of Jesus, so the Twelfth Night - or the twelfth day after Christmas - officially marks the end of the festive season. This year, the Twelfth Night falls on Friday 6 January.

Leaving Christmas decorations up after this date is widely considered to be unlucky.