Decorating the Christmas tree is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But just like some homeowners put up their Christmas tree before Thanksgiving, some hide it as soon as Christmas is over.

If you fall into the category that has a hard time letting go of the holiday spirit, the good news is that you can keep your tree going well into the new year.

According to some traditions, Christmas trees can stay up past the 25th. This means you can enjoy the twinkling lights a little longer, usually until January 6th or the last day of the traditional Twelfth Night.

Exactly when to take down a real or artificial Christmas tree has always been debated, and while it all comes down to personal preference, we’re sharing a few traditions to help you make the final decision.

January 6

You’re probably familiar with the popular song The 12 Days of Christmas, but did you know it refers to the 12 days after holiday? Beginning with Christmas Day, the twelfth day ends on either January 5th or January 6th, depending on whether you count Christmas Day or the day after as one.

This day is known as Epiphany Day or Three Kings Day, which, in Christian tradition, is the day the three wise men arrived in Bethlehem for Jesus’ birth.

Twelfth Night marks the end of holidays and festive celebrations, so you can keep your tree outside until then. If this tradition is one you can follow, know that it is considered bad luck to cut down your tree before this date.

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New year

No plans for the New Year? Consider using the day to take down the Christmas tree and put other decorations in storage to avoid mishaps in the new year.

If you’re a little superstitious, you might want to leave your tree lit until New Year’s to prevent bad luck in the coming year, or you can leave it until there’s a safety hazard.

Since January 1st marks the beginning of a new year, some people suggest that the Christmas tree be already packed so that you can start the new year with the holidays behind you, or risk bringing the previous year’s bad luck into the new year.

The tree begins to die

For those who simply adore their real Christmas tree, consider keeping it until it begins to die. At some point, the real Christmas will stop taking water even if it is properly maintained.

Real Christmas trees last four to five weeks, so when you start to notice the leaves on your tree turning brown, it’s time to throw them away.

The good news is that real Christmas trees can be recycled because they are biodegradable. Every community is different, but some offer curbside pickup. If yours is, please remove your decorations and wreath before placing your Christmas tree on the side of the road for collection by sanitation services.

If your community doesn’t offer curbside collection, take your tree to the nearest recycling center or consider cutting it to use as DIY mulch around your garden bed by removing the branches and cutting them up. You can also consider replanting your Christmas tree if it’s curled up and wrapped.

Is there a right time to take down the Christmas tree?

When you decide to take down your Christmas tree is entirely up to you. There is no right or wrong time.

Whether you follow tradition or superstition, there are several options to enjoy the twinkling lights of your Christmas tree long after Christmas is over.