When is the Best Time to Put Up and Take Down Your Christmas Tree? No Rules, Just Joy!

The holiday season comes with countless decisions, from selecting the perfect gifts to figuring out how early is too early for the Christmas tree. For some families, November 1st marks the start of holiday decorating (like my own!), while others wait until Thanksgiving or even later. No matter your tradition, there’s no “wrong” time to deck the halls if it brings you joy. Read on to find out how you can find the perfect schedule for your holiday vibe!

When to Put Up Your Christmas Tree

November 1st | Kicking Off the Holidays ASAP

If you love that festive feeling as soon as Halloween ends, you’re not alone. Starting on November 1st gives you nearly two full months of holiday cheer. For early decorators, it’s a chance to extend the cozy warmth of Christmas and indulge in the magic that can sometimes feel too fleeting. Here are some pros of starting right away:

• More Time for Christmas Joy: Why wait for December when you can soak in the spirit now?
• Stress-Free Decorating: Getting an early start lets you enjoy the process without feeling rushed, leaving you with a fully decorated home when the season officially begins.
• Boost in Mood: Studies show that holiday decorations can increase happiness. So why not enjoy the visual comfort of twinkling lights and festive decor as soon as possible?

Early decorators often embrace the cozy aesthetics, rich scents, and traditions like holiday baking throughout November. And for many families, like mine, it’s a way to kick off the season with a bang right after Halloween—a natural progression from one holiday to the next!

Right After Thanksgiving | The Traditional Kickoff

For a lot of families, Thanksgiving marks the official start of Christmas decorating. Once the turkey has been eaten and the last slice of pie has disappeared, it’s game on for Christmas trees and garlands. Here’s why post-Thanksgiving might be the perfect compromise:

• Respecting Each Holiday: Many people feel that jumping straight into Christmas might overshadow Thanksgiving, so they give each its due time.
• Family Tradition: Thanksgiving often brings family and friends together, making it the perfect time to decorate as a group activity.
• Shorter, More Intense Festivity: Waiting until late November gives a sharper focus to the holiday season—it’s a full sprint through December, where every day feels truly festive.

For traditionalists, this time allows them to savor Thanksgiving before fully committing to all things Christmas. Plus, decorating on Thanksgiving weekend has the added benefit of maximizing December for Christmas cheer.

Early December | Advent Season Countdown

For some, the first or second week of December marks the start of holiday decorating. This is often tied to the beginning of Advent, a Christian tradition that includes the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. This timing suits:

• Religious Observance: Those who follow Advent might prefer to align their decorations with this spiritual calendar.
• A Cozy, Seasonal Touch: Early December brings a natural drop in temperatures, creating the perfect backdrop for the warmth of Christmas lights and cozy decor.
• Balanced Holiday Timing: This allows about three weeks to fully immerse in holiday vibes, providing a balance between autumn and winter festivities.

While it’s a slightly shorter time frame, decorating in early December ensures that your holiday setup still has plenty of time to shine.

Right Before Christmas | Festive Minimalists

Finally, we have the minimalists who put up decorations just a week or even a few days before Christmas. While this may sound extreme to some, there are good reasons for this approach:

• Minimal Setup, Minimal Takedown: This timeframe works well for those who want a quick, minimal holiday setup, creating a festive atmosphere with minimal effort.
• Honoring Tradition: In some countries and cultures, decorating close to Christmas is traditional, keeping it special and focused on the actual holiday rather than the whole season.
• Savor the Simplicity: For many, Christmas decorations right before the holiday keep the experience feeling fresh and exciting, with no risk of decor fatigue.

This approach isn’t for everyone, but if you love a low-key, yet impactful holiday display, decorating right before Christmas can be surprisingly rewarding.

When to Take Down Your Christmas Tree and Decorations

Just like putting up the tree, taking it down can be a very personal decision. And no matter when you decide to pack up, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer—just whenever you’re ready to make room for the New Year. Here are a few popular options:

New Year’s Day | Ringing in a Fresh Start

Many people feel that New Year’s Day is a natural time to start fresh by putting away the Christmas tree and decorations. As the holiday season officially ends, this tradition allows people to start the year with a clean slate. Benefits include:

• A Sense of Closure: Tidying up on New Year’s Day feels like a proper end to the season.
• Fresh Mindset: Putting away decorations clears your space and mindset for new goals.
• Goodbye to the Old, Hello to the New: It’s a symbolic way to say goodbye to last year’s memories and get ready for new ones.

If you love beginning the year with a refreshed space, taking down the tree on January 1st is a great option.

The Twelfth Night | January 5th or 6th

For those who want to follow the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas, January 5th or 6th, which marks Epiphany, is the ideal time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations. Here’s why it might work for you:

• Historical Tradition: Epiphany, marking the visit of the Magi, is a traditional end to the holiday season in many Christian cultures.
• An Extra Week of Cheer: This allows you to hold onto holiday vibes a bit longer, giving more time to enjoy your decorations post-New Year’s.
• Seasonal Continuity: If you live in a cold climate, keeping decorations up through Epiphany can feel like a comforting presence amid the winter gloom.

This timeline is great for those who love holding onto the Christmas spirit and honoring an older tradition.

Whenever You Feel Like It | Make Your Own Rules

The beauty of holiday decor is that there are no rules! If you’re not ready to part with your decorations by January or even February, that’s okay too. There are plenty of benefits to making your own schedule:

• Extended Enjoyment: Why rush to take down the decor if it still makes you happy? Some people keep their decorations up as long as February!
• No Pressure to “Get It All Done”: The holiday season can be busy enough without feeling pressured to put away decorations by a specific date.
• Brightening Winter: For many, holiday lights and decor add a bit of warmth and cheer during the colder, darker months of winter.

Whenever you decide to wrap up the season is entirely up to you. In fact, leaving some decorations up year-round can add a touch of whimsy and nostalgia—who says you have to say goodbye to those fairy lights?

It’s All About What Brings You Joy

Whether you’re ready to put up your Christmas tree on November 1st or prefer to wait until the week before Christmas, it’s all about what works best for you and your family. And when it’s time to take down the decorations? Again, it’s up to you. The joy of decorating for the holidays should come without judgment or strict timelines.

So, whether you’re an early bird or a last-minute decorator, remember: you do what makes you happy. The holidays are a time for joy, love, and a little bit of magic, however long you choose to make them last.