Decorating a Christmas tree is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But just like some homeowners put their Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving, some stash it away as soon as Christmas Day 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 up well into the new year.

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

Knowing exactly when you’re supposed to take down a real or artificial Christmas tree has always been up for debate, and though it all comes down to personal preference, we’re sharing a few traditions to help you nail down a final decision.

January 6th

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

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

The Twelfth Night marks the end of the holiday and festive celebrations, so you can keep your tree out until then. If this tradition is one you can follow, know that it’s considered to bring bad luck if you take your tree down before this date.

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New Year’s Eve

No plans for New Year’s? Consider using the day to take down your Christmas tree and put other decor in storage to avoid bad luck in the new year.

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

Since January 1st signifies the start of a new year some people suggest having the tree already packed away to start the year fresh by leaving the holidays behind, or you risk bringing the previous year’s bad luck into the new one.

The Tree Begins to Die

For those who just adore their real Christmas tree, consider keeping it up until it begins to die. At some point, a real Christmas will stop taking water even if it’s properly maintained.

Real Christmas trees last anywhere from four to five weeks, so once you start to notice the leaves of your tree turning brown, it’s time to toss them out.

The good news is real Christmas trees can be recycled since they’re biodegradable. Every community is different, but some offer curbside pick-up. If yours does, remove your ornaments and garland before placing your Christmas tree at the edge of the road for a sanitation service to collect.

If your community doesn’t offer curbside pick-up, take your tree to the nearest recycling center or consider cutting it up 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 balled and burlapped.

Is There a Right Time to Take Down a Christmas Tree?

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

Regardless of whether you’re following tradition or superstitions, there are several options to enjoy your Christmas tree’s twinkling lights well after Christmas Day has ended.