“He’s already on the sidewalk”, “he’s part of the family, we’re going to plant him in the garden”. Or even “every year, there is until January 6, and that’s it”… While Christmas has passed, opinions are divided on a crucial question: when should you remove the tree from your living room?
A consensus seems to emerge from the majority of Internet users' comments on 20 Minutes. “At our house, as far back as I can remember, we put up the tree on the Sunday after Saint Nicholas and we take it down on Epiphany weekend,” explains the aptly named Nicolas. “The day of the epiphany, as the Alsatian tradition dictates,” confirms Franck. Nicole also approves of this traditional calendar: “We always kept the tree until January 6, Three Kings Day. It was like that when I was a child and I continued. » Thus, Christmas trees, probably accompanied by nativity scenes, await another tradition, that of king cakes, to leave traditional Catholic homes.
“I can’t wait to get my house back”
However, another date emerges, that of December 31. “After the first of the year, I want to move on to something else,” explains Solène. The branches are starting to sag and I'm taking advantage of the collection points to drop off my tree, even if the first few days, it will leave a void…” For Véronique too, New Year's Eve is a fateful date: “I keep the tree until 'at the New Year under pressure from my partner and my daughters. Otherwise for me, he would have left after Christmas! I'm a childminder and I'm looking forward to having my house tidy when the holidays are over, although I enjoyed all the magic that Christmas brought up until the 25th.”
There are also the radicals who remove the Christmas tree and decorations from the 26th. “He comes down with the gift wrappers on the 26th or 27th,” says Luc. This year, he was even on the sidewalk on the evening of the 25th, because my children were going to the mountains after lunch. » For these short-term enthusiasts, there are several advantages. “I can’t stand seeing a withered tree,” Nina explains. I put it on late, around December 15, and I take it off on the 26th. The magic of the Christmas atmosphere is stronger if it is short. »
“Why deprive yourself of certain joy? »
Finally, there are all the multitude of little family habits and traditions. Each and everyone seems to have their own calendar. “Being a big fan of the Christmas period (and waiting for it all year long), I don't waste my pleasure in making this magic last by leaving my tree well beyond Christmas,” explains Stéphane. I usually remove it around the end of January, and I've even had to remove it two days before Valentine's Day. After all, why deprive yourself of certain joy when it doesn't hurt anyone? Except perhaps to the neighbors across the street who see the tree blinking for weeks! »
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George explains to us that “like any Brit” he leaves his tree “12 days after Christmas”. Danicela sees things differently: “Having finished decorating it on December 24, with us it lasts until February-March! » At Joël's, the tree “must last until our son's birthday, January 25, it's a tradition. » As for Stéphanie, she adapts to family constraints: “We live in a mountain resort, far from the family, and it is not always easy to be together. So the Christmas celebrations spread out, the prankster elves bring the tree on December 1st, we celebrate Saint-Nicolas on December 6th, the real Christmas then often another Christmas at New Year's time then to finish the Befana which hangs sweets with the galette des Rois. The tree is a real common thread in all these festivities so no departure before mid-January! »
