Now that Christmasis over, you might be pondering when it's appropriate to take down your tree and pack away the decorations. The date for packing up the Christmas tree varies from person to person, but traditionalists will tell you it's bad luck to leave it up too long.

This belief, rooted in a tradition dating back centuries, suggests that keeping your tree up past a certain date could invite evil spirits or bad luck into your home. This stems from a Christian tradition known as Twelfth Night, which dates back to the 4th century.

You're likely familiar with the 12 Days of Christmas, marking the time between Jesus' birth and the arrival of the Three Wise Men. Starting on December 25 and ending on January 6 - also known as the Epiphany.

READ MORE: 'I keep my Christmas tree up all year - people judge me until they realise why'

However, the twelfth night after Christmas falls on January 5. The date can vary, depending on whether you count the 25th.

Historically, Twelfth Night is when your decorations should be taken down. It's thought that until the 1800s, the 12-day period after Christmas was filled with various holidays and celebrations until Queen Victoria supposedly removed them from the calendar, reports the Daily Record.

Post-Twelfth Night, the Victorians expected people to cease the festivities and return to work. This might explain why it's now considered unlucky to keep the decorations up beyond this point.

Another theory as to why your tree could bring bad luck beyond Twelfth Night is due to superstitions surrounding the trees themselves. According to History.com, it was once believed that evergreens could ward off evil spirits, witches, ghosts or bad luck if kept in your home.

Therefore, it was essential to dispose of them before they withered and died to keep your house free from evil. The date you choose to take down your tree is entirely up to you.

However, for those who are superstitious, it's suggested you pack it away on January 5.

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