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Christmas countdown

How long until Christmas?

Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday. Here is the live countdown, every key festive date, and the great debate: when should the tree go up?

Countdown to Christmas 2026

80days
10hours
29mins
31secs

81 sleeps until Friday 25 December 2026

Key festive dates 2026

  1. Advent Sunday · 55 days to go
    The start of Advent: a traditional day to put up the Advent wreath, and for many families the tree too.
  2. Advent calendars begin · 57 days to go
    Door number one! Many people put their decorations up this week.
  3. First weekend of December · 61 days to go
    The most popular weekend in the UK for putting up the Christmas tree.
  4. St Nicholas Day · 62 days to go
    Celebrated across Europe, with small gifts left in shoes or stockings.
  5. Winter solstice (around this date) · 77 days to go
    The shortest day of the year, and the perfect excuse for more fairy lights.
  6. Christmas Eve · 80 days to go
    The traditional Victorian day to put up and decorate the tree.
  7. Christmas Day · 81 days to go
    Merry Christmas!
  8. Boxing Day · 82 days to go
    Leftovers, long walks and the sales.
  9. New Year’s Eve · 87 days to go
    See the year out under the glow of the tree.
  10. Twelfth Night · 92 days to go
    Traditionally, decorations come down on Twelfth Night (some count it as 6 January).
  11. Epiphany · 93 days to go
    The twelfth day of Christmas and the end of the Christmas season in many traditions.

When should you put your Christmas tree up?

There is no official rule, which is why every family has its own (strongly held) opinion. Here are the main traditions.

Christmas Eve: the Victorian tradition

The decorated Christmas tree became popular in Britain in the 1840s, helped by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Many Victorian families decorated the tree on Christmas Eve and kept it up for the twelve days of Christmas.

Advent Sunday

For many Christians, the season begins on Advent Sunday, the fourth Sunday before Christmas. In 2026 that is Sunday 29 November. Some families put the tree up that day; others start with an Advent wreath and save the tree for later.

The first weekend of December

These days, the most popular time in the UK is the first weekend of December (5–6 December in 2026), and plenty of people go even earlier, especially with an artificial tree. If it makes you happy, we say go for it.

Real tree? Don’t go too early

A fresh-cut real tree that is kept well watered will typically look good for around four to five weeks indoors, less in a warm room. For a real tree, early-to-mid December is the sweet spot. Cut a couple of centimetres off the base before standing it in water, keep it topped up daily, and keep it away from radiators and fires. With an artificial tree you can put it up as early as you like.

When to take the tree down

Tradition says decorations should come down on Twelfth Night – 5 January, or 6 January depending on how you count the twelve days – and folklore says it is bad luck to leave them up longer. In practice, the first weekend of January is when most of us pack Christmas away for another year.

Packing away tip: wrap lights around a piece of card so they don’t tangle, store baubles in egg boxes or divided boxes, and keep artificial trees in a dry, breathable bag. Your future self will thank you next December.

Get ready for the big day

Christmas Trees

Every size from 2ft tabletop to 10ft showstopper: pre-lit, flocked, slim and real-look.

Decorations

Baubles, toppers, garlands, wreaths, stockings, nativity sets and outdoor inflatables.

Christmas Lights

Tree lights, outdoor lights, icicles, battery fairy lights, smart lights and projectors.