Some people traditionally take down their Christmas tree a week after the holiday. In fact there’s an old wives tale which suggests that if take your tree down before New Year’s Day it will help you to avoid bad luck in the coming year.

Despite the old myth, some have been known to leave theirs up much longer — until the needles are brown and spring time rolls around.

But is there really a right time to throw out a Christmas tree? That’s the question we posed to local expert Jefferson Sousa, of Sousa’s Landscaping.

Mr Sousa, who has sold hundreds of Christmas trees to Bermudians over the years, said most people will be taking down their festive ornaments and tinsel this weekend, if they haven’t already done so.

This past holiday his family put up a 14ft Christmas tree in their home and it became a very special feature for the season.

“As is the case with most homes when the Christmas tree is up and decorated with everything that goes along with it our home, like everyone else’s, looks at its best,” he said.

“I have always said it would be great to keep it up so we could put hearts and cupids on it for Valentines, Crosses for Good Friday, Easter eggs and bunnies for Easter and so on. Wouldn’t Cup Match and Halloween be fun as well?

“Sousa’s actually has a customer who has kept their Christmas tree up for over a decade. Yes it is brown but [they keep it decorated and] it looks awesome.”

When taking down your tree and putting it out on the roadside for collection, Mr Sousa encourages people not to put it back into the Christmas tree bag that was supplied to them when they purchased the tree.

He said: “They will go into chipper at Marsh Folly, which is not the best thing for the compost heap as they do take some time to break down.

“But contrary to what some people actually believe you cannot grow your cut Christmas tree, no mater how deep you plant it.”

Government has two collection days coming up. Residents in the East End can put their trees out for Wednesday, January 22, while people in the West End are encouraged to leave their trees out on Wednesday, January 29.