It can be hard to let go of the holiday season, but for your safety, experts are warning that New York households should say goodbye to their Christmas trees as soon as possible.

I don't blame anybody who still has their tree up in their home. My wife and I just had a similar conversation about the string lights we still have on our house in Newburgh, NY. In my opinion, the extra bit of positivity the lights help spread outweighs the fact that they're "out of season". It's a little different for Christmas trees...

It's hard to make the decision to take down holiday decorations, but some items, like Christmas trees, can pose a danger to your family the longer you keep them in your home (bauhaus1000 via Canva)
It's hard to make the decision to take down holiday decorations, but some items, like Christmas trees, can pose a danger to your family the longer you keep them in your home (bauhaus1000 via Canva)
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New Yorkers Should Take Their Christmas Trees Down for Safety in January

The call for New York families to ditch their trees isn't coming from Grinches who hate happiness and laughter, but rather from safety professionals who want to keep you alive. It all has to do with the fire risk Christmas trees present, especially in January.

The longer you keep your Christmas tree in New York, the higher the danger for a housefire (Canva)
The longer you keep your Christmas tree in New York, the higher the danger for a housefire (Canva)
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Fire Risks Posed by Old Christmas Trees in New York

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) issued a recent statement specifically focused on Christmas trees that have overstayed their welcome. The drier they get, says the NFPA, the more dangerous they become. From vice president of Outreach and Advocacy Lorraine Carli:

More than one-third of U.S. home fires involving Christmas trees occur in January... they’re large combustible items that have the potential to result in serious fires. The longer Christmas trees remain in homes, the longer they present a risk

The Best Way to Dispose of Your Christmas Tree

Disposing of your Christmas tree doesn't have to be boring. While many people (my neighbor included) decide to put their noble fir in the trash, there are luckily some much more fun (and environmentally conscious) ways to say sayonara to the most wonderful time of the year.

Many Hudson Valley farms are accepting your old Christmas tree to feed to their goats (Saddle Ridge Farm via Facebook)
Many Hudson Valley farms are accepting your old Christmas tree to feed to their goats (Saddle Ridge Farm via Facebook)
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How to Feed Your Christmas Tree to a Goat in the Hudson Valley, NY

Goats eat, well, anything. While some farmers have turned this fact into lucrative businesses like poison ivy removal (one of their favorite foods, apparently), goats also love to munch on Christmas trees. In what could be a fun activity for the whole family, many local Hudson Valley farmers are currently accepting tree "donations" for their hungry flocks (check out more here).

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Whether or not you plan to feed the Hudson Valley's farm animals, safety should still be your top priority. The sooner your (real) Christmas tree is disposed of, the lower the fire risk is in your home. Check out some of the most festive New York trees from 2023 below, and keep scrolling to check out the world's largest "baby goat art" that happens to be in upstate New York.

These Are The Most Festive Christmas Trees In All Of New York

In Upstate New York, where snowflakes dance through the crisp air, we truly have the most festive Christmas trees in New York State.

Gallery Credit: Dave Wheeler

Artwork of Baby Goats in Upstate NY Considered World's Largest

The G.O.A.T. goat statue has officially been unveiled in Upstate NY, as artist John Cerney created a brand-new baby goat statue at a Schoharie County farm.

Gallery Credit: Dan Bahl

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