The holidays pack a lot of allergy triggers into a few weeks: a tree that may carry mold, decorations that sat in a dusty box all year, scented candles, wood fires, big shared meals and visits to homes with pets. None of these has to ruin the season. A little planning for each one keeps symptoms down and food-allergic family members safe.
This checklist covers the most common holiday triggers and links to our detailed guides on each. For more, see our living with allergies guides.
Jump to: Quick checklist · Trees and decorations · Candles, fires and scents · Holiday food · Visiting and travel · FAQ
Quick checklist
| Trigger | What to do |
|---|---|
| Real Christmas tree | Hose it off and let it dry before bringing it in; keep it up for a shorter time |
| Artificial tree and decorations | Store dry; clean before setup; let someone without allergies unpack |
| Candles, fireplace, wood stove | Limit burning when air quality is poor; ventilate; consider flameless candles |
| Scented products | Choose fragrance-free; skip air freshener sprays |
| Holiday meals | Ask about ingredients; serve allergic guests first; carry epinephrine |
| Visiting homes with pets | Take allergy medicine as your doctor advises; ask about a pet-free room |
Trees and decorations
A SUNY Upstate study found that real Christmas tree clippings carried a variety of molds, most of them potential allergens. The researchers suggested hosing the tree off and letting it dry before bringing it inside, asking the lot about tree washing, using an air purifier in the same room, and taking the tree down soon after the holiday, since there’s some evidence that longer and warmer indoor time releases more spores.
Artificial trees and boxed decorations can bring in mold and dust if stored poorly. Store them in sealed containers in a dry place and clean them before use. Full details: Christmas tree allergies.
Candles, fireplaces and scents
- Smoke adds particles indoors. The EPA’s particle pollution guide advises reducing use of fireplaces and wood stoves and not burning candles when particle levels are high. On poor air days, see AQI and asthma.
- Flameless candles give the look without smoke or soot.
- Fragrance can irritate. Scented candles, potpourri and air fresheners can bother people with asthma or fragrance sensitivity. Choose fragrance-free products; see fragrance allergy.
- Skip air freshener sprays. Regular use of air freshener and other cleaning sprays was linked to new adult asthma in a 10-country study; see spray cleaners and asthma.
- Ventilate when cooking big meals or when the house is full.
Holiday food
Holiday dishes often contain major allergens like milk, egg, wheat, tree nuts and peanuts, and buffets make cross-contact easy. A Canadian study of 1,390 children with anaphylaxis found higher rates of reactions to peanuts and unknown nuts at Halloween and Easter (though not at Christmas), a reminder that food-centered holidays need planning.
- Ask hosts about ingredients, including baked goods and toppings.
- Serve food-allergic guests first with clean utensils.
- Label buffet dishes with their main allergens.
- Carry two epinephrine auto-injectors, as ACAAI advises, and make sure another adult knows how to use them.
Full details: Thanksgiving with a food-allergic child and dining out with food allergies.
Visiting family and traveling
- Homes with pets: ask whether you can sleep in a room the pet stays out of, and talk to your doctor about starting allergy medicine before the visit. If you’re the host and a guest is allergic, see preparing for pet-allergic guests.
- Dust in guest rooms: bedding that’s been stored may be dusty; wash it hot before guests arrive. See does a dryer kill dust mites?
- Flying with food allergies: see flying with a food allergy.
- Pack medicines in your carry-on, including inhalers and epinephrine.
Winter also means more time indoors with dust mites and pet dander; see do seasons affect allergies?
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my allergies get worse during the holidays?
Common reasons include mold on Christmas trees, dust from stored decorations, smoke from candles and fireplaces, scented products, and visiting homes with pets.
Are scented candles bad for allergies?
They can irritate people with asthma or fragrance sensitivity, and burning candles adds particles indoors. Flameless candles avoid both.
How can I avoid allergies from a Christmas tree?
Hose a real tree off and let it dry before bringing it in, keep it up for a shorter time, and run an air purifier nearby. Store and clean artificial trees well.
How do I keep a food-allergic child safe at holiday parties?
Ask about ingredients, bring safe dishes, serve your child first, and carry two epinephrine auto-injectors.
What if I’m allergic to a relative’s pet?
Ask about a pet-free room, take allergy medicine as your doctor advises, and consider staying elsewhere if symptoms are severe.
Sources
- SUNY Upstate Medical University. Christmas trees may harbor unwanted presence, study says. December 16, 2011.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and AirNow. Air quality guide for particle pollution.
- Zock JP, Plana E, Jarvis D, et al. The use of household cleaning sprays and adult asthma: an international longitudinal study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007;176(8):735-741.
- Leung M, Clarke AE, Gabrielli S, et al. Risk of peanut- and tree-nut-induced anaphylaxis during Halloween, Easter and other cultural holidays in Canadian children. CMAJ. 2020;192(38):E1084-E1092.
- American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Epinephrine auto-injector.
Last reviewed: October 21, 2026.
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