When do you put up your Christmas decorations?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I lived in the Philippines for a while and believe it or not, Christmas decorations go up beginning on Sept 1. They literally have four months of Christmas.

It's annoying to me to see the store putting stuff out before Halloween. My wife wanted to put up our things about three weeks ago and I was dead set against it. I've always felt that when it all goes up too early by the time Christmas comes it's not special anymore. I used to get a tree two weeks before Christmas and do everything then. Then I'd take it down on New Years Day.

I've since compromised and start around Thanksgiving. I'm putting the outdoor lights up today.

I see some people with lights up very early, though not so much here as up north.

What are your thoughts on this?

[rdhdleo]

We won't do anything before Thanksgiving, believing in one holiday at a time! We started our outside decorations yesterday, should finish tomorrow since hubby is filling in at work today. Tree is up and decorated and most inside decorations are up.

[KayakerNC]

Up; The weekend after Thanksgiving.
Down; The weekend after New Years. :mornincoffee:

[Bavarian]

Outside decorations should not be lit before First Sunday in Advent and kept up until Epiphany, 6 Dec when the Three Wise Men came, though I have heard they should be up one more week until the Baptism of Christ.

We haven't started, though many in our Villages had them lit last night. We always did the tree on Christmas Eve.

[rdhdleo]

Outside decorations should not be lit before First Sunday in Advent and kept up until Epiphany, 6 Dec when the Three Wise Men came, though I have heard they should be up one more week until the Baptism of Christ.

We haven't started, though many in our Villages had them lit last night. We always did the tree on Christmas Eve.

My mother always decorated the tree and wrapped presents on Christmas Eve, we helped with the tree but she did the "final" touches after we went to bed. We woke up to a beautiful tree with presents "Santa" delivered while we slept. Good memories. Oh and yes the tree stayed up till after 3 Kings.

[Villages PL]

I never bother with it because every recreation center has a beautiful Christmas tree that I can look at at any time. I don't feel the need to try to duplicate something that's already so well done by others.

My Santa friend still brings me a present, so one does not need a tree for that to happen. :angel::smiley:

[Chi-Town]

Up; The weekend after Thanksgiving.
Down; The weekend after New Years. :mornincoffee:
Same here.

[rdhdleo]

I never bother with it because every recreation center has a beautiful Christmas tree that I can look at at any time. I don't feel the need to try to duplicate something that's already so well done by others.

My Santa friend still brings me a present, so one does not need a tree for that to happen. :angel::smiley:

For me it's not the same. My tree is "personal". It has ornaments from places I have traveled to from memories of specials times in my life, some ornaments were my mothers favorites over 60 years old. When I look at my tree I enjoy some beautiful times all over again. Yes you don't need a Christmas tree for that but these are special memories that I honor for a special holiday and it makes me smile to sit in the evening and enjoy it, the beauty is in it's sheer simplicity.

[zcaveman]

On December 1st or soon after that.

Z

[Trayderjoe]

It's annoying to me to see the store putting stuff out before Halloween. My wife wanted to put up our things about three weeks ago and I was dead set against it.

What are your thoughts on this?

I am with you Boogie. I went into a Walmart in September and Christmas stuff was out and Christmas music playing. We look at the Christmas season as arriving when Santa makes his appearance at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We start decorating the day after Thanksgiving and take them down in mid-January.

We won't do anything before Thanksgiving, believing in one holiday at a time!
Absolutely!!!

[Bavarian]

For me it's not the same. My tree is "personal". It has ornaments from places I have traveled to from memories of specials times in my life, some ornaments were my mothers favorites over 60 years old. When I look at my tree I enjoy some beautiful times all over again. Yes you don't need a Christmas tree for that but these are special memories that I honor for a special holiday and t makes me smile to sit in the veining and enjoy it, the beauty is in it's sheer simplicity.

Me too. Though each year we lose some to breakage, they fall off the tree. Lost many on move down here. One year our tree fell over before I got a chance to tie it to knell post. My wife and I like big trees had 18' foyer in old residence in SOMD we are still trying to sell.

[Mikeod]

For me it's not the same. My tree is "personal". It has ornaments from places I have traveled to from memories of specials times in my life, some ornaments were my mothers favorites over 60 years old. When I look at my tree I enjoy some beautiful times all over again. Yes you don't need a Christmas tree for that but these are special memories that I honor for a special holiday and t makes me smile to sit in the veining and enjoy it, the beauty is in it's sheer simplicity.
We do the same. At one time, we had two trees, one "regular" one with all the decorations, and a second, smaller, one that had all the mementos of our trips plus ones our son made in school and heritage ones from our parents/grandparents.

At times, with the kids and grandkids so far away, we are tempted to not decorate, but we always do.

We don't decorate until after Thanksgiving, and take them down after New Years Day.

[Jim 9922]

Ours goes up only when the nagging becomes unbearable.:loco:

[Pointer]

After many years of having huge trees and all it entailed, I'm happy to keep it simple now. Time seems to go so fast these days and with having to mail everything it kinda makes you have to plan ahead. Still I think that October to early, it kinda takes away from Halloween and Thanksgiving. I agree Santa came in the Macy's parade and symbolized the beginning of the holiday season. Let the festivities begin.

[BritParrothead]

My outside lights will be going up this week, and will light them week before Christmas.
Tree will go up this week sometime. and come down on 12th night, which is January 6th
Moved house in May, and realised last week that the outside lights we had are just not enough!!
NOW, we have enough :)

[Bruiser1]

I lived in the Philippines for a while and believe it or not, Christmas decorations go up beginning on Sept 1. They literally have four months of Christmas.

It's annoying to me to see the store putting stuff out before Halloween. My wife wanted to put up our things about three weeks ago and I was dead set against it. I've always felt that when it all goes up too early by the time Christmas comes it's not special anymore. I used to get a tree two weeks before Christmas and do everything then. Then I'd take it down on New Years Day.

I've since compromised and start around Thanksgiving. I'm putting the outdoor lights up today.

I see some people with lights up very early, though not so much here as up north.

What are your thoughts on this?

I put my outside lights up the day of the "freeze warnings" in Marion county
(Wednesday the week before Thanksgiving). It was sub 50 temp it was so cold I had to put a hoodie over my shorts.

Had to light up my house for my neighbors grandchildren. The tree is up Christmas cards are addressed. I am ready for the Holidays.

By the way did anyone see the Viking game -7 below windchill at kick off but the temperature dropped after that.

todays temps are -40 to -50 windchills in all of Minnesota.( That is why we put :gc:up lights early

[DougB]

Ours goes up only when the nagging becomes unbearable.:loco:

When a man says he will do something, he will do it. Don't know why women think they have to keep reminding us week after week, month after month.

[EnglishJW]

For us it continues to vary due to traveling and our son's schedule. While we prefer the just after Thanksgiving to the end of the first week in January rule, that doesn't always work for us. No matter when it happens, we will always have plenty of family and friends over to enjoy everything.

[twoplanekid]

My wife gives me the OK to turn on the lights the day after Thanksgiving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMWZlQWAHXc

The 2014 setup has more lights than this 2012 version.

As we are closing Dec. 3rd on a Quietwoods Drive home in the Village of Lake Deaton, can I do something like this in The Villages next year?

[graciegirl]

Soon, we will be ready for Santa.

[graciegirl]

My wife gives me the OK to turn on the lights the day after Thanksgiving.



The 2014 setup has more lights than this 2012 version.

As we are closing Dec. 3rd on a Quietwoods Drive home in the Village of Lake Deaton, can I do something like this in The Villages next year?

YES YOU CAN. We have whole streets synchronized here in several villages. We all will LOVE it.

[pqrstar]

Deed restrictions say any seasonal displays are not to exceed a 30 day duration.

[gomoho]

My wife gives me the OK to turn on the lights the day after Thanksgiving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMWZlQWAHXc

The 2014 setup has more lights than this 2012 version.

As we are closing Dec. 3rd on a Quietwoods Drive home in the Village of Lake Deaton, can I do something like this in The Villages next year?

Yes you can and you will have golf carts backed upped to see you display. Village people love this stuff. There is a fellow in Hadley does this each year and has a large bin for folks to contribute canned goods to the food bank.

[graciegirl]

Deed restrictions say any seasonal displays are not to exceed a 30 day duration.

We are mostly nice souls and we will remember. I hope you like the decorations. There are so many traditions of so many heritages that light candles at the end of the year. I always think that all lights are there for all of us to inspire and enjoy.

[KathieI]

Yes you can and you will have golf carts backed upped to see you display. Village people love this stuff. There is a fellow in Hadley does this each year and has a large bin for folks to contribute canned goods to the food bank.

Its not just one guy (although that's how it started) but now its the entire block, both sides. Went past it yesterday and its more spectacular than ever. Just a fantastic display of lights and music.

Two planekid..... yes you can, remind us next year and we'll all be down there to see it.

[Bavarian]

Just a quick question for thos who put up decorations at Thanksgiving. Is that when your children are here visting and can help? Know a person back in MD who keeps on working past retirement age, trying to get to 70 for mac CSRS, He has his sons put them up. Trying to do them now. Mostly using yard displays now.