[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.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[Chi-Town]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

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

Same here.

[rdhdleo]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

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.

Originally Posted by rdhdleo

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

Absolutely!!!

[Bavarian]

Originally Posted by rdhdleo

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]

Originally Posted by rdhdleo

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.

[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