Christmas Trees

When the DC were young we decorated 2 weekends before Xmas day. Now I try to do it the weekend before 15th Dec. Always leave them up until 6th Jan
3 weeks is long enough & keeps it special for me ? ?

Like *MaizieD we buy ours from a local estate which grows its own trees.

We used to buy our tree about a week - 10 days before Christmas, but in recent years so many people were buying trees early that the choice of trees was getting very limited by then. We now buy the tree in early December and then leave it outside in the cold until about a week before Christmas, when we bring it indoors aand decorate it.

My sons birthday is 18th December, we decorated the tree on that day as he loved his birthday being near and part of Christmas.
I have always had a real tree, it is magical, especially with white lights and all the tree decorations I have accumulated over the years.
I do put the tree up on the 12th December now my son is grown up and left home. It's the joy of choosing it as well.

Can't quote your last post for some reason @witzend, but some of those 'moaners' may have very real reasons for finding the lengthening of the Christmas season difficult eg the bereaved, the lonely, the poor, those far away from family.
Obviously the world can't stop for them, but wishing Christmas wasn't shoved in their faces from late October doesn't equate to being a 'moaner'.

Live Christmas in this house, hopefully, back to having DD and GC’s staying over Christmas Eve. Our real tree will either be from the Forestry Commission, pre cut, or dug ourselves, it’s hard work!
But as others have said Marmight, trees cut now are doomed, it’s not good and almost fraudulent selling as not fit for purpose.
The name gives a clue, the tree should be useable over the Christmas period.

kittylester

We rent our Christmas tree which I booked a couple of weeks ago.

Does it have roots and get returned to the ground kitty?

I know I'm a misery guts, but the tree is one of the things I dislike the most about christmas.
All that fannying around, and still hovering up glitter in July!

A friend of mine, somewhat eccentric had a real tree in her home for over 2 years. All the needles dropped. The lights were still twinkling away. I did ask if she'd like help taking it down but she was quite happy about it.

I used to leave everything on my tree; lights, decs, the lot.
Then I'd straighten the branches a bit and taadaa! All done.

One of our old Christmas trees is now around 30-40 foot high. Lovely tree , we only planted it out on a wing and a prayer not really thinking it would ‘take’.

MissAdventure, I don't like all the tree faff either. Last year's is growing in a pot outside - so maybe I'll just pop some lights on it and leave it there.

Im not a fan of christmas and real trees in particular are so sad. I hate the way they are treated, artificial ones are the way to go and they make no mess.

pippa, it comes in a pot with soil and is collected and replanted. It costs the same as a similarly sized cut one. This year it is 5 feet tall and cost £70.

Sorry pippa should have said the £70 includes delivery, collection and a tub to stand the pot in.

My tree is going up in my hall today. We have our lovely little niece visiting. She has multiple health issues and spends a lot of time in hospital. I know she'll be thrilled.

There are many reasons why people might decorate early.

We use a white, pre lit twiggy tree. It will be in the conservatory by the end of November, earlier than usual. . There has much sadness for us this year, the twinkling lights will literally lighten the darkness.

I always got a real tree from Delamere forest and put it up second week in December. When the grandchildren were born I bought a beautiful snowy artificial tree from Dobbies and it goes up 1st of December. I absolutely love the house decorated I started watching Christmas films two weeks ago.

If they are the same Christmas films I'm watching Redhead I see them as good therapy - just like the "Cosy Murders" I read. They take you on a journey where all comes out well in the end. It will help against the disequilibrium we are all prone to at times like this.
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Thanks for the information Kitty. I love the idea that they are not cut down. Mine is an artificial one these days. My strangest feelings are joining (by video) my sons family Christmas in the middle of summer in Australia - with Christmas Tree

biglouis

Im not a fan of christmas and real trees in particular are so sad. I hate the way they are treated, artificial ones are the way to go and they make no mess.

Real trees are a crop, like any other, and such fast growing trees use up a lot of Co2 while they are growing. And at least they’re biodegradable - many are mulched to be used in parks and gardens.

Interesting views.
We always had a big real tree which went up around 20 December. I have a lovely photo of my then 2 year old GD ‘decorating’ it with my late DH. It was his last Christmas so a very special time. Since downsizing considerably and alone I’ve invested in a smallish artificial tree which has only been up once as Ive been away for 3 out of the 4 christmases Ive been in my small cottage so not much point in decorating. I may buy a real one this year in a pot for the garden. I used to love all the Christmas preparations but of late find no joy in it and can’t wait to get back to ‘normal’. Am I turning into Mrs Scrooge? ?
Oh to turn back the clock ……,

(((Hugs))) marmight.

My ex was (perhaps still is) Mr Scrooge, so putting up the Christmas tree wasn't a big deal. In the long years since my divorce, I have rarely been at home for Christmas. Nowadays, my sons' families always make me welcome and I'm happy to join in with the preparations in their homes. It's been lovely to see my GC as they've grown into their teens and early adult-hood. But I do have a small artificial tree which can be seen in my side window by motorists as they drive past, on the two weeks before I set off.

I gave up on xmas trees last year. Instead i have a largish coffee table, with a winter scene. I have carol singers, skaters, skiers, a little post box, lots of snow covered cottages, a church up on a hill, a large outdoor tree with lights on and children running around. It looks magical, and my gc love it. I will buy a couple of extra things for this year that they will be thrilled to discover. I store it all under my bed, and i do prefer it to the main tree in the lounge. I still have a little tree in the porch, along with a statue of The Snowman figure from the film. Each to their own i suppose, whatever makes it magical for you and your family is what counts.

That sounds lovely Bridget.

Thanks PippaZ, its great fun to do as well!!