It is I believe on.y the 18/11 but I have just seen my first Christmas tree in a house.?

I don’t understand why so many people are being judgmental about other peoples choices in their own homes. Surely if someone wants to leave their decorations up all year, that is entirely their business. Why does no one complain about people who don’t put decorations or trees up at all.
Supermarkets on the other hand who are using Christmas as a marketing ploy are fair game for criticism.

Sorry Calendargirl, I do know how many days in November, honest!

Yes, they are written and ready, although sadly not homemade this year, due to me having lost my Christmas mojo ( Mum passed away in June). Hopefully next year it will return.

Take care x

I try not to be judgemental about people who put their tree etc up so early, but I do feel that the earlier you do it, the more it somehow 'devalues' the magic of Christmas. Mind you, I am a self-confessed 'bah humbug' who hates Christmas and always has done, even as a child, so what do I know?

I don't blame people who want to bring on the Christmas cheer a bit early. It's been a rough time for many

Sainsbury's have been selling real Christmas trees for the past 2 weeks here in Aberdeen.
The rule in our house is always no Christmas trees or decorations until after my younger daughters birthday on the 8th Dec. That is still the rule in the family although my daughter is now 51..

With an early December birthday, I would prefer the tree to go up one week before Christmas but my husband likes it earlier so we put it up the weekend after my birthday. My oldest son is autistic and went to a special school. However, he lives independently in his own flat. He has always been obsessed by Christmas carols and trees, particularly lights. He has two trees - one in his hall and one in his living room and both are covered in lights. He also has lights on his living room and bedroom ceilings and a flashing disco light. The Blackpool Illuminations have nothing on these! They have been up since last week. It would not be my cup of tea but it makes him happy.

Try not to be too judgemental with early christmas trees, you never know the reason. Our neighbours’ young daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia a few years ago and their tree was up in mid November because their daughter had been discharged from hospital to spend her last few days at home. They decorated the house with lights, put up the tree and had a small family Christmas party for her. She died at the beginning of December and her mum said later that the last ‘Christmas’ had given their daughter a lot of joy and provided them with memories they would treasure.

I've seen a lot when I've been walking the dog, gardens with Santas and reindeer all lit up too. This morning I got the news my electric supplier is putting my electric up yet again by 21% so I'd hate to see the bills some of these folk will receive with all the lights. I'm sure I sound like a Scrooge, but my tree will wait a while yet.

A lovely couple who live on the end of our road are all lit up for Christmas and it looks wonderful. When you come home on a dark, damp night it really makes you smile!

Hopefully this ties in with this thread and the one about the 5-year old and his new sibling. My son was born in June and his sister was 3. One day a few weeks after his birth my wonderful aunt and uncle did ‘Christmas’ for my daughter. They put up an artificial tree, made a special dinner and got her and her brother some small presents. She was delighted because Christmas is very slow to come when you’re little and she was made to feel very special. Christmas can be about magical kindness and doesn’t have to be in December. I will never forget how kind my aunt and uncle were to us all.

Tizliz

I remember as a child that my father brought the tree home on Christmas Eve and it was decorated after we children had gone to bed. It was a delight to come down to it on Christmas Day

When my children were born Christmas began Christmas day too! After they were in bed we decorated the tree and the room and the presents came out, and all the kids enjoyed waking up in the morning to it all.

There were no Christmas Eve boxes or anything like that, the only Christmassy thing before the day was an advent calendar to count it all down. So much better than a long drawn out Christmas with no surprises on the day.

I think I’ll cull my Christmas decorations this year when I get them out, I have far too many baubles, stuffed toys and lights which never get used. I always look at them and think I might get creative one year and use them to make something but I know I never will!

Happy Christmas

Live and let live eh! It's not for me but I who am I to have an opinion on what others do.

I think i read somewhere about someone who leaves theirs up the whole year round? That would get on my nerves eventually i think, much as i love christmas.?

Im in a quandary this year, as im trying to find a new house-(rental) and if anything comes available it would be great to move before christmas, but if it doesn't, when do i bother to trim up? Might just do the tree and put up a couple of xmas banners if it gets to middle of december with no move on horizon.mostly everything's in boxes ready just in case anyway?

I adore Christmas.

Personally I never put any decorations up before somewhere around the 21st December. Before that I am far too busy with other preperations such as cleaning and baking.

However, I enjoy seeing others' decorations up.

Why spoil Christmas for yourselves by grousing over when other people put their decorations up or take them down?

Once my DS left home I gave up with Christmas decorations. Started again when DGC came along but as they very rarely come to mine now I do not bother! The whole spirit of Christmas has been swamped by how soon & how much can we be made to spend. Too commercial now but do enjoy Christmas day watching DGC open their presents as day is usually spent with the Family!

No idea why my other DD puts them up early though- i think she just likes them and little GD persuades her?

Katek- one of my DD's takes down ALL the xmas decs at midnight christmas day & puts up birthday banners & balloons etc for my GD's boxing day birthday! (Which maybe is why she puts them up by advent?!) personally i think my GD would be just as happy if she left up the xmas decs too, and added her birthday ones as well, but she never does! ?

Because we were both teachers embroiled in end of term stuff, rule in our house was no decorations until we’d all broken up. As a result I suspect all three adult children like theirs up on December 1st at least.
But I’m sure part of the reason for the trend to early decorations currently is because it is something jolly and colourful after a miserable year.

I'll blow the dust off my twiggy Christmas tree around 20 December. We love our decorations as they have been bought on holidays and remind us of good times. Other than that, I'd be happy for it to come every four years too.

A house up at Campbell’s Creek near Castlemaine had all the Christmas lights blazing out in full glory. Mind you, they could have been leftovers from last year.

I'm surprised a church has agreed before advent singingnutty. Unless the light up is actually on 28th maybe?

Hetty58- you could try hoover a fake tree i suppose, with an extention piece??