When is it appropriate to put the tree up?

No hard and fast rules but decorations will go up second weekends in December and the (real) tree the Sunday before. We have lots of lights everywhere!

Next weekend!

My son in law is Brazilian and puts his tree up in November, because that's what they do in Brazil. Tradition in the UK was Xmas Eve, but I suppose anything goes these days. All the shops have got theirs up and street lighting/decorations etc where I am. So.....

Put up Christmas Eve, leave until Candlemass (2 February), the traditional end of Christmas in Middle Ages.

We now buy Nordic pines which dont shed leaves (much). Twice the price of spruce and dont smell as good but oh so much better when it comes to needles!

I saw a house today that had outdoor decorations up. A Santa climbing up a ladder and a Santa going down the chimney!

Not yet, FFS! I had a fit at my son in the US the other day when I spotted his Christmas tree already up and it wasn't even Thanksgiving. If you really must start decorating then not before the start of December and only then if you have an artificial tree or the poor thing will be a bare twig by Christmas. What really bugs me is how many people take everything down as soon as Boxing Day is over - I was always told that the festive season ended on 6th January with the Epiphany.

Tidyskatemum I feel rather like you do. Not that many years ago Christmas Eve and Day were the start of the festive season, not the end.

For us, it signalled the start of a few days holiday and we would spend time between Xmas/NY visiting or hosting friends and family for afternoon tea (leftovers, of course!) and so on.

As a family, we try to keep that tradition going but it's difficult in the face of people wanting to rush back to the shops on Boxing Day and ripping down decorations.

One year, my son and family who live in America came over for Xmas on 23rd Dec. When we took the children into town, the shops were taking down their decorations, replacing them with sale posters and cut price goods which people had paid full-price for just a day or two previously. It looked so shabby.

I acatually complained to one department store, one that is never knowingly undersold, and they did have the grace to look a bit shamefaced.

If it is going to make you happy, then this weekend is perfect.

I am sorting out my baubles this weekend so I can try and have a coordinated tree this year

A few days befoe Christmas Eve I think.

Weekend before Christmas and don't take down until twelfth night

I am debating whether to put ours up at all, as we have not long had two kittens, and I am envisaging them embarking on mountaineering expeditions.....

Marnie that is so sad - I know what that is like. Both my parents had dementia and we were carers with no family around us - neither had any idea what day it was. TV was useless as neither could follow anything and one year they were full of cold so even more confused - it was very hard. I hope you have a peaceful day.

That knitted tree is lovely!

We never used to put ours up until about a week before, but did it rather earlier last year since away for Chr. week with all the family - wanted time to enjoy it beforehand.

This year will be doing it around 12/13th, since have a friend who's had a very harrowing time lately coming to stay, and I know that decorating it is the sort of thing she'll enjoy.

Would never put it up before December. Quite apart from anything else, we always have a real tree and they lose their freshness if up too early.

Having said that, I do usually put a little real tree with lights in the front porch on 1st December.

Marnie, I'm so sorry. My mother had dementia for some 15 years and for many of those never had any idea that it was Christmas - even on the day with crackers on the table and people giving her presents. She found any extra noise/fuss/people very agitating, so we had to keep everything very quiet and low key.
I echo Willow's wish for a peaceful day for you.

This year our first decorations will go up on 1 December, as we have guests then - some lights, a snow globe, the Advent candle and calendar - but the whole kit and caboodle won't be in place until the Sunday before Christmas, when the tree goes up. Always a real one far too big for the front room (my DC always refer to the Griswolds ). Everything will stay up till 6 January, I leave a few bits up till Candlemass and a light or wreath or two all year round. No prizes for guessing I love Christmas!

Growing up, it went up about a week before Christmas. However now we may be pressured for it to go up earlier, but I insist on waiting until December.

Usually the weekend before and take them down 6th January. My niece in Australia already has hers up - apparently it is customary to put them up very early in the colonies!

A couple of weeks before for the tree & other trimmings, but 1st Dec for the advent candle display. ?

my son put his up yesterday, and DH has put some decorations up as we're in advent

People who put their tree up this early must spend a lot of time dusting the baubles every week. They'll be filthy by Christmas Day if they're not cleaned!

apparently it is customary to put them up very early in the colonies!
I haven't seen any proud photos of decorated homes yet on FB so my lot must be a bit lagging!

there's probably too much dust

Talking about dust, hope no-one has friends or relatives in Bali, if so hope they are escaping the dust.

Never occurred to me to dust the baubles ?
DS bought a tree several years ago and had it up and decorated by Dec 1st ( DGDs were very small at the time ) By the second week in Dec, they had a stick in a pot and piles of needles. So they went out and bought another.