Christmas Decorating - Yes or No?

PS we can get the smell of xmas trees any day we like just by walking up the hill a bit.

Yes, I feel that way, nudejude. For a start, if the weather's fine (cold and frosty is fine) I'd prefer to be outside and celebrate how nature deals with midwinter. Last time I put up a Christmas tree it stayed up for six months because I always had something more interesting or urgent to do than take it down. This attitude is at least partly influenced by the fact that no-one else is willing to help and don't seem to care if I make an effort or not. I would if eldest DD and grandsons were here over xmas but in general, for adults... shrug. I'll cook a nice but not complicated meal. It won't include turkey.

I get the feasting and present-giving bit, though I think it's all rather over-done nowadays (that's an understatement!).

I love the smell of a real Christmas tree. I also love the fun my grandchildren have helping to decorate it, although sometimes we have to move the plethora of decorations at the bottom a bit further up the tree. I love the fact we have both newish decorations and ones from the past that remind us of old friends.

Otherwise I put some greenery around picture frames and mirror frames and switch the doorbell to play Jingle Bells. Once the three-year-old has grown up a bit, I shall stop doing that – although it still makes us all laugh.

Oh, NudeJude, you have to put something up for Christmas! It doesn't have to be a lot. But just one or two 'bits' to remind you that it's Christmas. Get a small, inexpensive ready-lit tree - a few baubles here and there, a couple of lovely candles ...? For YOU TWO. You're important! And there's nothing nicer than settling down to watch the TV with all the Christmas lights on!
You say that you won't be seeing your family over the holiday period - but could you invite a couple of neighbours in, say, on Christmas Eve, for a Baileys or two & a mince pie?
Whatever you decide, HAPPY CHRISTMAS! to you.

Tis the season to be cheerful Urmstongran!

You seem a bit more cheery from your last couple of posts mabon1. Sometimes in the past you’ve come over as quite harsh. Anyway, I do hope you’re feeling happier.

Just the two of us but we put up a small tree, bring out some of the decs and have fairy lights, observe the 12 days of Christmas.

Agree Chewbacca
In my crystal ball I see a post christmas day thread from
Cherrytree
Is it too soon to take the xmas decorations down?
and get out the paint brush

Lights before baubles, or else lights will tangle amongst the baubles.

I love the tree once it's down from the loft and its decorated but I don't like putting the tangle of lights on,, is it best to put lights before baubles or last,? either way they never look right till I have fiddled and faffed about with the tree all evening , then I sit down with a large glass of something and enjoy , ??

You're absolutely right there lemon. When the Christmas tree is up, decorated and lit, it looks so lovely. But when it comes down in the New Year it all looks so bleak and dowdy! time to decorate again

Nice putting them up ( trimmings) but not so nice taking them down and packing them away.
I do it though, not just for the DGC, but for the cheerful value of it all MidWinter.
A tree,( artificial) and door wreath, plus green garlands on the mantelpiece, a couple of poinsettias, candles, Christmas cards etc. After all, tis the season to be jolly.

Just me on my own but yes I decorate up and will do again it’s probably the main bit of Christmas I enjoy

I am on my own and don't have lots of visitors but I ALWAYS decorate the tree, put up lovely bunches of greenery festooned with Christmas bells, pine cones and ribbons plus I turn on the twinkling lights as soon as it gets dark. I do it because it makes me feel good ... so do it if you feel the same way but don't bother if it leaves you cold.

Just got ours down from the loft. Will be installed tomorrow or Saturday. I just feel like it .

Just the two of us here, and yes, we do put up decorations, (sitting room, hall and kitchen dining room)

But NOT yet! Way too early!

We live in a fairly minimalist house. We have some sort of floral Christmas arrangement on the sitting room windowsill and Christmas cards out. but that is it. I love that everyone else gets so much pleasure from decorating their homes but I equally like that we do not have a lot of clutter. Horses for courses. Both our children do the whole Christmas 'shebang' from 1st December and they love it. We dispose of our Christmas cards as soon as any family entertaining is over. We love to to calm quiet and happy together.

I would always trim up. Then I would either invite people round to show off the trimmings or make sure they were visible from the road. I can't imagine Christmas without lots of lights!

Much to MrGG’s disgust we have a real tree in lounge, artificial tree in dining room. Christmas ornaments, candles, poinsettias in every room. Garlands on bannister.

Outside lit up reindeers.

I love Christmas ?????

eazybee I always remember our first Christmas in the States, many years ago, and my disbelief at seeing Christmas trees being put out on Boxing Day. Of course, Boxing Day doesn’t exist here, but I still could not believe people were already “finished” with Christmas. Over the years, I must admit that I decorate the house earlier than perhaps I did when living in England, but I still adhere to the Twelve Days of Christmas. As for the OP’s question, DH and I think we may be on our own on Christmas Day, but I will still decorate and put up the tree.

We are away for Christmas, and I was just going to put a home made wreath from last year on the door. We are having some visitors stay in December now, so I will probably drops stuff on the mantelpiece but maybe not bother with the tree. Last year we were on our own, and went out for a special menu at an Indian restaurant - rebels!

Think there are two separate issues here:

No-one should feel pressurised into having a tree or putting up decorations if they simply don't want to. If there are youngsters around, though, it's maybe worth making an effort or even asking them to make/put up some decorations for you.

Some folk feel down and don't want to celebrate with lots of decorations due to the painful memories (such as bereavement) that these can evoke. For some, maybe putting out a few flowers, ornaments or even photos that are associated with happy memories could be an appropriate substitute.

I think I am going to beef it up this year - we need cheering up.

We used to stay over Christmas at MIL's, with cards, artificial tree with baubles etc, but now she's almost 86 and DH is housebound, so we pay for her to come to us by taxi and she goes home the same day, paying the return taxi fare. We see her most days over the holiday period. I buy a Tesco live pre-decorated tree which goes on the landing windowsill. They are quite pretty, healthy and last for the whole season without losing their needles.

I always put my tree up (artificial witches' hat shape) with a few decorations on it. I drape a home-made long garland (with attached assorted baubles) up my small banister. On the front door I shall attach a garland (hate the word 'wreath' - smacks of funerals) of ivy - it's a bit of faff as it needs those plastic tie wraps to attach it securely and I pad it underneath so that it doesn't go 'rat-a-tat-tat' in the winds.
My sympathies to those who are recently widowed and may feel like it's not worth the effort. It cheers me up to do these little things.