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AIBU

Is it too early to put the Christmas tree up?

(163 Posts)
surfingsal Sun 24-Nov-24 10:19:33

Yesterday was a wet windy grey day and I was thinking how lovely it would be to put the tree up but as a family we have always waited for the first weekend in December , until this year both my daughters have just sent me photos of their Christmas trees they put up yesterday [ grin ]

Dickens Sun 24-Nov-24 16:18:02

Well, the OP did ask so I guess she expected a mixed response.

I don't bother with lights, trees or decorations until a few days before the event - but that's what suits me and I wouldn't expect anyone else to abide by my choice.

Unless you are going to be putting-up masses of lights outside your house - especially those with an inbuilt flashing function or which are so bright they light up other people's bedrooms and disturb their sleep, then do you really need anyone else's 'permission' to decorate your living-room, or put up a tree?

Romola Sun 24-Nov-24 16:16:59

Are unusual? Our family sticks to the old-fashioned way of decorating the tree on Christmas Eve and keeping it indoors until Twelfth Night on 6th January.

DamaskRose Sun 24-Nov-24 16:13:00

Ziplok

It’s entirely personal preference. For me, I like to wait until mid-ish December for putting up the trees, then take them down on 12th night. However, the Advent wreath will come out next Sunday, 1st Dec.

If it will cheer you up to put yours up now, then do so - there’s no rule about when you should or shouldn’t. 😁

This describes almost exactly what we do Ziplock but each to their own, no need for some of the sarcastic comments on here.

Ziplok Sun 24-Nov-24 16:02:55

I agree, Dickens. Sadly, the world seems rife with unpleasantness and harsh words. Surely, it’s better to agree to disagree without being unpleasant about it?

Usedtobeblonde Sun 24-Nov-24 16:02:01

Just driven past a pair of semis on my estate with outside lights up and on.

Dickens Sun 24-Nov-24 15:56:40

keepingquiet

Are you also buying Easter eggs? Making pancakes? Letting off fireworks and dressing up as a vampire?

If so then go ahead- have Christmas now as it clearly doesn't mean much but I wonder what you will do when January comes, maybe send Valentine's cards?

In fact why bother even having birthdays or anniversaries on the actual dates?

It seems we can do what we want in this crazy world so yes, go ahead.

I'm going to have Christmas at Christmas though, call me old-fashioned!

The OP only wanted to brighten up a dull, wet few days with a tree...

Was it necessary to be so facetious?

I can understand why one can be critical about those letting off fireworks almost every weekend between 5th November and the New Year - because it's an irritant to others, their pets, farm animals, birds and wildlife...

... but a tree in someone's living-room ???

Ziplok Sun 24-Nov-24 15:12:23

It’s entirely personal preference. For me, I like to wait until mid-ish December for putting up the trees, then take them down on 12th night. However, the Advent wreath will come out next Sunday, 1st Dec.

If it will cheer you up to put yours up now, then do so - there’s no rule about when you should or shouldn’t. 😁

Harris27 Sun 24-Nov-24 15:07:38

Well said Norah.

Harris27 Sun 24-Nov-24 14:59:56

We always put ours up on the first weekend in December. However if you want to put yours up do it and enjoy it!

Whitewavemark2 Sun 24-Nov-24 14:54:45

It is too early for me, but I’m old and a traditionalist😄.

So you do your own thing and sod everyone else. We have a neighbour who always leads the way. Her tree has been up for a week or two now. Everyone gradually follows suit as Christmas approaches.

I’m sure some people get sniffy, but that neighbour has a heart of absolute gold and people criticising says more about their miserableness than her delight in life.

petal53 Sun 24-Nov-24 14:49:52

I loved Sri Lanka MissChateline when I visited twenty years ago. Would love to go back.

Enjoy your version of Christmas. To each, his/her own.

pandapatch Sun 24-Nov-24 14:35:36

YES! (but each to their own - if you want to - go for it)

Norah Sun 24-Nov-24 14:13:19

Personal choice.

BlueBelle Sun 24-Nov-24 14:12:16

YEEEEES

grandtanteJE65 Sun 24-Nov-24 13:59:24

Far too early for me, as I have a real tree.but even an artificial one would be dusty by Christmas if you put it up now,

My routine is to clean the house, buy food that can go in the freezer, and do the baking, buy and send presents and not even the Advent wreath makes its appearence until after my birthday on November 26!

The tree is bought and goes up on the 20th or 21st December and stays up until Twelfth Night

kittylester Sun 24-Nov-24 13:55:25

RosiesMaw2

It's not even December!

Love that.

MissChateline Sun 24-Nov-24 13:53:22

Currently backpacking around Sri Lanka to avoid the fuss as much as possible. On Christmas Eve my twig goes up with the decoration ( singular) and comes down on Boxing Day ! Christmas dinner hopefully will be a cheese sandwich and a flask of coffee as part of a hike up on the moors. Bliss. Then thankfully the whole palaver will be over for another year.

petal53 Sun 24-Nov-24 13:51:57

We won’t be putting up our tree until December, we haven’t even bought it yet. However, what other people do is up to them.
My son put his tree up yesterday, well, one of his trees. He was down in his weekend house this weekend, and won’t be back until mid December, so he put up the tree in that house. They’ll put one up in the other house at the beginning of December I expect.

Cossy Sun 24-Nov-24 13:46:17

Yes for me! No for anyone who wishes to put theirs up!

Astitchintime Sun 24-Nov-24 13:43:59

Well, I am going to appear a right old grinch .......... but it is way too early! Halloween and Bonfire Night is hardly over and pretty soon the Easter Eggs will be on sale!!

I just feel that Christmas gets longer and longer each year and people lose sight of the true meaning of it.

AND...........outside lights!!!! Sorry, but I wouldn't have ours up last year........they are on the OUTSIDE of the house and when it is dark our curtains and blinds are closed.....so we DON'T see them. They are simply there for the pleasure of the neighbours living opposite who have NEVER EVER bothered. They did ask last year where ours were and I offered to put them up and plug them into their home.......wierdly they didn't want that!

SueDonim Sun 24-Nov-24 13:43:00

Witzend

Must say I was a bit 😱 the other day at seeing dozens of big, real trees (cut, not potted) outside a big Asda.
You do have to wonder what sort of state they’ll be in by Christmas Day. Even the non-drop ones will hardly look or smell exactly fresh.

Christmas trees are all cut around the same time so when you buy them makes little difference. I live in an area that grows tress for the Xmas market and the trucks have been trundling by with netted trees for several weeks already!

I used to put up the tree in the week before 25th and leave it until 6th Jan but I have bowed to the majority and now put it up a bit earlier and take it down around NY. We’re having a fake tree for the first time this year so maybe I’ll leave it up all year!!

Pittcity Sun 24-Nov-24 13:40:32

I'm a member of the "Keep Christmas in December" club.

Greyduster Sun 24-Nov-24 13:34:58

For me, yes it is, but neighbours who live on the corner of our road always had a wonderful window display of lights by this time in November. It was so cheering to come home on a dark wet night and be greeted by it. Sadly they moved earlier this year. The new people have put a tree up already though. I will have to wait until some kind soul volunteers to risk their neck on my loft ladder before mine can go up.

Calendargirl Sun 24-Nov-24 13:34:47

Ours will go up next Sunday, the start of Advent.

They will come down four weeks later. Christmas is over then, and I want it clear before the New Year.

surfingsal Sun 24-Nov-24 13:29:19

Oopsadaisy1

I have to say though that we have white fairy lights around the fireplace and around various parts of the kitchen and hallway all year round, so we are fairly well ‘lit up’ every evening.

We are the same , we have fairy lights in a couple of lanterns by the fireplace and the same in the kitchen fireplace they always cheer me up on a winters day .