Has anyone.........?

People in the US generally decorate much earlier. If you're a big decorator, you usually start Thanksgiving weekend, maybe even before if Thanksgiving comes late in the month. Can't put my tree up this year, but I have a string of beautiful Christmas cards strung on a Garland on my mantle. I have a couple of little nativity scenes out. I made a beautiful new wreath and have two or three wreaths out. The lights are on the outside of the house. DH did that yesterday. I alternate between turning the heat down and lighting the gas fireplace for warmth and ambience. I am worried about what the heating bills are going to be this winter. I would be a lot happier celebrating Christmas without people like Biden running the country. We'd have a lot more money for one thing!

Swedish candle bridges. A nod to my great, great Granny.

Christmas decorating usually starts two weeks before Christmas. Two large prelit wreaths, prelit outside tree ordered and lots of warm white fairy lights covering a few shrubs - front garden.
More warm white fairy lights on a few shrubs - back garden
8 Swedish bridges for bay windows indoors and our dining kitchen decorated with wreaths and fairy lights. Lounge fireplace mantle conifer, candles and red berry fairy lights.
Christmas tree in the hall along with a bunch of amarillos and berries on hall table. Faux bunch of red berries into indoor plant pots. Phew! Exhausted just thinking about it but it gives me such pleasure when it’s done.
I love, love fairy lights. 😀

Oh - and the neighbours opposite have bright flashing lights on their front of house decorations - bad for migraine - so my curtains are closed tightly before it even gets dark.

I've got the fairy lights and (LED) candles going anyway - to cheer up the dark days - but I always resent putting up the tree. I wouldn't bother at all - but it's for the kids. This year, I'll get my daughter to do it (not yet) and it can go in the porch, out of my way (and away from the cat's vandalism). I like to leave everything to the last minute (or forget) and clear it away after Boxing day.

OnwardandUpward

It's not silly or old fashioned! I absolutely LOVE gingerbread houses SO much! They are my favourite part of Christmas! Since I hate Christmas cake and Christmas pudding after being forced to eat it when young, Gingerbread is the perfect treat.

Sadly my GC will not be here this Christmas, but I've made them Gingerbread houses in previous years. This year we might just have a gingerbread cheesecake with gingerbread men on the top. (anyone got a good recipe?)

Mum's ginger people:

16 oz caster sugar
8 oz dark muscovado
8 oz eggs
1.5 oz trecale
8 oz butter
2t bicarb
1t salt
1t ginger powder
3t cinnamon --- mix all

Stir in 24 oz plain flour -- then chill

Roll to .5cm on floured surface, cut shapes.

Bake 180 degrees, parchment paper on baking sheet, 10-15 min.

We've baked and eaten many already this year. GC love.

It's not silly or old fashioned! I absolutely LOVE gingerbread houses SO much! They are my favourite part of Christmas! Since I hate Christmas cake and Christmas pudding after being forced to eat it when young, Gingerbread is the perfect treat.

Sadly my GC will not be here this Christmas, but I've made them Gingerbread houses in previous years. This year we might just have a gingerbread cheesecake with gingerbread men on the top. (anyone got a good recipe?)

OnwardandUpward

I've bought Christmas blankets with gingerbread houses on because I'm a big child really. We didn't have gingerbread houses growing up and I never liked the fruitcake that was obligatory (and had to be admired since it was home made)

I have made some bunting now with also gingerbread houses on. I have candles. Last year's star light still up... Can't really be bothered to get the tree out yet but might actually have to because we have rats in the loft and pest control is coming tomorrow.

We love gingerbread. Fun to stir up, bake, assemble, ice and eat!

I know it's a silly old fashioned kitchen project, but our little GC really enjoy gingerbread cookies - people or houses.

karmalady

It is about being cheery in the bleak mid winter, winter solstice, 21st december, has been lit up for thousands of years, light in the dark days, to keep our spirits bright

This november has been particularly bleak this year for several reasons and for many people, many of us need the lift that we can provide at home

You’re right there Karmalady
You can’t beat a few twinkly lights and candles for a mood lift.
Bring it on!

Not yet, but I have to admit that I have fairy lights up all year round in the rather dark hallway and landing. They sort of function as nightlights when I get up for a wee in the middle of the night!

I won't put up a tree or decorations until 22nd December. I have been trying out the lights though, as some didn't work last year and I have bought some more from a charity shop.

Witzend I'm sure a charity shop would LOVE your wreaths! In the one I volunteer in, we have a wonderful Christmas display, which I love fiddling with tidying when the shop's not busy. We have several wreaths like yours and they get snapped up quickly!

I've bought Christmas blankets with gingerbread houses on because I'm a big child really. We didn't have gingerbread houses growing up and I never liked the fruitcake that was obligatory (and had to be admired since it was home made)

I have made some bunting now with also gingerbread houses on. I have candles. Last year's star light still up... Can't really be bothered to get the tree out yet but might actually have to because we have rats in the loft and pest control is coming tomorrow.

Not yet, real tree arriving on the 15th.

Advent decorations have been up since Saturday as is obligatory (!) here in Germany. Have a wreath on the door (with battery operated fairy lights) and a wreath on the dining table. There was a spider spinning a web between two of the candles just now!

Christmas decorations are officially not done until Christmas Eve but I might start earlier.

We’ll be putting lights on our tree, but those lights will be replacing a couple of the lamps we usually switch on, so electricity usage will more or less amount to the same.

I've still got a giant star table light from Ikea . It's been lit all year round because I didn't want to put it away last year.

One year we clingfilmed the tree with decorations on and got it out the next year, just took the clingfilm off haha. I'm a bit low maintenance. No GC to visit, due to estrangement so no real effort.

Just an Advent wreath for dining table Usually put decs up 2 weeks before Christmas season but no lights this year to save electricity

FannyCornforth Thank you🙂🎄

JenPax beautiful!
Twinkly perfection
(can I suggest an snowy angel on top? ❄️)

I cracked yesterday. Most is now up but honestly, it does not feel like christmases past when the house was full of lights and decorations and people

Only one corner on top of a low cabinet and a mantle and that is it. I have 3 medium size glittery ornaments to put on shelves or the floor and that is it. I shall have to get my christmas cheer from a walk into town and from music and christmas films

I am glad I put it up though, the ornaments are beautiful and gaze worthy

Ours is up including new decorations!
I love the sparkle and twinkle of Christmas and treat the tree to new added bits every year. Apart from this there is a German wooden Christmas scene from a holiday in Bavaria on the side and a new wreath for the front door which is still to come. I always love dressing the dining room too; this year in silver and dark green, table decs and flowers, and some white fairy lights around the French windows.

we always have fairy lights up

White twiggy tree installed in the conservatory today. Pre lit I just hang a few glass icicle ornaments and it’s done, the reflections on the glass roof in the dark are amazing. Will enjoy it every evening as we can see it from our sitting room.

The rest will follow gradually in the next couple of weeks. Mostly winter scene type things along with wooden German items and of course our wooden nativity which is as old as our elder son. Outside battery lighted items will wait until mid December.

So much brighter with all the lights.

ooh excitement is building and so is the uplift. I walked to the shops yesterday and most have lovely christmas displays in their windows. The local volunteers were out and about putting the real mini christmas trees into their wall stands, ready for lights. The bunting will go up shortly

Still sitting on my hands but am itching to get my decor up

I don't usually put lights up but bought a star ornament and a fairy mouse 'dangly' at an event so have put them straight onto the mantelpiece. It seemed daft to put them away, just to get them out again.

Yes! Just the tree, and it’s beautiful! I love the lights, reminds me of my mom and warms my heart. First time I’ve had it up this early, but makes me 😊