When is the right time to put up Christmas decorations? 10 women reveal when they deck their halls

woman decorating christmas tree

Credit: Getty

Homeware


When is the right time to put up Christmas decorations? 10 women reveal when they deck their halls

By Alex Sims

2 years ago

6 min read

It’s a debate that crops up every winter: when is the best time to put up the Christmas decorations? We asked 10 women the meaning and traditions behind the date they start decking their halls. 


Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also throw up some extremely contentious debates: should brussels sprouts be served at Christmas dinner? Does anyone enjoy the Bounty bars in a Celebrations tub? Are we going to dress up or stay in pyjamas on Christmas Day?

Even before the festivities begin, one seasonal debate returns year after year: when is the right time to start putting up your Christmas decorations and Christmas tree?  

For some, as soon as Halloween is out of the way, it’s time to start celebrating the next seasonal holiday and dust off those decorations. If you’re anything like Britney Spears or Stacey Solomon then Christmas starts on 1 November. 

Even the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, got into the holiday spirit as the clock struck midnight on Halloween when she announced her festive tour and she’s spammed us with deliciously decadent festive posts ever since. Over on Apple TV+, Hannah Waddingham’s glorious, star-studded Christmas special was released on 22 November.

Psychologists have said that the glistening lights and merriment that surround Christmas anchor us to the magical childhood emotions that we associate with this time of year. The vibrant decorations are said to produce more dopamine, our happy hormone, to give us that extra boost in the dark evenings when seasonal depression seeps in. So there’s a good incentive behind decking the halls for our mental health too.

For others, the Scrooges and Grinches among us, it’s considered a Christmas crime to so much as touch some tinsel or eat a Chocolate Orange before 1 December. Some of us even hold off until later in the month, when work winds down and there’s time to truly enjoy setting up for the holiday season.

Traditionally, advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, so technically that’s when you should put up your artificial tree. If you have a real tree, the British Christmas Tree Growers Association advises that it should be purchased no sooner than 1 December, as it’s likely to only last four weeks. 

According to John Lewis, the first weekend of December is the most popular option this year for unboxing those beloved decorations. The high street giant reported that the 12 days of Christmas are more like 45 days of merriment, based on shopper trends, as four in 10 of us have our tree up by 3 December.

Whenever you decide to drag the decorations out of the loft, it’s more often than not rooted in family tradition or out of convenience in our busy lives. So we asked 10 women about when they choose to deck the halls.  

For some, spreading out the Christmas spirit for as long as possible is key

“I’m a big proponent of extending all festivities long beyond their designated date. Birthdays are less singular days and more week-long affairs and I’m known to raise a glass to milestones for months after they’ve occurred. Naturally, Christmas is no exception, which means that the halls are decked a few days after the clocks go back (yes, really). There’s mistletoe, there’s wine and, hopefully, an extended good time for all.” Naomi, London

“My family covers our house with lights every year and we turn them on at the beginning of November. It’s become a bit of a tradition on our street and all the neighbours will expect them. Every time I come home it makes me feel cosy and Christmassy. I think it’s nice to have that feeling for as long as possible in the winter.” Dawn, London

Christmas doesn’t start until after my birthday

Leah, London

“My flatmates and I used to wait until December to put up our Christmas decorations, but when there wasn’t a lot to do over lockdown, it felt quite bleak so we put them up in November instead. We’ve done the same ever since. It makes our rental house feel more like home.” Laura, Manchester

“I like to have them up on or by 1 December just to make the most of everything (plus, we keep them up ‘late’ until 7 January as my partner’s family are Coptic and that’s when they celebrate Christmas Day).” Amy, London

In other households, mid-December is the optimum time for decorations

“Growing up, we weren’t allowed to put the decorations up until after my brother’s birthday on 9 December, to make sure his big day wasn’t upstaged by Jesus’s. With a family of my own, we start whenever the first Sunday of advent is – that’s when the box of related paraphernalia comes down from the loft. But I still don’t have the heart to put the tree up until 10 December at the earliest.” Holly, London

“I grew up in Germany and my parents sometimes wouldn’t buy a Christmas tree until Christmas Eve, and I found this really late. When I moved out at 19, I established my own traditions. Since living in the UK, I decorate on the first advent weekend. This way I get a whole month of Christmas atmosphere, and I love putting presents under the tree. It keeps the magic spark alive for longer. The cut-off point to take decorations down in central Europe is 6 January (the day of the three kings). Anything longer wouldn’t feel authentic.” Carolin, London

“I put the decorations up after 8 December – purely for selfish reasons as Christmas doesn’t start until after my birthday!” Leah, London  

Others are willing to hold out until there are only a few windows left on the advent calendar

“Christmas decorations are not to be put up before the first full weekend of December. Any earlier, then you’ll end up exhausting the magic of Christmas, spending half your life hoovering up pine needles and run the risk of the bulbs in your pretty fairy lights dying. And there’s nothing more annoying and against the spirit of Christmas than one tiny light bulb that doesn’t work. Once you see it you can’t unsee it. Why would you want that sort of stress over Christmas?” Jazmin, London

“Putting up Christmas decorations and the tree is something that should be done as late as possible. Anything before 15 December and you run the risk of festive fatigue by the time the big day rolls around. My ideal date would be 18 December or whatever weekend falls before Christmas. I make it an event with hot chocolate, carols, Baileys and friends and family. It’s the only way.” Morgan, London

“It was always a tradition in my family to go out on Christmas Eve to get a tree and then decorate it in the evening together while listening to Christmas songs. Admittedly, this is very late and sometimes I’d be jealous walking into friends’ houses that were kitted out with decorations all through December. But it became a really special event and I’ll always treasure memories of those Christmas Eve evenings.” Alex, Leeds  

Images: Getty

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