Dear Reader, every year, around this time, this article gets a lot of traffic. I wrote it way back in 2012 when societal norms were different and life was a lot less tumultuous. In 2020, all bets are off and it’s impossible for the Christmas season to be too early this year. If you want to put your tree up this second and turn your Christmas lights on, don’t bother reading any further. DO IT. Wishing you a Merry Christmas for however long you plan to celebrate it this year. Love, Candace
Last night, I was driving down a street in our neighbourhood, and in amongst the skeletons, goblins, pumpkins and gravestones, was a house with its outdoor Christmas trees up, all lit up!
Now, I am a big Christmas fan, huge you might even say, but having the lights up before Halloween is just wrong in my humble opinion. In fact, it’s a little obnoxious and so no wonder so many people are currently turned off with the whole Christmas season.
So, what is the right time? Here’s the Pleasantville guide to Christmas, so you don’t drive people crazy with your holiday enthusiasm.
Stores
Okay, I get it. Christmas is a big money maker for those in business and in a competitive world, you want to get the jump on the guy schlepping the same stuff. BUT, there is no earthly reason for anybody to be buying Christmas stuff in July. Yes, Costco, I am giving you the stink eye.
As a Canadian, with a very short summer, I really hate when stores make me think of cold weather and snow, while I’m still enjoying my flip flops and shorts. So, maybe you could wait until October 1st? Ideally, I’d say November 1st, so you wait until after Halloween, but I’m fair. Can we get this in writing for next year,then?
As far as decor, the malls and stores should definitely wait until mid-November before pulling out the lights and garland.
Decorations
I grew up with the understanding that you didn’t pull out a single decorative bauble or turn on the Christmas music until after Remembrance Day out of respect for those that fought for our country. It was something instilled in me by parents and grandparents. On November 12th, however, I pull out the Christmas countdown calendar, and one or two or *ahem* three, decorations come out a day until December 1st. I know some people who wait until December 1st and still others who don’t put their tree up until Christmas Eve. It’s all good from where I’m sitting. You’re inside your home for heaven’s sake. The outside however, is a different story. On the outside you’re sharing with the world. By all means put your lights up before the weather gets too cold, but don’t turn them on until December.
Christmas Tree
This really depends what camp you’re in. Real or artificial. This year I’ll have one of both for the first time. So, my plan is to put the artificial tree up December 1st. I always put our real one up the second weekend of December, this year it’ll be December 9th. Purists wait until Christmas Eve. To me this seems like a lot of effort for such a short time, but to each his own.
Christmas Cards
I used to be so diligent sending out Christmas cards, but then I started to resent them. They cost a fortune, they sucked up time I didn’t want to give and they just got tossed aside, so it felt wasteful. I no longer do them. I have way more fun Elfing myself and my family. The one thing about Christmas is you shouldn’t do anything you don’t enjoy. You’re missing the spirit of the season if it’s not bringing you and the ones you love great joy. So if cards are your thing, then mail them December 1st to allow for plenty of time. If you’re ready to give up the cards, check out ElfYourself.
Elf on the Shelf
The Elf on the Shelf has become wildly popular over the last couple of years. The premise is that your Elf moves in for the Christmas season and then reports back to Santa whether the behaviour is naughty or nice in your house. Every night he goes back to the North Pole while the children sleep and shows up in a new spot the next morning.
You can find tons of creative ideas for you elf on Pinterest. It is loads of fun but a little bit of a pain in the ass as well. I mean, pull the elf out too early and he loses his magical ability to illicit good behaviour with a “Oh, Oh, wonder what the elf will say tonight?” comment. Also, you start to forget to move him each night and then you resent the little guy. So I recommend you bring the elf out December 12th.
Music
Okay, in the privacy of your own home, turn it on whenever you want frankly. I wait until after Remembrance Day (see above) but if it’s going to make you happy, turn it on. That being said, stores should definitely avoid playing it until mid-November and the radio stations shouldn’t air a single one until the first of December.
Parties
Please wait until December to schedule your parties, but GIVE NOTICE in November. People book up fast in December so make sure you invite early or you may end up with nobody there.
Putting it Away
Admittedly, I start early—I’ve been known to tear it all down on Boxing Day. Typically though, I’m Christmas free by New Year’s Day. My parents, however, wait until the day after Old Christmas. The bottom line though is you shouldn’t be looking at it by Easter. 🙂
Bye-Bye Halloween
There are a few houses in our town that have their Christmas lights on already. And I too get upset when I see stores bringing out Christmas items early. What is the big rush? I think it would be respectful to wait until after Remembrance Day. That is how I was brought up as well.
Technically, Christmas is a season lasting 12 days 🙂 Decorations should stay up until Epiphany (Jan 6th)
Most people don’t now, probably because they start way too early, turning what should feel special & out of the ordinary into a marathon. But then I’m a purist – decorations / music should wait until at least Advent. Apple tree clinics started with the Christmas music two weeks ago. That is just ridiculous in my opinion!
ACK! Two weeks ago? Yeah, that’s crazy.
I love the feeling of Christmas, and look forward to prepping and singing and decorating. Start day for us though is December 1st for any decorations and carols. You’ve got to draw the line somewhere. Merry almost Christmas.
I don’t mind when anyone starts in their own home, but I do wish that for the outside people would at least wait until after Remembrance Day.
We start decorating/shopping/listening/baking at a different time each year BUT I LOVE tearing it all down December 27…always gives me a sense of de-cluttering….
I completely agree about tearing it all down. The house feels so organized afterwards 🙂
I’m one of the curmudgeons who think Christmas has become one big consumption marathon. It’s weird but my mom has always been Christmas-crazed and as a kid, I was too (duh. Presents!!!) but not anymore.
In terms of Christmas cards…I’ve always thought they were kinda silly. In the Pre-digital age, if you want to reach out to someone, place a phone call or write a letter. Nowadays, we are all in almost constant contact so they’re even more wasteful in my eyes.
All of that said, in your own home, do what you wish. Music, trees, lights, garland, boughs of holly…whatever makes you and your family happy.
I like the Elf on The Shelf. In my case, it will be a Ninja Elf on The Shelf which I made on my lathe cuz, I’m weird that way.
Now that I think of it, as a freshly re-singled guy, I need to get myself a tree and other decorations. It will make my girls happy and that’s good enough reason for me.
Well a)I don’t think you’re a curmudgeon and b)it’s a great season for a fresh start. My husband was a divorced guy when I met him. He had a sad tree with not a single ornament on it the first Christmas we were dating. For Christmas I gave him an ornament that said “Laugh often, love much”. It’s the first ornament on the tree every year now. Traditions can start at any time.
P.S. I like the Ninja Elf 🙂
I love Christmas but I wait till December 1st to start decorating. And I usually do it slowly. Mostly because I am a disorganized person 😉
Last week I was Halloween shopping at Walmart and they had Christmas Music playing. I was not impressed.
Oh, my “first” Christmas tree will have ornaments, this I promise you! In fact, I’m going to make a good number of them on my lathe. It’s a really nice style, that unfortunately is too labour intensive to make for sale. 🙂
My favourite holiday is Christmas, but for the love, wait until at least mid-November before blinging out.
At the same time, I’ve read one or two comments from veterans who say not to hold back on their account because they fought for our freedom to be able to celebrate Christmas. Here’s a compromise: wait until the Hallowe’en surplus candy sale is over before putting out the Christmas stuff?
Love your blog Candace! I agree that people should wait until after Remembrance Day to put up lights and decorations. I remember as a child we’d always wait until sometime in December, and our tree (which used to be a real one) wouldn’t go up until about a week before Christmas.
I’m so with you on the Christmas Cards (or greeting cards in general)! Every year I would stress over trying to get them out on time, and rarely did, so people would be receiving them after Christmas Day! With social media today, cards have really lost their reason meaning. We have used ‘Elf Yourself’ – that is so great and makes people laugh. And laughing is one thing we don’t seem to get enough of these days.
We also just got our ‘Elf on the Shelf’ last year – the kids love it! Our daughter was so sad when he left and has been asking when he will show up – which will be Dec 1st. He doesn’t get very creative at our house as the kids are just happy to get up each morning to seek him out.
I do need to take your advice about not doing those things that I do not enjoy. That however would include cooking Turkey dinner on Christmas Day! It’s so much work for just the 4 of us, and I always feel like I spend more time in the kitchen then I do helping the kids with their new toys, and checking out their new stuff. I am seriously considering delaying turkey dinner to Boxing Day this year so that I can fully enjoy Christmas day with my family. 🙂
I felt the same way about spending so much time preparing Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. It left little time to enjoy the children and all their toys. We decided to have a large Christmas dinner the weekend before Christmas, inviting all the family and having all the Christmas trimmings. On Christmas Day we celebrate with just ourselves and of course grandma and grandpa stop by in the morning. We open presents and afterwards we have a big hearty and festive breakfast. This leaves tons of time to enjoy the children playing and dad building the toys. Sometimes we don’t even get out of our pajamas all day!
I, myself don’t like to see any Christmas decorations or hear Christmas music in stores until Halloween is over. It just drives me crazy how stores try to push each holiday earlier and earlier each year. Likewise, Christmas decorations do not go up in the house until November. I like to start early in November because the season is so short. As for a tree, it is a real one for us every year, and it goes up either the first or second week of December and comes down after New Years. In regards to Christmas cards I used to hate doing them until I got the whole family involved, I no longer sign my kids names or my husbands, they have to do it themselves and if they want to add a note all the better.
This is so helpful. I know there are no hard-and-fast rules, but while I LOVE the Christmas season and want to enjoy it for as LONG as possible, I find that starting too early takes some of the magic out of it. I like the Remembrance Day idea!
As much as I respect these sentiments, I would dread a ban of Christmas lights before Remembrance Day. Many Indians hang up Christmas lights in October already to celebrate the festival of Diwali, the Hindu festival of light. I know Remembrance Day marks Canada’s contribution to war efforts but it might also be worth noting that the Indian Army that fought alongside the Allies in 1945 was entirely voluntary and comprised of 1.2 million people.
As much as I respect those who fought for our country, I don’t see why it’s doing any harm to enjoy the warm Christmas season before Remembrance Day. I think it’s fine if you don’t put your decorations up before this day, but honestly, it shouldn’t matter to you if other people do.
It’s too much work to enjoy the season for just a week or so. On November 1st, me and my family are decking the halls and singing carols. Who doesn’t love the warm feeling you’re filled with during Christmas time? Who doesn’t enjoy the cozy glow of Christmas lights, the sweet smell of fresh Christmas baking, the cozy decorations all over the house? I love Christmas time. I don’t care if you do, or when you put your decorations up, so you shouldn’t care when I do. Other people’s Christmas lights aren’t harming you in any way, and and it’s THEIR house anyways.
I totally agree with you. We just finished putting up our lights on our house last night… yes they are officially up.
For 2 reasons: 1) We live in Minnesota, and don’t have any desire to put them up when it’s freezing cold and snow is on the ground. And in this state, you just never know when that might be. (I believe in 1992 we had a blizzard on Halloween). 2) This is the first Christmas my husband and I are celebrating as a married couple and we are giddy decorating our first home together.
Now that they are up, they WON’T be turned on until after November 1st. We will probably have people look at us like we are crazy, but it was a LOT of work and I am going to enjoy them as long as possible this Christmas season.
I live in Ohio I start early July, right after the 4th with my music sequences, then the next step for me is the rooftop and eves, icicles go up on the 1st warmest day in November. Of course after all the decorations go up on the roof I then make my way to the garage to take everything out of boxes and assemble. I don’t put anything out in the yard until the day after Thanksgiving. Totally agree with the weather, there’s no way I’m gonna chance getting up on a ladder in the freezing cold or worse snow.
We use December 1st as our guideline for Christmas anything. Always wait until after Remembrance Day. Each has it’s own meaning and deserves respect. I detest going into the stores in September and they are ready for CHRISTMAS!!! Obviously, they don’t have an 8 year old squealing and begging for everything on the shelves….hmmm….I guess that’s their plan 😉
I decorate right after thanksgiving it’s never to early to be humble and Holly
I usually decorate two days after Thanksgiving
I decorate in November. I have a big home and everyone celebrates Christmas Eve at my house. We have a lot of people over Friends, Family, my Kids their kids, and Santa shows up with lots of presents. I go all out on the decorating and everyone says that is why they love coming to my house on Christmas eve. If I started right before Christmas I would never get the decorating done in time. I have 3 little boys who love looking at all the Christmas decorations. If you do not like looking at other peoples homes decorated then just don’t look. Its interesting how everyone always has an opinion and wants to complain about something. Christmas brings joy and warmth to everyone unless you are a scrooge. If you want to complain about something why not complain about all the crazy chaos that is going on in this world. Now that is something to get upset over.
You know what Patricia, you’re right. I wrote this in 2012 and compared to all the craziness Trump has brought into the world in 2017, it seems pretty trivial now. Heck, in August of 2017, I’m actually looking forward to Christmas decor.
Honestly, I don’t know why people are upset of Christmas decorations when it starts early! I LOVE Christmas (btw I’m not Christian!) but I really enjoy the warm of it and how cozy it feels when Christmas’s tree is up in my big house. I like to start after Halloween decorating my house. I don’t put anything outside until Nov. if I like it and my entire family like it then honestly I don’t care if my neighbors don’t ( they do like it ?)
I personally don’t like it because the original holiday is from the 24th of December to the 6th of Jan. Before that is Advent, a time of penance and longing. Seeing Christmas decor up long before then wrecks Advent, and just remind me how there really is a secular commercial Christmas and a religious liturgical Christmas. However, I’m happy for others’ enthusiasm, and I rarely pull a Grinch to tell them how I feel.
We are the same! <3
here in Australia, Holloween is NOT a big craze what so ever, and we obviously don’t celebrate remembrance day so personally i love having the christmas holiday early!! again like the comment above me I just love the vibe of christmas and dont see putting up decorations to be a big deal because if anything…its a gift to myself ahaahha
a gift as in it brings a lot of holiday magic all around me :)))
I put up the tree Christmas Eve and take it down the Sunday after Epiphany (January 6th), so it’s definitely worth it if you celebrate a Christmas according to the Catholic Liturgical Year.
Christmas is such a joyful time, I think if you put alot of work into decorating why not enjoy it for awhile???I put alot up oustide so i get a headstart while it is warm and comfortable outside we dont light it up until first week of Novemeber?Enjoy the Magical Holidays♥️
I think that it’s great that people start early, I think what it is, is that they enjoy the Christmas Season, people seem more joyful, happier, it reminds people of time shared together. I don’t see anything wrong with wanting to bring it about early and celebrate it as much as possible. We decorate right after Halloween for Christmas, and Spend Thanksgiving decorating the Christmas Tree. There is just a magical spirit with Christmas that people enjoy. We don’t take away from Thanksgiving, we just celebrate the time of year from Nov. 1st til the 2nd week of January.
Psh. Costco is aloud to sell, and show Christmas decorations in July. I’m sure if they were selling halloween decorations in July you wouldn’t mind. Well I decorate for Christmas a week before halloween and I don’t care, nor am I ashamed! And who the hell puts down Christmas decorations basically the day after. This articale was shit, can’t believe I read a load of crap. Well anyone who see’s this comment, and loves Christmas as much as I do, then decorate before halloween or the day after, and hell do not be ashamed be proud you have true Christmas joy and spirit inside you. Christmas is one of the best holidays of the year, so enjoy while you can!
I love the feeling of Christmas. I’m starting my decorating today in fact. It’s such a short season so why not enjoy it for as long as possible? To each his own. I say do what makes you joyful!!
Lol I guess I’m the odd ball here as my male cat loves Christmas and the tree n lights ….he also loves his “pumpkin king” cat collar and thinks he’s “jack the pumpkin king “? so in my home … We have a mix as Halloween and Christmas are both my favorites as well , I have a tree up all year round for us to enjoy with jack ornaments on it ,Santa’s white lights for my cat . I certainly tho don’t decorate the outside of my home until after Thanksgiving and take it down new years day ?
I also get annoyed when people start in September, but I’d say the PERFECT time to start is RIGHT after Thanksgiving. Once you’re finished with your lovely Thanksgiving dinner, is the best time to start!
I say the more early you can enjoy your Christmas decoration de better so I decorate for Halloween day cause I do not like Halloween and I put everything away the 27 of december cause once the gift I open to me Christmas is done so may as well back everything up…. This way we had enough time to enjoy everything…. And for people like me who we enjoy Christmas it is NEVER TO EARLY…. Why go freeze outside to put up your Christmas decoration winter is very cold in Canada and alot of snow if you wait to late you might have a hard time putting everyting up cause too much snow. 😉
In Greece we don’t have Halloween or Thanksgiving. That means Christmas is the only “special season” on the September-December period. As a result. most people start celebrating and decorating from mid to late November. The most conservate people, however, starts only from the 2nd week of December!
Hi im in the uk .I’ve just started putting up my Christmas decorations today .I also have a table dedicated to remembrance day .
Even if my home is starting to look like santas grotto my respect is still there for the fallen and it always will be .
I decorate early as it takes me so long if I did it in December I wouldn’t have time to enjoy it .
Great blog and comments! It appears most of us are on the same page….wait until November twelfth then go nuts…..slowly or all at once! Being a widower for the first time this year, I promised my Wife that I’d continue on with our traditions…. start decorating after November 11…. start gradually with a few ornaments every day or so, until all that is left is the tree and the decorations that I put on it. We loved coloured lights all around our house or apartment, and white lights on the tree. My Wife also collected model churches and she asked me to continue her collection, so I’ll be adding a church each year I may cheat a little, though, and put the tree up asap after Remembrance Day. We are people of faith, so the reason for the season is of much importance…..so the Nativity Scene collection comes out early too. To everyone who will be celebrating a different Christmas this year, due to the pandemic, have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a shine one too!
Blessings and thanks for this space!!!
i love CHRISTMAS it is the best i love it is my favorite out of all of the holidays merry CHRISTMAS
I believe people have different needs of decorating for Christmas depending on their tolerance to the cold outside or up in the attic to find decorations. Heaven knows we need our spirits lifted as long as possible.