Community Chat

[LindaSal]

I could never wait until Chrismtas eve to decorate the tree.  I'm too crazy about getting things done ahead of time plus I like to enjoy it for awhile.  I've always put it up and decorated it right after Thanksgiving.  My parents did the same as they both worked opposite shifts so they would get the tree up and the lights done and us kids would do the ornaments. 

 I have also noticed this on some recent Christmas movies @mormel20 .

[on the bay]

@jackthebear,

That s so interesting to know. It must be extra magical to wake up Christmas morning and see the surprise of the tree!

I however just could not wait this year. Everyone was sick in November and we couldn't be together on Thanksgiving so way early in November I just couldn't wait and put up all Christmas decorations. Because as always, I thought, "we need a little Christmas!"

[FLtricia]

As a child in New York, we decorated the tree on Christmas eve.  It would stay up until "Little Christmas", January 7.

When I raised my children I would decorate in the middle of December and leave it up until January 2.

Now I decorate the day after Thanksgiving, and celebrate New Year by taking it down.  I have many venues in my home, so I slowly day by day put the holiday away.

Merry Christmas!

[jackthebear]

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@songbird wrote:

Don't celebrate, but most of my neighbors seem to put up their trees shortly after Thanksgiving.  Lights outside too.  Some are little too much but they look nice at night.  Most trees  seem artificial too.  I bet those that use real trees wouldn't put up so early.

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that is true a real tree wouldn't make a month in the house

as a kid, the tree went up Christmas Eve and came down on Twelfth Night 

[mormel20]

This is interesting.  I have always heard it was bad luck to keep the Christmas Tree up past New Year's Day.  Has anyone else ever heard the bad luck thing? 

[Starpolisher]

Growing up we always decorated the tree on Christmas Eve. That's when my dad went and got it. It was cheaper to buy then. Dh and I did the same before we had our sons. Once they came and I started hosting the family dinner( his family and mine, 20+ people)so ds' could be at home with their toys, I was too busy to continue that tradition. We usually start decorating the tree and putting up Christmas decorations two weeks before Christmas.  The day after Thanksgiving is just too early for me! My son has two young daughters. They get the tree early but decorate it on Christmas Eve. It stays up until January 7th, as we celebrate Three Kings Day. They come here or his MIL's for dinner so they don't have to worry about the cooking and cleaning and all that goes along with hosting dinner!😅

[Neetgal2]

Growing up in a family of two children, the tree came in the house on Christmas Eve. My Mom made a big dinner for us, her Mom and her aunt and uncle.  I believe my other grandparents also came.  My one grandmom was visiting for a week so my parents were "free" to run around the neighborhood!  We were always told Santa finished the tree, I do remember my Dad putting lights on it.  In later years I picked up on stories of assembling train sets and other hang ups!  Such as tree stands breaking at someone's house or lost keys and toys in a trunk.  When we woke up on Christmas morning everything was just absolutely perfect.  All toys arranged around a beautiful Christmas tree.  We did our thing in the morning and in the afternoon would visit neighborhood families.  Later than night went after dinner to visit more relatives.  Not sure where we ate Christmas night dinner, either my Mom cooked or my Greataunt.

I do remember I was in high school and we still had a real tree, it was only put up a day or two before.🎄🎅🏻

[tessam]

As a child we always devorated our tree on Christmas Eve.  Then when I had my own family, we typically followed suit particularly when my kids were scattered away at college.  We waited for everyone to get home.  

[ciao_bella]

Growing up it was fairly routine to put up a Christmas tree either on Christmas Eve or shortly before that date.  I suppose, it had a lot to do with fresh trees mostly being used at that time and getting the time frame needed for it to stay as fresh as possible.  When the 'aluminum' tree came to be in the late 50s, 60s & 70s, it became more convenient to put up a tree earlier without any freshness issues. 

Today, things seemed to have reversed from years ago.  Fewer and fewer fresh trees are being offered, as more people have artificial trees for many reasons, including and most importantly;  safety, followed by convenience, and the ability to enjoy it for a much longer time.   

[Snowpuppy]

I seem to decorate later each year  because DS now wants to "help"  with decorating and cooking so now I wait. Until like today when he gets here. 🙄

I babysat for a family as a teen and yes, Santa brought the tree and gifts Christmas Eve.