When do you start celebrating/decorating for the winter holidays?

[Ravenkitty22]

I had a debate with my friends about this recently and where I’m from, I’m in the minority, so I wanted to see where TBT stands! For “winter holidays” I’m trying to be inclusive as possible, but I’m talking about any big holidays that take place in December/early January, like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa for example.

If you saw my post in the “Place Your Random Thoughts” thread, as soon as Santa crosses the finish line at the Macy’s parade, I start the celebration in my head and update online profiles. I usually wait until the day after Thanksgiving to be public about it, though.

 

[Corrie]

I start decorating end of November. I find that if I start sooner, the thrill kinda wears off, you know? That said, I'm normally thinking about gifts and what to buy people as soon as summer ends lol.

 

[Croconaw]

I don’t celebrate any winter holidays. It’s the same as any other day for me. Even for my birthday, which is also in winter, I don’t feel any different. I’d rather not draw attention to myself on my birthday. On the contrary, I feel more anxiety and stressed during holidays. It makes me feel lonely, I guess. Everyone is out doing things and celebrating, and I’d just not have anywhere to go. I’m glad Thanksgiving is over, to be honest.

 

[Imbri]

Growing up, we put our tree/decorations one week before Christmas, and they came down on New Year's Day. I followed that, as an adult, though I don't do a tree anymore. I celebrate the solstice and my family celebrates Christmas, so we get roughly 10 days, which is plenty.

I do begin looking for gifts for family and friends once fall rolls around, simply because you never know when something might come across your path and also because it's easier than coming up with a pile of things all at once.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

well "when do (I) start decorating" and "when it is appropriate to start decorating" are two very different questions. I personally start right after Thanksgiving ends (I'm actually planning on putting up our Christmas tree this weekend!) but if someone else wants to set up their tree right after Halloween then go right ahead! that's actually what my neighbor did lol.

 

[Alienfish]

Mom usually does late November, we do not celebrate Thanksgiving so as of now she started a bit early cause she works. As long as you don't do it in September like some stores do I don't mind lol.

 

[Kitsuragi]

I don't do the whole "wait until after thanksgiving!" thing because I don't do anything for thanksgiving but eat. I also decorate for halloween in september, sooo.

As soon as halloween is over, it's hanukkah & christmas time for me.

 

[Ravenkitty22]

well "when do (I) start decorating" and "when it is appropriate to start decorating" are two very different questions.

Yeah, I’m just realizing now this can cause some confusion. I was just trying to figure out what to call the poll without copy + pasting the title and still meaning the same thing. Oh well

 

[.: Meri :.]

I'll generally wait until at least December 1st—if I start earlier, I'll lose the spirit before the holidays are over. I'm not too big on Thanksgiving as a holiday, but I like to just think of November as the autumny month in-between spooky season and the holiday season. Of course, sometimes I'll carry over a little bit of Halloween celebrations into November, or start thinking about Christmas plans, but I try to hold back on going all-out until the end of the month just so I won't get tired of it early.

 

[Chris]

I consider anytime before December 1st too early.

One of my neighbours has had their house and garden decked out for Christmas since the day after Halloween. It baffles me.

 

[LittleMissPanda]

We like doing it around Thanksgiving time, as late into November as possible. If not, early December works too. This year we were able to put up the Christmas tree and decorations around the house just in time. We only ever celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, and even though the calendar says it's winter it only really feels like winter once the decor is up, from now until late January. I love seeing other houses aglow in outdoor holiday lights at night. Can't wait until it snows and I can see our backyard and neighborhood covered in white. Watching fresh snow falling from the sky and having blizzards really gets me into the holiday + winter spirit.

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

I just put up a little tree yesterday! I think as soon as Thanksgiving ends, it's fair game.

 

[Xara]

my family and i don’t celebrate/decorate as much as we used to, but when we do, it’s not until december 1st, or the last week of november at the earliest. i’m canadian, so the next major holiday after halloween for me is christmas. i’ve never felt festive immediately after halloween, though lol. it doesn’t truly feel like the holiday season until december 1st for me, plus i appreciate the break november gives me between holidays. i’m usually tuckered from all the excitement after halloween, so having a month to just relax is much needed haha.

my mom got started a bit early this year, though. she’s been bringing home decorations and enjoying christmas movies (right now she’s watching how the grinch stole christmas) the past couple weeks, and we even hung up the cat-proof light-up christmas tree vinyl poster she got from etsy today. but i don’t plan on really engaging in any festivities, or making my online profiles look festive, until thursday.

 

[Aniko]

When I was little and later, when I was old enough to be in charge of decorating, it was not before the last minute. I was decorating the Christmas tree in the evening of Dec 23rd or the night of the 24th, spent all the day of the 24th in stores, made food, started celebrating at midnight. I was basically not sleeping for two days. It was very tiresome but I didn't really have time sooner either because of school and/or work. My grandma was the same. I remember that when I was going to my grandma's house for Christmas, they were sending us to bed and there was no tree and they were waking us up at midnight and the tree had somehow magically appeared.

Now my mom is in charge of decorating again, after years of not being interested at all, she was the kind to complain all along with "Why are we doing this? It's useless ...blablaba" Lot of negativity. She since came back to her Christmaszilla self and enjoying it a bit too much. I think she would decorate on Oct 1st if we let her do. The family rule is NOT before Dec 1st. I personally don't care much but prefer when there is at least 10cm of snow, otherwise it looks weird to me (who saw snow for Christmas all my life). Also we have cats and I need to watch them all the time, they grew up a bit (as kitten they were always in the tree) but they are still interested in the decorations and make my mom scream once in a while. Yeah Not before Dec 1st.

 

[Elodie]

December 1st for me! I'm kind of old fashioned that way. I don't usually decorate except for at work (as I have a very visible workspace) but I start listening to holiday music around that time too. I wish I could find those wonderful smelling cinnamon pinecones outside of this time of year because I'd be using those all year round!

 

[oak]

My christmas tree is already up and my winter decorations have been up for about a week or two. Canadian thanksgiving happened last month so anytime in November seems fair game to me. It'll admit it might be a little early for some people but I always take my Christmas decorations down within the week after december 25th so I want to enjoy the ambiance for as long as possible.

 

[ali.di.magix]

When do I consider it okay? Probably from mid November onwards. However, for the last two years, I've helped my parents put Christmas lights up on Labour Day weekend which is around the 25th of October is that way too early? Absolutely in my opinion lol

 

[daisyflowers]

-

 

[Elodie]

we usually buy a christmas tree around early - mid december as opposed to late november or whenever. not got other winter decorations occuring besides a christmas hat on a horse (not alive)

This raises some questions lol

 

[LuchaSloth]

Usually put up house lights after Thanksgiving, and have a tree by December 1st. I really can't do any earlier than that.