To think my neighbours win a prize for being the first people to

I walked past that yesterday and it was quite bizarre. My young son (young enough to not have a full grasp on the calender) was very excited but we did guess it must be filming or publicity photos. Thank you for confirming it!

Maybe they make Christmas decorations for Etsy or craft fairs and they're taking marketing pics.

Maybe someone in the family is very unwell and so they're bringing Xmas forward?

I'm a postie and I delivered a Christmas card this week! And yes it was for this coming Christmas as the person had wrote 'don't open till dec 2024 on it'

Because until the sunshine yesterday afternoon it's felt like it's been November.

Ours is up towards the middle of December and generally down just after the NY. Our house is too small and it gets in the way, nice that it is.

Up the week before, down the day after boxing day.

I live in the Philippines - Christmas starts on Sunday (1-September)

I always think there must be something lacking in people's lives if they can't just enjoy September/October/November for what they are instead of squealing and squeaking about Christmas for a third of the year

Urgh me too. I like Christmas but surely the entire month of Dec is enough? we haven't even had Halloween or bonfire night yet FGS

We have an Etsy shop and just put our Christmas stock up. We did it November last year and hardly sold any as it was too late. People plan, even if they don't buy, as soon as schools are back.

Decorating now seems odd, but you don't know their reasons.

I volunteer in a charity shop and there was lots of chat on the WhatsApp group last night about how we are getting a Christmas card delivery on Monday and how ridiculously early that is, and how we're not putting them out until November.

I always think there must be something lacking in people's lives if they can't just enjoy September/October/November for what they are instead of squealing and squeaking about Christmas for a third of the year.

Your DM was correct - Christmas Eve to 6th January is Christmas. We never put decorations up before about the 22nd December when I was child. I still don't put any up until mid-month. Don't understand the 'put the decs up in November, rip them down on Boxing Day' brigade, when Christmas doesn't actually start until 24th December.

Anyway. Would love to know the thinking behind the OP's neighbour's decision!

Could they be doing a photo shoot for their Xmas cards?

My parents are one of the last people putting up their tree and decs - including Asian families that don't celebrate Christmas but love the decs etc and have certain Xmas food. I know one of the families adores mince pies and Xmas puddings. My parents put theirs up a week before Xmas.

They may be expecting someone that could not make it at Christmas for some reason? And they will do the whole exchange of presents, pictures, cards, dinner...
It has to be something like this. There is no other possible explanation.
Like ready for this Christmas coming, no.. it is far far far too early!

This would be my first thought if a neighbour put their tree up this early out of the blue - (ie not their usual behaviour this time of year) that there’s a family member who might not be able to celebrate at Xmas due to serious illness.

My late DM frowned on putting decorations up before Christmas Eve! And they came down on January 6th.

Its only recently that people have different themed wreaths on their front doors throughout the year, not just Christmas. When I first saw these I was thinking Christmas in September

There is a family down my road that do different ones. She had a Coronation one last May with crowns, union jacks on it. Then Easter, Halloween, Olympics/Paralympics one that is on the front door.

Think the lady of the house makes them.

In the Southern hemisphere we sometimes do a ‘mid winter Christmas’ so we can enjoy - full on Christmas meal that’s not in the sweltering heat of summer - perhaps they are from NZ or Australia and are doing it the other way around and are having a mid summer Christmas to remind them of home ? 😅🤣 Because otherwise it’s bonkers .

They might have something going on that warrants them having to celebrate Christmas early this year. Is anyone in the household seriously ill?

I read that Bromley Council in SE London put up a large decorated Christmas tree in their high street yesterday. Alas it's only a prop for some filming that is being done and will be removed again. I bet the residents found that perplexing in the 23 degree sunshine.

Dd has a mid August birthday.
Summer party in the garden planned, water pistols, paddling pools, bbq, etc

Woke up to grey skies and torrential rain.
Quite the opposite of summer.

So, a rethink was needed

Quick text to guests parents, up into the loft and got the decs down, and it became a full on xmas party instead!

I have heard people stick up their tree and decs mid Nov and complain by early Dec that they are sick of the sight of it

The tree and decs are all taken down on BD.

If you feel like this, why do these people put up their tree up that early?