Christmas at Christmas time

[Skelligsfeathers]

I was reading a James Herriot book and he was talking about his first Christmas in Yorkshire and how different it was to Christmas in his native Glasgow.

The line that really struck me was something like " children started singing carols a FULL 2 WEEKS BEFORE Christmas!"
He was incredulous that they started esrly, that twinkling lights started appearing on the hillsides etc and it all sounded wonderful.

I really really want Christmas to be like that now.
There are trees up in houses all over the place and my neighbours have an inflatable santa in their garden and it's not even advent yet.
It takes away all the sense of anticipation and magic and makes it all really stressful!
Plus all the new bits....December's 1st boxes, Christmas eve boxes, santa breakfasts etcetc
It is all too much!

We celebrate Sinterklaas on Dec 6th, but general Christmas decorations don't go up until later in December. It used to be Christmas Eve but that was too busy! Down on 12th night.

We also celebrate solstice a few days before Christmas. Nothing elaborate just a seasonal meal and lanterns and a walk. Or just candles and a meal more lately!

Mine went up last weekend because I love Christmas. I'm also a primary teacher so I'm used to starting the Christmas rehearsals mid November! Watched a Christmas film with the celebrations tub last night too. I don't see how it's anyone's business what I do.

Each to their (grinchy) own 🤷‍♀️

🤣

Advent means nothing to me. I like the lights and the cosy feeling. (And we don’t all have children of school age who need ferrying around any longer)

Unlike many on here, when I was a child we used to put the tree up to coincide with the start of advent, which is what we'll be doing this year. We never bothered with the 12th night thing as my parents needed it away before they started back at work.

Same here. My colleagues gasped today when I said our tree was going up on 12th December! One actually snorted and asked if it was even worth doing it “that late”!

You'd all hate DP and me. We are shit at Christmas. No tree, no decorations. In fact, I always forget it's happening until about the week before when I do my Xmas shopping.

Go for it!!

Surely different people get joy out of different parts of Christmas? For me, I’ve always loved the run up to it, the anticipation and looking forward to it is a big part of it for me. So we put the decorations up at the start of the December because it gets me excited, we have nice little traditions in December. It might not be the same for you, and that’s fine. But I’m always surprised on MN by peoples genuine inability to see things from different perspectives. I would never say, well this is what I like, so everyone should do it like me.

For many (younger?) people December is the 'festive season' and it seems to stop by Boxing Day or soon after

Yes, this is me (though not that young!). I love Christmas time throughout all of December. We're putting our tree up this weekend! But if my husband would let me put it away on boxing day I would - it's over by then.

If a few extra weeks of sparkle and excitement makes people feel happy at a time of unrelenting grimness, then what harm does it do you?

Sonif somebody had put their Christmas tree and herd of illuminated garden reindeer and roof sleigh up in mid-October, to counteract the ‘unrelenting grimness’ of the ill-fated mini-budget, you wouldn’t have found it a bit, you know, odd? Or likely to detract from the magic of Christmas?

Who said mid October, apart from you?

Perhaps you remember a shorter 2 week decoration period “when you were young”
so fondly because you WERE young and had none of the responsibility or toil associated with christmas?

I’ll admit it - I’ve started decorating - big tree will go up next week - for two reasons really I like a clean, tidy “christmas house” so that I can enjoy all the parties and events during December some of which I host (so spreading out the workload)

Secondly we love Christmas and I decorate four Christmas trees plus outside lights - it takes a few days of effort and over the years has cost a bomb - why wouldn’t I want to enjoy it for longer?

It would not detract from the Christmas magic for me at all. Why would it?

Whilst I am OK with starting on Advent Sunday with decorations, I am with the OP about all the extra bits such as Christmas Eve boxes. Even more so with the extending of other events at various times of the year, things such as hot cross buns being available in January, or 'Valentine's weekend'.

@balalake I think hot cross buns are available all year round now!

The PP said, paraphrased, what does it matter if people put their decorations up early, what’s it to you, it’s a way of dealing with grimness.

I’m asking how many months that view holds true for. How about July? Does the principle of ‘it doesn’t matter how early someone puts their decorations up, what’s it to you’ still apply then?

I've seen on some groups trees up in October
I'm having sweats because we've looked at our schedule and our tree either goes up tomorrow or 17th Dec which Is too late. I cant bring myself to put a tree up in November

Really? Who cares?

my tree is going up today but because you don’t live with me it really has less than nothing to do with you, I honestly could not care any less that it might annoy anyone else. And if my tree goes up in October then it still has less than nothing to do with you.

In the 80s our tree went up Dec1st as did everyone in the street. Same as now really.

Somebody on here posted the link to English Heritage's call for starting later and finishing later and I've adopted it. Basically, I'm not starting much until the weekend before Christmas, and I'm keeping it all going until Candlemas on Feb 2nd. Gloomy January will be full trees and lights. No new year resolutions because it's still Christmas. It follows the more pre-christian or pagan tradition. I like that, and I'm going to do it that way this year. None of that taking down the tree by the 6th of Jan. Last thing I want is a bare house in the coldest month.

www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/search-news/leave-your-decorations-up/?utm_source=awin&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Affiliate&awc=5928_1666929514_65ab60c2cbba6be341c9944dc181767d

My tree's been up since Nov 15th. :-)
(Kids inspired but I'm fine with it.)
Am SO looking forwards to my first Christingle for about 5 yrs, with a house move, pandemic etc spoiling it. I've no tinies to take, but love seeing everyone else's. :-)
#Excited..

Yes, who cares. People can put them up January 1st if they want. Honestly who cares what other people do. If it makes them happy then good!

Touched a nerve there, I see.

Did you notice that I haven’t expressed a view on this yet? But don’t let that stop you lashing out.