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Original poster

Is it just me or are people putting up the Christmas tree earlier and earlier?

172 replies

ohbloodyhel · 08/11/2023 20:30

Three people in our street have theirs up already
It's the 8th of November
Has anyone noticed it's getting earlier and earlier ?

OP posts:
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10
Dillane · 09/11/2023 07:51

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 09/11/2023 07:29

We saw a house with full decs up.
We thought it was ridiculous to be up so early. Kind of makes me think the people doing it are just a bit stupid. It doesn't spread joy it just makes them look ridiculous

Well you’re a delight 🙄

StoleABibleAndShaggedThePriest · 09/11/2023 07:57

The vast majority still seem to put their trees and decorations up in December, but yes, I’ve noticed a few doing it around now in the last few years. I think it started with covid.

It’s harmless, if it makes them happy, great.

OrlandointheWilderness · 09/11/2023 08:34

I don't put mine up until the second week of Dec but tbh we have a real tree and it'd be bare if we did it now!!
BUT - if it gives people joy then I have absolutely no issue with it.

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Events & celebrations
Whatintheworldgirl · 09/11/2023 08:48

SweetBirdsong · 08/11/2023 23:59

@Whatintheworldgirl your tree is lovely, but it's the 8th of November. Confused Christmas is almost 7 weeks away. I would be sick of the sight of the tree by then. Do you have all your decorations up too?

No just the tree. I'm trying to teach myself and my children that Christmas is an exciting time, not just for presents. As an adult I stress about money and getting the right gifts, allowing us to have the tree up and listen to Christmas music gets us all jolly. Think that's needed with all the stress this season can bring :) thank you for saying you like the tree!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 09/11/2023 09:13

It’s not you. And then they’re taking them down on Boxing Day, sick of the sight of them by then.

Our (real) tree never goes up until around mid December - maybe a bit earlier if we have guests - and stays up until 6th January.

Personally I don’t care what other people do - I quite like seeing other people’s trees lit up in their front windows - but no way could I clear all the decorations so soon - especially not in order to do a ‘deep clean’ on Boxing Day! I do wonder why ‘deep cleaning’ is such a thing on MN - it’s a term that used to be reserved for the likes of operating theatres.

Presumably they mean a ‘thorough’ clean, but I suppose ‘deep’ is quicker to type, not to mention easier to spell.

EmmaDilemma5 · 09/11/2023 09:19

Does it really matter? Im confused as to how it affects anyone else?

flaxentoad · 09/11/2023 09:22

Ours goes up 1st December. A bit early for my tastes, but DH likes it.

I would absolutely put my foot down at November though.

I'd be so sick of it by Xmas.

flaxentoad · 09/11/2023 09:23

I suppose for me, Xmas is about novelty - house decorated, special food, chocs I wouldn't normally buy myself, lazing about etc. If I did it for two months, it would cease to feel like a treat. For me, anyway.

x2boys · 09/11/2023 09:26

People can do.as they please
But I don't understand the mindset of putting their decorations up in November and taking them down on Boxing day declaring Xmas over ,each to.their own though

Potofteaplease · 09/11/2023 09:28

Crikeyalmighty · 08/11/2023 21:34

When we lived in Copenhagen many people had them up from 1st dec to mid February!!! Street Xmas lights too were up most of Jan and feb

Yes I think 12th night is an Anglo Saxon pagan belief… lots of European countries celebrate the Christmas period until Candlemas ( I think) which is mid February!
I put mine up on around the 18th December and take it down the first weekend after the 6 th January

Silkiefloof · 09/11/2023 09:33

Just a little one for Floof up last night. He has already taken robin decorations off his new cat toy and is non stop purring by it. DH was 🤔 but has been influenced by the cat and taking cat with tree videos.

Is it just me or are people putting up the Christmas tree earlier and earlier?
CoffeeWithCheese · 09/11/2023 09:36

RamblingRosiePosy · 08/11/2023 21:49

The early dark winter nights can be a trigger for some people suffering from low mood, a few twinkle lights and decorations can make all the difference and remind them there is actually something to look forward to.

One of our neighbours put their lights up just when Storm Babet hit - she said she felt so miserable and down with the weather (before the street flooded to add to the misery) that she'd thought "fuck it" and put the stuff up!

Made it easier when she was explaining to others which house was hers as we were all gathered watching the water advance!

I'm an early putter upper - I'll take whatever joy I can get to get through the miserable trudge that is November. DH has vetoed me putting it up this weekend though as the lights tend to interfere a bit with the Wifi router.

Potofteaplease · 09/11/2023 09:43

fourelementary · 08/11/2023 22:25

I think it’s just another example of the instant gratification that people want and their inability to just wait… people move from one thing to the next- we want info- we go online, we fancy some kind of food we order it to be delivered right away… we want to watch a film- we stream it. It’s the modern way now and people don’t learn to delay gratification any more. Which is a bad thing really as there are many studies showing clear links with that ability and future success.
Attention spans are shorter and shorter. Little Kids in the 90s could watch an episode of something for 20-30 minutes from toddler age. The original teletubbies was around 25 mins. Now kids are lucky to watch 2-3 minutes on YouTube before flicking to the next thing. And we wonder why ADHD rates are rocketing?! Now it’s “oh Halloween is over, we can’t wait for the next thing so let’s just get Xmas stuff out now” then 5 minutes after Xmas, “I’m fed up let’s take it all down again” 🤦🏻‍♀️

There’s a lot to be said of the ability to wait for things and indeed the joy of anticipation. Then after Christmas Day, there’s a certain magic in savouring those memories. In some ways that’s what the period between 26-31 is all about… reflection of the hopefully happy get togethers over Christmas and that sense of warmth and festivity. It’s an absolute travesty to think Christmas is over before January

flaxentoad · 09/11/2023 09:45

Silkiefloof · 09/11/2023 09:33

Just a little one for Floof up last night. He has already taken robin decorations off his new cat toy and is non stop purring by it. DH was 🤔 but has been influenced by the cat and taking cat with tree videos.

Ah well, see, that's different.

Cats must be obeyed. 😂

Puffypuffin · 09/11/2023 09:47

Yes but it's not for me. Ours goes up 12 days before.

Life is hard for many people but for most people, a room full of decorations don't magically make things better. People don't want to wait for anything anymore.

Having said that, if it makes someone happy, then that's up to them.

KnowYouAreLoved · 09/11/2023 09:50

I know it doesn't affect me, and I know each to their own, but honestly I hate it and do think the people doing it are a bit bonkers.

It's the concept of time rushing by faster and faster, the absolute inability to wait for things. It sets me on edge.

flaxentoad · 09/11/2023 09:53

😆

Is it just me or are people putting up the Christmas tree earlier and earlier?
Wannabegreenfingers · 09/11/2023 09:56

If it makes people happy, let them get on with it. I get irrationally annoyed by those that take it down on boxing day.

erandge · 09/11/2023 09:57

I put my tree up as late as possible, it's a nuisance because it only goes in the alcove where the dining table lives, so the table is vacated to the kitchen where it's just about squeezed in for me to dance and huddle around while trying to cook Xmas dinner.
I can't wait to put it back (on Boxing Day)

flaxentoad · 09/11/2023 10:00

erandge · 09/11/2023 09:57

I put my tree up as late as possible, it's a nuisance because it only goes in the alcove where the dining table lives, so the table is vacated to the kitchen where it's just about squeezed in for me to dance and huddle around while trying to cook Xmas dinner.
I can't wait to put it back (on Boxing Day)

Oh wow, that reminds me we're going to have problems this year, as I got a new side table that is longer than before for the living room, so we'll have to put one of our occasional chairs somewhere else. Our living room is THAT small!

IncompleteSenten · 09/11/2023 10:20

I haven't personally noticed any change but I expect it's happening because life is pretty shit for a lot of people and they want to feel a bit cheery. I don't suppose how other people view them matters more than cheering themselves up.

Ours always go up on the first weekend in december. It's a pretty gloomy time of year and making my living room look like all of Santa's elves threw up in there makes me happy.

I can't muster up an eighth of a fuck about how randoms might view me for it. Fuck em. I like the lights. 😂

bippityboppity87 · 09/11/2023 10:50

My DC went in full on tantrum mode because I refuse to put the Christmas tree up yet. He's only 7, but I think it's way too early. The 1st will be the earliest I will put my decorations up

flaxentoad · 09/11/2023 11:01

making my living room look like all of Santa's elves threw up in there makes me happy.

😂

Crikeyalmighty · 09/11/2023 11:04

I usually do on my birthday - 14th dec

Sartre · 09/11/2023 11:48

We get a real tree so it can’t be any earlier than early December because it wouldn’t be in a good state by the end of December at all. We’re not bothering with a tree at all this year which will be weird, we’re going away for Christmas so seems pointless. Will be putting the fairy lights and fireplace decorations up still but that won’t be until early December like usual…

I’d be sick of them by the end of the month if I did it in November. We had Halloween decorations up for the majority of October and I was happy to take those down last week. DD asked if we could put Christmas decor up as I was taking the Halloween stuff down but that was a flat no!