I usually wait until the first week of Dec. When my girls were little it was usually mid-Nov (no other decorations, they would come out as and when throughout December).
This year I’ve put a tree up at home this weekend just gone, because I live between two homes and I didn’t want to have to do them both in one weekend. But it’s also because for me and my fiancé much of the joy is in anticipation, and we’re doing our Christmas menu and planning this week, so it felt appropriate to have it up. It’s all part of the Christmas hygge for me (and I’m actually Danish so I can say that without it being commercialised, advertising, lifestyle crap). Mind you it’s not actuallly decorated yet - it’s just a tree with lights. I’m going to dress it over the week, here and there when I have time.
This morning I’m sitting here in the dark with the tree lit up, having a quiet half an hour with a cup of tea before I leave for work. It’s soothing and calming and feel cosy and lovely and it won’t take away from the loneliness of Christmas at all.
Christmas represents a very happy, chilled, content and safe time for me, for various reasons to do with my childhood and upbringing, and tapping into that a week or two earlier than some might approve of works just fine for me,
We do a very low-key Christmas when it comes to the actual day, though, so it’s definitely not about commercialism, consumerism or frenetic holiday pressures.