Early Christmas decorations = working class

[FaLaLaLaLaaaar]

I know Mumsnet loves a class debate, so thought I’d share an argument I had with a friend last night.

She insists that only working class people put their Christmas decorations up in November, I insisted she’s a snob and class is more redundant these days so it’s a ridiculous argument.

So Vipers, I’ll ask the question as if it is coming from me to make it easier:

AIBU to think only working class people put their Christmas decorations up in November?

Yabu - No, don’t be such a snob, middle class people do too.

YANBU - Yes, it’s a working class thing.

I will be showing her the results of this.

@Legomania

I think MC people are more likely to have a real tree, and real trees look pretty sad after they've been up for 6 weeks!

This is 100% True. You want your real tree up just before the Xmas socialising starts and it needs to look perky!

I'm not sure it's a class issue. I don't know anyone who puts decorations up in November. I prefer as late as possible. DC and DH prefer earlier- around 10th. Often young children want them up early.

People can celebrate Christmas how they want. Deciding for people when they can put their trees up, what colour their lights should be, placement of bloody baubles etc is just bitchiness. Your friend is a bitch.

Also I don't like real Christmas trees. They snell horrible, and the mess once they start dying is a nightmare. Only made that mistake once. I declare no one can have a real tree as they are horrible, plus you're damaging the environment by cutting them down. Get a plastic one and reuse every year forever.

There are definitely more decorations up in the middle class area than the working class area round here!

I do agree with this statement tbh. Really posh people don’t go OTT or put things up early, just like they don’t go and get ridiculously lavish gifts. Working class feel like they have more to show whereas genuine posh people have nothing to prove. Come from someone who’s lived on both sides.

I think that anyone who thinks that class is redundant clearly doesn’t negatively feel the impact of their class on their lives. It’s certainly not redundant.

I think your friend is probably more right, putting decorations up earlier is more popular in working class areas. As are ostentatious decorations. You do see it more amongst instagrammers and ‘new money’ too.

I like mine up first weekend in December, because it’s a big effort to get them all up and I want them up for a good five weeks don’t come down until the sixth night. Especially the ones out side .

She sounds a bit like one of those women who are massive bellends judging everyone she thinks is beneath her...

A mooning Santa is always welcome.

@Cam22

It’s tacky because natural decor at Christmas is much more appealing. It really is that simple.

Admittedly it looks beautiful in a big country estate but it can

I think it's a tradition thing... not a class thing.

Traditionally trees should be put up at the start at advent - four Sundays before Christmas... This year that would be 28th November.

It could be argued that those whom have always had money have the longest standing traditions but I have (had - they have passed) working class family whom would disagree.

One of my earliest teen memories was being told that I could not play with the children who lived in the council houses opposite our field. It made me feel so sad, and I was so angry with my parents

For context, we lived in a mansion (no, seriously) and had 'staff' etc. I lived a very, very 'rich' life. I had everything money could buy but I was miserable.

I did not feel that my parents were on this planet. Their view of the world was nasty, judgemental, vindictive. And I never understood why there had to be this constant internal one-upmanship with people who probably had no desire to fit in as they were too busy trying to make ends meet!

I also remember not being able to go to my friend's house because their parents had got divorced..previously, I used to spend all my time with her. I mean, what the f*ck

Kindness costs nothing. Compassion costs nothing and manner don't cost a thing.

My siblings are exactly the same as my parents, so I chose to have nothing to do with them, either.

Of course, you can have money but, c'mon, you don't have to be mean/judgemental, do you?

It makes me want to cry

I live in a very middle class area. There are lots of decorations already up.

I put my tree on my birthday weekend, which is this weekend coming 😊

I live in an OK area. Lots of elderly people around here just don't bother. Most decorated houses appear in December though.

My own house is tasteful 🏡 with fairy lights around the front windows. Nothing in garden or on front of exterior walls / roof.

Each to their own I say 🎄😊

Our tree goes up Christmas Eve.

I'm working class, I get a real tree each year.
I'm absolutely dying to get one now but I'll be waiting another week until I get paid and so that the tree will definitely last until Christmas.

The only reason I buy real ones each year is partly because I can't afford a nice artificial one. I can't afford to scrape together £150-£200 for a decent tree that will last; so I spend £25 for a 6.5ft real tree instead.
That gives me 6-8 years of real trees for the same amount of money that I'd have spent on an artificial tree (and I'm guessing the artificial one would have needed replaced after 8 years anyway).

I don't think real or artificial is a "class" thing - it's completely personal preference.

I'm loving seeing all of the early Christmas decorations and sparkly lights where we live, it makes me smile on my drive home each night.

I haven't read the whole thread so sorry if this has been said before. It's probably very middle class to worry about the timing of one's Christmas decorating. Stereotypically, working and upper classes would just stick up the decs when they want and not give it much thought.

In my family we always used to wait until after my sibling's birthday in mid December before getting Christmassy. I'm sure many families have their own individual reasons for timings.

My tree went up yesterday. Delivered last week and pre-lit model requiring testing during 7 day complaint window. Normally I wait till mid December. All glass baubles, white lights, no topper widget and some wood nutcrackers and that's it. Blinds shut to shield my shame!

@GoodVibesHere

Sorry I meant there's truth in what she's saying. I think your friend is right.

I'm with GoodVibes

The people I know who put their decorations up super early appear to be lower income families, especiallywhere we live. One who we were friends with when our girls were small said her reason for putting the decorations up early was "If Christmas is going to make me broke I want to enjoy it for as long as possible". She generally spent far more than she could afford, whereas we are more frugal. I grew up in a house where decorations generally went up in mid December, (we never had a real tree). DH likes a real tree (although his family were poor) and their tree went up late but stayed up for longer (different country different tradition).
It would drive me daft to put the decorations up this early, they'd be dusty and tired well before Christmas. I do wonder how many of the lower income families who put their decorations up very early, take them down again before Christmas because they can't afford the electric bill to keep the lights on by then.

My tree goes up on Christmas Eve, decorated with white lights and small red or gold glass baubles. I'm staunchly working class but also incredibly lazy - I really can't be bothered to put it until the last minute.

I would agree with your friend based on where I live

@MistyElla

We chop our own at a local family-run place in the first week of December and it lasts until the first week of January. By the second or third weekend of December, all of the good ones have gone. The live ones at the garden centre have usually all been cut in November, regardless of when they’re sold, and whatever is left by Christmas Eve is looking a little sad. The chop-your-own places are usually closed on Christmas Eve. Where are the people putting up fresh live trees on Christmas Eve finding them (provided they don’t live on a massive estate with a Christmas tree forest)? Surely if you are putting it up that late, it’s fake?

The garden centre near us with a spruce plantation attached chops them on set dates across December. We ring first to see when they're cutting the Norway Spruce that weekand go along that afternoon.

You can order a tree for a set date and they'll chop it to order, you just have to tell them the height you want. That service is available up to December 23td

I am a working class person (barely even that we were on benefits most of my childhood) who married a solidly middle/upper middle class man (not landed gentry but rather comfortable)

From my experience, stoicism and self control (denying ones self of enjoyment) is incredibly prized by the middle classes. DH’s family are rarely enthused or visibly excited and everything is put off. I swear his family would have to have a stroke before seeking medical help, everything is minimised. Don’t get me started on Christmas, I’ve already heard ‘it’s not December yet’ about 50 times in the last few weeks and DH has barely forgiven me for purchasing an artificial tree this year…because we have 2 under 2 and I can’t be dealing with the mess!