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.

[MintJulia]

We have a real tree so it can't come inside too early. We'll decorate it on Dec 11th.

Apart from that, I don't have time to put decorations up until work starts to ease off a bit.

Anyway, define working class. Most of us work. Don't know anyone living of a trust fund. Some Pensioners I suppose.

[Ghoulette]

Because it's no longer Fair days work for fair days pay, it's fair days work for low pay, no opportunities and getting shafted by management at every opportunity!

Just to clarify on this point, thats not my saying working class is a bad thing, I don't think that all. But rich business owners will sooner fuck over the working classes and look down upon them as dogsbodies than they would the middle or upper classes. Working classes are seen as desperate for income (which they are because of shitty pay) and expendible.

Thankfully, a huge amount of the working class are pushing back because we all got so royally fucked over during the pandemic while being told we were Oh So Essential. Now everyone is scratching their heads wondering why we are so short on cleaners, band 2 NHS, retail staf and those that work in restaurants. Pay the working class that "Fair Wage" and we might want to actually work.

It's no wonder we want to stick a tree up a couple of weeks early if it injects an iota of actual joy into our lives.

[KeyboardWorriers]

I'm deeply boringly middle class.

Our decorations and (real) tree always went up late and that was normal in our family.

However, Ds is allergic to real trees (he has lots of allergies), so we have a fake one. I also really love Christmas. So ours will go up at the start of December and so will all our lights. I really don't care what people think about me though, I don't let worries over what class people might think I am influence my decisions. But that is probably a sign of how boringly solidly middle class I am in its own way. I think people who are far more recently middle class can be more focussed on these signifiers

[KeyboardWorriers]

And when it comes to outside lights, my children do a cheer every time they see a house lit up, it brightens up a gloomy winter evening and I welcome them going up early!

[AntiCornLawLeague]

I don't associate this with class at all.

However, my family member is a foul person and has hers up early...but the two probably aren't linked

[THisbackwithavengeance]

I'm gutted to hear that ostentatious lights outside your house are "common".

I had always promised my kids that one day we would have a big, flashing light display with climbing Santas and piped Carols like American houses you see on films. Eldest is nearly 18 and it has yet to happen. I can always console myself that our crappy tree, paltry lights and general Bah Humbug attitude is middle class...

[x2boys]

I live on a council estate there are quite a few people who put their decorations up in November ,I don't I usually put mine up mid December ,what I don't understand is people who have their Decorations up in mid November,but tear them all down on boxing Day odd imo

[Naughtynovembertree]

I have think it's very uncouth to comment on people's decorations being early in a personal way.
We don't know why they are doing it, it's very sensitive topic really.
Personally I find it hard to keep the Xmas specialality going even when we put the Dec's up two weeks before so for that reason with dc I wouldn't do it sooner.
However, I have on occasion kept them up till valentines day.
I keep the outside Dec's going as well when it's cold.
I wouldn't talk in terms of class really more of manners and I suggest it's bad manners to comment.

[CaptaNoctem]

Yes very much so - drive through the middle class areas of town around here and the decorations won't go up til well into December.

The more working class areas are already ablaze by the 1st December. They also tend to take the decorations down well before the traditional 12th Night as they are sick of them by the time Christmas actually arrives. The piles of discarded Xmas trees on Boxing Day bears witness.

There are of course exceptions

[upinaballoon]

Migraine sufferers might have opinions about zillions of flashing lights.

I know a house which usually has a display of very tasteful white static lights. I don't know whether the folk are WC or MC but their lights are definitely 'classy'.

It's such a sad trespass against the beauty of the autumn days to start the Christmas decorations too soon.
It's such a trespass against Christmas to prepare for it and celebrate it to death in Nov and Dec and then throw it out at about 4 p.m. on 25th Dec.

[Penel0pePitstop]

I side more with your friend. Would invoice this in real life? No

[Slashbackblazer]

Surely it depends on whether your Christmas tree is real or imitation?

We want ours to last through NY, so it only goes up on the 19th or 20th.

[TheKeatingFive]

I reckon your friend is right, but object to the idea that this is a bad thing. In my experience, w/c christmases are a lot more fun than m/c ones.

[Mandarinsatsuma]

Loads of lights and tat outside the front maybe, but not when it's done.

[LolaSmiles]

I side more with your friend. Would invoice this in real life? No
Same here and I doubt we're alone in this. I think most people make observations and then decide whether to share them or not

[Feilin]

Ill happily take the stereotype . Lifes miserable enough at times as it is and decorations and christmas trees make the autumn/winter months a bit warmer and brighter so yes Ill put my tree up and enjoy it thanks very much!

[TheKeatingFive]

Well I've noticed on Instagram that Highclere and Chatsworth both have all their lights and tress up already, so I reckon your mate might not be the font of all knowledge.

It's not at all unusual for toffs and the working class to have more commonalities than either do with the middle class.

[XingMing]

Our tree goes up a week or 10 days before Christmas. Last year we kept it up and lit until the third week of January because it was so wet and gloomy and DH refused to let go. It was a very good tree though. What does that say about of class standing... or lack of?

[Djifunrsn]

Early Christmas decs = people who like Christmas

Although not everyone who likes Christmas will put decs up early.

Personally I can’t stand the clutter and bother of it all.

[BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou]

Well we’ve started putting our outside lights up this weekend. It takes a couple of weekends to get everything up (our area runs a competition and we always enter) but nothing will be turned on until the first Sunday of advent (28th November this year) at the earliest. In fact we may not be ready by then but will need to be on by the second week in December as that’s when the judging takes place.

A few houses around the area have definitely started putting decorations up but I haven’t noticed any lit yet. Our town centre lights are being turned on next Saturday.

I think we are MC but some even call us posh around here….. DD is definitely considered posh by her flatmates….. I suppose it’s all relative….

[MurielSpriggs]

Well I've noticed on Instagram that Highclere and Chatsworth both have all their lights and tress up already, so I reckon your mate might not be the font of all knowledge.

It's not at all unusual for toffs and the working class to have more commonalities than either do with the middle class.

The only reason those places put the stuff up early is to maximise their visitor revenue! I don't think we can draw any conclusions about the Duke of Devonshire's personal preferences.

[EveningOverRooftops]

Class absolutely is relevant and you’re unreasonable to think it is.

Is class relevant though when it comes to early Xmas tree decorations and what not? Fuck no. That shit bulldozes through all class barriers and you’re all odd.

I do understand the logistics of having to do it earlier if it takes you weeks to put them all up though.

[TatianaBis]

It's not at all unusual for toffs and the working class to have more commonalities than either do with the middle class.

Internet class myth #24

[TheKeatingFive]

The only reason those places put the stuff up early is to maximise their visitor revenue! I don't think we can draw any conclusions about the Duke of Devonshire's personal preferences.

Well that goes both ways. We don't have any clue whether that's the 'only' reason or not.

[Shehasadiamondinthesky]

I'm middle class apparently and I have no decorations up ever because Xmas doesn't mean anything to me. I cant say zive ever really noticed when other people put decorations up. I find cutting a beautiful tree down and bringing it into the house to die very odd and rather sad. Its not something I would do.