AIBU to think that people who put Christmas decorations up super early are just attention seekers?

[HahBumhug]

My neighbour has had her house decorated fully for Christmas now for almost two weeks- they started going up on Oct 31st. Fully lit tree in the window, outdoor lights, Christmas wreath on the door- the works.

She’s done this since she moved next door to me five years ago and I assume she did it before that too.

Since I’ve known her, she’s also posted on Insta and her WhatsApp status each year on either Christmas Day or the 26th to show her decorations coming down and a general “I can’t spend another minute looking at them” message.

If she put them up at Christmas and not at Halloween, she wouldn’t be looking at them for all that long.

She’s one of these “I’m daft me” types.

I know there are some exceptions where decorations are put up for different reasons like someone with a terminal illness, a family celebrating early before someone emigrates etc. but those are rare so I’m not factoring then into my thoughts around this.

Am I being unreasonable for thinking that someone who put Christmas decorations up at the end of Oct/early Nov is attention-seeking?

I’ve got autumn lights for now Christmas tree garlands go up Christmas Eve I’m going back to the 12 days of Christmas. But want rose gold lights for after Christmas to get me through till March.

Not sure if the early sparkle will cheer people up or rub people's noses in it that are struggling this year. We are cutting back on the outside lights this year.

I didn’t think of that, I hope no one has this attitude.

I have always secretly wondered how people afford to have lights outside but I’m always glad that they do as our Christmas tradition is going around seeing the houses lit up.

Most people have previously not been able to afford outside lights and I don’t think anyone is offended when people do.

I hope those that want to and can afford to still put up their lights.

This

I can't get worked up about people putting up their decorations early then taking them down earlier than me but I do get pissed off when the whole "getting rid of Christmas" thing is posted all over social media or brought up when it's still actually Christmas, I find it depressing.

Some people just want to make the Christmas period last as long as possible. I've already started watching Xmas music and watching Xmas films.

Tbh I judge more the person who I received an Xmas card from in the post today

If you think someone is ‘attention seeking’, just don’t give them any attention?

Honestly, this just reads to me like you’re a bit fixated with the person you’re whinging about.

You could just, I don’t know, not follow them on Instagram?! That would definitely deprive them of all the attention you think they’re seeking.

Bet you won’t, though.

No, I don't think people who use outdoor Christmas lights are being snobs. They are just enjoying Christmas, and why should they stop just because some people can't afford them? These arguments are just another way for mumsnetters to get on their judgemental high horse. We've already had similar threads with people claiming that no one should wear designer clothes or pandora bracelets to work because it rubs it in the faces of people who can't afford it. Maybe was should stop going on holidays abroad because people can't afford it? Or stop going out to theatres/cinemas/pubs because some people can't afford it.

My decorations are going up early this year, I haven't had any up for two years and I am just like sod it! I will only put the lights on for a short time each day and I will put my external decorations out in the middle of December. (Nothing major - just a few things for the kids in my family.)

I take them down around the 28th/30th, and clean the house ready for the New Year (Something my family has always done).

Who really cares what anyone else does with regards to Christmas decorations? I'm not an attention seeker, no photos on social media and the lights will be on a short time each day with the curtains drawn!).

It's just for me!

I’ve had mine up for a week now.. I just love how cozy it makes my house feel during the dark evenings, surrounded by twinkly fairy lights. Look forward to putting them up as soon as Halloween is over every year. I do it for me, because I love it. If anyone thinks negatively about it when they walk past my windows, then that’s their problem!

I don’t think it’s attention-seeking but I do think it’s odd. It doesn’t harm me though so I don’t really give two hoots.

I’m a ‘not before the 20th of December’ person and I think most people regard that as a bit odd too. I certainly seem to be out of step with my neighbours. To me, having it combined to a shorter period makes it seem more special and magical.

There's like five decorated houses on my street alone. Madness.

I don't care. I do find it pathetic that you care. And in my experience, the ones who decorate early are just really excited and don't do it to show off. I don't understand why it is showing off tbh.

That’s a good point. I think most people would use this as an excuse to be snobs. It is rubbing how comfortable you are in peoples faces. Horrible all round. Maybe more subtle Xmas decorations or ones that do not use electricity.

Wtf?! Should nobody ever be able to do anything if there are people who can't affird to then? There are and always have been people who can or can't afford certain things. Accusing people of being snobs for putting up some outdoor Christmas lighrs is totally ridiculous!

It reminds me of Christmas 2020/January 2021 though... Round where I live (in fact probably throughout the whole country) people kept their decorations up until February!) It was genuinely strange and a bit lovely to still see the external decorations and window trees through January. Although I had none up that year so I wasn't over-saturated!

I grew up in the 70s/80s and we never put the decorations up before my mothers birthday on the 17th Dec. I don't remember anyone back then putting them up very early either. Especially if getting a real tree as it would start to shed before the big day. Is putting them up early a new thing? No judgement if you do just a genuine observation.

Attention seeking? Nah, just a bit weak with the old delayed gratification.

Mine will be up the 21st and down by the 31st.

I like starting new-year clutter free.

Shoot me.

Mine will be up the 21st and down by the 31st. just to clarify 21st of November.

Don't really care what anyone else does but can't help but feel the im

I understood just fine. I'm wondering if you haven't understood my post?

Tilts head
Gives tinkly laugh

Ffs, can't help but feel that 'Christmas' is getting rather lost amongst all the external frippery. The retail aspect has definitely taken over.

Christmas tree goes up weekend before Christmas Day, and down on Twelfth Night.

When I worked in a preschool we would put the decorations up near the end of November but then we would have to take them down on our inset day at the end of term. Before Christmas, it felt so sad and all wrong.

I don't think they are attention seekers. I just think they like Christmas more than I do.

If I put decorations up now I would want them down by 1st December.

I put the tree up as close to Christmas as I can. DH wouldn't care if I did a tree or not, but DD and I like to feel Christmassy at Christmas and not several weeks beforehand.

YANBU about doing it early, but I don't think they do it to show off, they are generally just obsessed with Christmas. However to me, Christmas is in December, not November. Even 1 December is too early IMO.

I usually put the tree up around 1 week before Christmas and take it down on 12th night.

I often find that the ones who put everything up early take it all down on Boxing Day as "Christmas is over" then. Whereas I still see the period between Christmas and New Year as being part of the Christmas break.