To think my neighbours win a prize for being the first people to

[BrokenChristmasLight]

Put up their CHRISTMAS TREE!

I heard them arguing last night when getting ready for bed and only half heartedly paid attention that it had something to do with a light being broken. We both had our windows open but the discussion was pretty loud and they only live across the road. However, at no point did I even remotely consider that they were talking about Christmas lights. I shut the curtains, went to bed and when I woke up this morning I'm met with a fully decorated Christmas tree standing full view in the front window!

So do they win some sort of prize it's still the bloody summer holidays or has someone else beaten them to it?

No! Why on earth put it up this early?

That is insane. Perhaps, giving them thr benefit of the doubt, they have put it up to take some sort of Christmas card photo.

Would you know if there's anyone in the house that's very ill?

personally I think that's the only reason I'd put up the tree in August.

I've honestly no idea.

We've lived here for ages and they've never done it before.

They seemed pretty ordinary until now, just a normal couple in their 50s both seem in good health, working and walking the dog etc so I don't think it's anything sinister like one won't make it until Christmas.

Wow! Send them a Christmas card.

That's waayyy too early for me. Are you going to reciprocate?? 😄😄

Well, clearly you need to reciprocate with a giant, inflatable, light-up Santa and sleigh on the lawn.

Alas my front is not big enough for such a show of Christmas cheer.
Also it's August and whilst I love Christmas I'm definitely more of a December 1st kind of person not September the 1st. 😂

Would you not get fed up looking at Xmas decorations for the best part of 4 months. Mine go up on the 8th Dec for a month and I'm ready to tear them down before Christmas day.

We did actually have a Christmas in August once because we had family that were over from another Country so it was a random chance to have a celebration together as Christmas is our favourite.

I'd assume an early Christmas for some reason but it's still pretty wild.

I felt a bit premature putting new batteries in my LED candles yesterday in advance of the nights drawing in. Feel a bit better about it now!

Is it actually decorated or just lights? Lots of people now put fauryligts on hedges etc in Autumn. Maybe it's that?

I have heard people stick up their tree and decs mid Nov and complain by early Dec that they are sick of the sight of it

The tree and decs are all taken down on BD.

If you feel like this, why do these people put up their tree up that early?

Dd has a mid August birthday.
Summer party in the garden planned, water pistols, paddling pools, bbq, etc

Woke up to grey skies and torrential rain.
Quite the opposite of summer.

So, a rethink was needed

Quick text to guests parents, up into the loft and got the decs down, and it became a full on xmas party instead!

They might have something going on that warrants them having to celebrate Christmas early this year. Is anyone in the household seriously ill?

I read that Bromley Council in SE London put up a large decorated Christmas tree in their high street yesterday. Alas it's only a prop for some filming that is being done and will be removed again. I bet the residents found that perplexing in the 23 degree sunshine.

Completely decorated with lights and some baubles.

I feel like I'll be fed up seeing it by December so God knows how bored of it they will be.

No relatives over that I've seen but I shall keep an eye out to see if any turn up. Although the concept of having Christmas is September is still a pretty odd one as you're not really spending Christmas together surely you could just have a nice meal and celebrate without pretending it was Christmas?

In the Southern hemisphere we sometimes do a ‘mid winter Christmas’ so we can enjoy - full on Christmas meal that’s not in the sweltering heat of summer - perhaps they are from NZ or Australia and are doing it the other way around and are having a mid summer Christmas to remind them of home ? 😅🤣 Because otherwise it’s bonkers .

Its only recently that people have different themed wreaths on their front doors throughout the year, not just Christmas. When I first saw these I was thinking Christmas in September

There is a family down my road that do different ones. She had a Coronation one last May with crowns, union jacks on it. Then Easter, Halloween, Olympics/Paralympics one that is on the front door.

Think the lady of the house makes them.

My late DM frowned on putting decorations up before Christmas Eve! And they came down on January 6th.

This would be my first thought if a neighbour put their tree up this early out of the blue - (ie not their usual behaviour this time of year) that there’s a family member who might not be able to celebrate at Xmas due to serious illness.

They may be expecting someone that could not make it at Christmas for some reason? And they will do the whole exchange of presents, pictures, cards, dinner...
It has to be something like this. There is no other possible explanation.
Like ready for this Christmas coming, no.. it is far far far too early!

My parents are one of the last people putting up their tree and decs - including Asian families that don't celebrate Christmas but love the decs etc and have certain Xmas food. I know one of the families adores mince pies and Xmas puddings. My parents put theirs up a week before Xmas.

Could they be doing a photo shoot for their Xmas cards?

They really don't seem like Christmas card people. In fact I'm not sure we've ever had a card from them in all the years we've been there

Will keep an eye out for any incoming guests or relatives and hope it's taken down next week. I really hope they don't keep it up for 4 months.