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Christmas

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Original poster

DS birthday in December - when to put up Christmas decs, before or after?

27 replies

thumbwitch · 16/11/2010 10:23

Until DS was born, I always used to put Christmas decorations up on the 1st December and take them down on 6th January because I really like them [sad person]

Anyway - then DS was born on 4th December. The first year, of course I didn't have the decs up beforehand. I can't actually remember whether or not I have had the decs up before or after his birthday for the last 2 years but now he is going to be 3, I think he will start to make the connection.

So my question is - do people who have December birthdays prefer to wait until after their birthday before the Christmas decorations go up? Or is it nice to have them up for when you wake up on your birthday? Or didn't you care?

Thank you!

OP posts:

Pinkjenny · 16/11/2010 10:25

Watching with interest, although my ds is 13th December, so a bit closer to Christmas.

Dukandoit · 16/11/2010 10:30

DS birthday early December. We always have his birthday cards up for about a week, then put up Christmas decorations and move his cards to his room. Delays Christmas preparations but very important to DS (early teens).

onadifferentplanettoday · 16/11/2010 10:30

My ds is a teenager now and his birthday is the 10th Dec. I have always as before put my decorations up at the beginning of december though i did ask him a few years ago if he would rather it wasn't until after. However I do not put up any Christmas cards until after his birthday cards have been up. As some of our relatives can only visit once during the Christmas period they often come for his birthday so it is nice that the house is decorated. My ds does not feel this takes the edge off his birthday,my own birthday is two days after christmas and my cards rarely get put up at all!

Original poster

thumbwitch · 16/11/2010 10:32

Dukandoit - thank you - did you always do that from when he was very little? Or did it become more important to him as he got older?

OP posts:

Poledra · 16/11/2010 10:35

After after after!! My twin and my birthday is on 18th December. I hugely appreciate that my parents never put the decorations up until after our birthday, so that day was still special for us, rather than lost in the jollifications of Christmas.

We still moaned that our birthday cards stayed up for about 2 days while my sisters' cards stayed up for a week, but on the other hand, the decorations went up on 19th December, so we always had something to look forward to after our birthday was over.

On another note, my parents and the rest of the family (grandparents, aunts and uncles) always made sure to give us separate presents for our birthday and Christmas, until we got to the age where we asked if we could combine them to get something a bit bigger.

MimieD · 16/11/2010 10:37

I would say put the tree up after his birthday. I always put some birthday decorations up and would look odd with christmas stuff all over as well.. My brother's birthday is on the 18th and my mum always waited till after the party before putting up the tree. He's 43 now and still does the same in his own house

SweetnessAndShite · 16/11/2010 10:40

My DH is 10th Dec and he always wants the decs up before his birthday and to have his birthday presents under the tree because he has fond memories of doing this as a child. So each to their own I guess.

Original poster

thumbwitch · 16/11/2010 11:08

Poledra - DS definitely gets separate presents and will continue to do so until he is old enough to be wanting really expensive things that might have to be combined presents - and he will have to make that choice then.

Thank you for your thoughts so far!

OP posts:

fel1x · 16/11/2010 11:11

My bday is 11th Dec.
I always like to have the decs up in time for my birthday, so I vote with BEFORE!
I love christmas and want the house to look festive for my bday too.
I always put the decs up the weekend just before my bday

tummytickler · 16/11/2010 11:15

Ds has his birthday on the 21st December, so we put ours up on before his birthday. He is quite happy with this and loves the fact the house is decorated on his birthday.
He does have his own area for his birthday cards though, so he can leave them up for a long time (usually the living room window sill).

We never combine Christmas and birthday presents, and he gets an extra present in June because other wise he goes for a whole year with no pressies (other 3 dc's have summer birthdays).

He also has his birthday party with friends in January so it does not get lost in Christmas, and we have a family day out on his actual birthday.

sweetheart · 16/11/2010 11:30

there was a thread about this the other day - I think it depends when the birthday is. My ds's birthday is 8th december and we don't put anything up until after his birthday.

Original poster

thumbwitch · 16/11/2010 11:34

oh was there, sweetheart? I did look but not very far and didn't see one - can you link to it please, if it's not too much trouble? Thank you.

OP posts:

SummerLightning · 16/11/2010 11:37

4th Dec is my birthday too. I vote decs up before, Xmas is still to be excited about even if your bday is in Dec.
My DS birthdday is Xmas day poor thing!

sweetheart · 16/11/2010 12:16

here you go tw

Original poster

thumbwitch · 16/11/2010 12:26

Thank you sweetheart - I see it is mixed feelings there too!
When DS gets a bit older, I will of course ask him his preference - but just for this year, I think perhaps I will wait until after his birthday.

OP posts:

Ooopsadaisy · 16/11/2010 12:30

fel1x - We share a birthday! However when I was a baby it was decided that decs go up after my birthday and I have continued this into adulthood. My parents still do the same. My other half says this is because I'm a spoilt brat but I don't care. My dcs just think I'm odd.

idobelieveinfairies · 16/11/2010 12:33

My DS (12) whose birthday is 12th Dec loves having the decorations up for his birthday..he says it feels more like a celebration for his birthday with them up. If he was ever to change his mind we would would put them up after his birthday.

pud1 · 16/11/2010 12:36

my birthday is the 13th dec. my mum always put the decs up the day before. i used to love it as it marked the eve of my birthday. no christmas cards were displayed until about 5 days after my birthday.

Original poster

thumbwitch · 16/11/2010 12:37

oooo, wavering again now.
See, I think DS would love it if the decorations went up in time for his birthday - he would think they were just for him and would be so excited to wake up to them in the morning!

But I do remember seeing on a thread a couple of weeks ago that one poster's parents did that for her and she hated it (although I got the impression that she was meant to be grateful for it and they weren't very nice parents in other ways) and I'd hate for DS to think that we were lumping his birthday in with Christmas, something we try very hard not to do.

Cards for his birthday are always up for at least a week before Christmas cards are allowed anywhere near.

Am I overthinking it at this stage, given he's not quite 3?

OP posts:

PurpleKate · 16/11/2010 13:19

DD's birthday is on the 18th December and we always delay putting up xmas decorations and tree until the following day.

I thinks its important to make DDs birthday quite separate from Christmas. In fact I usually try and make sure I buy her birthday present(s) before I start Xmas shopping.

jamaisjedors · 16/11/2010 13:23

My bday is the 2nd, I usually insist on going out and buying the tree that weekend.

I tend not to do anything Christmassy until then.

BexieID · 16/11/2010 14:10

Ours go up around 12 days before. DPs b/day is 14th, DD is 1 on 22nd, so this year they will go up on 12th, as it's a sunday, and thats the easier day to do it.

SatinShoes · 16/11/2010 17:16

I had planned to do after but DD wants them up Before!

Ask him :)

mumeeee · 16/11/2010 21:51

DD2's Birthday is the 9th December and mine is the 15th. When she ws little we used to put the decartions up after her Birthday but usually before mine.

Lozza83 · 17/11/2010 09:40

hiya, my birthday is the 8th december and we always used to have fun putting the tree and decs up on my birthday when i was little - i loved it, made my birthday extra special :o) xx

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