Festive traditions and when to put the decs up

[Lottiefranks]

I’d love to know when everyone puts their tree/christmas decs up. I love, LOVE Christmas and I’m thinking to put my tree up around the 21st November.

I’d also love to know what your family traditions are that differ from the ‘norm’ my children are 2 and 4, so any suggestions for simple traditions they may enjoy would be great. We have a couple already, such as a Christmas Eve walk, 1st of December box which I put their advents, Christmas jumpers and some crafts in.

What’s everyone’s festive plans? X

@stargirl1701 you are my people 😊 (I was so happy the year I learned keeping the tree until Candlemas was a thing 😁)

Um, haven't read the full thread but put my tree and decs up last Friday. Not joking. And it's late for me, did the mid September once! Last year I think it was October 1st, so I have waited this year.

Sorry for my ignorance- what is candlemas please

Advent decorations on 29th November, 1st Sunday in advent. Christmas Decoration on Christmas Eve up for the twelve days of Christmas down 5th Jan.

#OldSchool

I give my children an advent calendar on 1st plus get out the wooden advent I have and elf on the shelf makes an appearance. Decs go up mid December inside, might put them up a bit earlier outside. We always go to London to see the lights, normally book an outdoor ice rink and a panto always. That’s our main traditions

Our Christmas tree goes up on or asap after the 12th. My husbands birthday is the 11th so little Christmassy happens before that. We may do some shopping, if his parents visit for his birthday we need to get their presents so they can take them home. My choir sings at a Christmas market in November so we got a few things there last year. The Mason's Christmas party is always on the second Saturday so their cards get given out then.

I don't know where you are, but we used to love going to the theatre. Yes, the panto but also other smaller things which were often shorter, cheaper, more approachable. We'd combine it with a walk, going to a different playground or looking at nearby lights.

This looks like quite a good theatre round up if you are in London:
https://redbuslondinium.uk/2026/11/01/2026-festive-theatre-for-primary-age-children/

Or this for Edinburgh:
https://www.nurseryandschoolguide.co.uk/post/5-top-winter-shows-for-young-kids-in-edinburgh

Or York:
https://visityork.org/events/category/christmas/pantos-theatre-and-music

I found those quite quickly, so you will probably find similar for wherever you are.

Lots of gardens, etc, like Kew have lovely Christmas walks.

Local churches often have fun craft or storytelling services.

Museums also often have things to do.

Agree.
In some ways it was great when I was growing up and the tree went up right before Xmas ..the house atmosphere was amazing. And then it all stayed up well into the new year

Anyway op we usually do it mid December I guess it whatever month is harder for you. I find January very tough

December .

Candlemas is 2nd February. 25th December is the first day of Christmas, not the last.

If I had my way we'd put the decorations up on Christmas Eve. As it is, it'll be the weekend DD1 comes home from Uni so two weeks before Christmas. I like to keep my wreath up until Candlemas though, makes more sense to keep January festive. I don't like New Year Resolutions for the same reason, Feb is a far better time to start thinking about changing things, the snowdrops are up and the days are noticeably longer.

@stargirl1701 i would love to hold out until Xmas eve but I'm not brave enough. Also our decs take too long to to I really go for transformation .
Isn't Candlemas the loveliest name 😍.

Those with bdays and not mixing them esp for adults I don't get it ? What does it matter ?

I like putting decs up on 1st December, then taking them down on 1st January. Less than a month feels too short for me, but it's personal preference.

@FruAashild the queen agreed

The birthday thing is just something we've always done. My husband used to say he hated Christmas cos it overshadowed his birthday so I always try to make it special for him and woe betide anyone who buys him a joint present!

I miss going round the village hand delivering Christmas cards with my Dad, it was a special Dad/daughter thing that we did together every year. Miss him most at Christmas.

My husband's birthday is 23 December. Unfortunately Christmas is very much in full swing then, so he has no choice for some cross over. I don't get him a joint present though and I make sure we go out for lunch (even though it's also a trip to get our Christmas cheese!) on the day. Thankfully he's not super-precious about it!

First week in December and not before !

Our tree always went up when DC broke up from school, they've left school now so it's around the time schools do break up. There's a couple of small decorations that might go up sooner, but maybe not

I don't think we have any unusual traditions tbh. Carol singing, midnight mass, they aren't interested in going to look at lights anymore but loved that when they were small. No elf. No Christmas Eve/1st Dec boxes.

We put ours up around 21st November, a real tree and contrary to what a previous poster wrote about it being dead…. Ours always survives from mid November to beyond Christmas, if you treat it properly it can last. The last 12 years we’ve been doing the same and not once has it died before Christmas, tbh it’s still going strong in the garden come March/april.

traditions are a big thing in our house. Christmas Eve is always a bath and Chinese takeaway. Followed by movies and tv until everyone is tired. Now both dc know Santa isn’t real I don’t have to go all James Bond after they’ve gone to bed so that’s lifted a weight off. No fighting my eyelids waiting for them to actually be a sleep 😄
Christmas Day is always open stockings in my bed, even now they still do it. One by one to build up the anticipation. Then it’s tree presents and bacon sarnies, always has and always will be bacon sarnies for breakfast. Scratchcards for everyone at dinner and cards and games later in the evening with Christmas tv in the background. Been doing the same since before I was even born and although the times have changed, it doesn’t feel completely the same, it’s our Christmas and everyone loves it.

A family near us decorated their entire house in some tacky grinch theme after Halloween last year and I remember thinking how out of kilter (seasonally) it seemed, and quite disrespectful to do that before Remembrance.

By the time December rolled round it looked absolutely bedraggled. And surely it must lose its celebratory appeal if it’s up for almost 2 months?

Have they put this year's up yet?

Usually Christmas eve but maybe a week
early as we’re away at points and it’s our toddlers first ‘aware’ Xmas.

This year will be 20th Nov. My parents are coming that weekend and mum loves to help decorate. Normally would be a week or so later but it is what it is, so…. We do go full on: outside decs, three trees, wreaths and garlands up the stairs etc so there’s a lot to do and I like the help. We make a day of it and then sit and eat pizza and drink wine and admire our handiwork.

My outdoor lights will go up mid November, I like to think of the evening dog walkers enjoying them, then the house decorations creep in until the real tree goes up around the 7th.

Mid December. We always used to do it when Dad came to visit about that time, him and Stepmum would do it along with DC.

This year we’re booked in at local Christmas tree farm run by a guy with same name as Dad’s. My nephew is coming to chose the tree with us, his first Christmas in the UK so I’m look in forward to that.