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

Usually up for first Sunday of advent so looking like Friday 27th/Saturday 28th and down around January 3rd/4th before everyone is back to school/uni/work.

Eldest is mid 20’s now and our traditions have altered slightly but fundamentally the same.

1st December advent calendars and Christmas pyjamas.
Advent mini candles.
Wreath workshop with friends.
Pantomime or theatre trip.
Christmas concert.
Annual family open house the Sunday before Christmas where Father Christmas himself always makes an appearance.
Out for early dinner and drinks on Christmas Eve.
New pyjamas for anyone staying over on Christmas Eve and a stocking on Christmas morning.

20-22 Nov weekend probably

week earlier is abit too early

ive already put outside lights up afew days ago for the first time since we moved in, saves me doing it in crappy weather and to see if they stay up!

Usually first weekend of December, so this year it’ll be 5/6th. Never in November as that feels too early for me.

The last weekend before Christmas and they come down on 5 January.

Exactly

Though I guess it starts with me putting together our photo calendar and Christmas card in November to get them printed in time (actually does it start with me booking the Christmas food delivery slot?), but our tradition is to go buy the tree first weekend in December. I’ve already put the advent calendar up (the children had Lego ones as kids). We used to actually go to a tree farm and cut it down ourselves, but the last couple of times this involved two hours of looking at not very promising specimens while there were lovely ones already cut, so we buy one of those. My DD is at uni five hours away but my son, who lives 80 miles away, will come up to do this with me. That’s when the decorations go up: tree, wreath, mantle, table centrepiece and a garland along the back expanse of glass. More years than not I make my own wreath, and the kids’ school used to do wreath workshops that my DD did with me. They also used to (I assume they still do, but my kids are no longer in school) do a gingerbread house building workshop which was a lot of fun. In December we also went to see a musical or panto and go skating. The annual school Christmas Fair, the carol service, all were staples when younger.
Now as young adults we buy the tree as stated, I sometimes do a wreath workshop, and the kids have started taking over the cooking (love that). When my DD returns from uni second week of December we watch a Christmas movie every night. The day itself is no longer an early morning start and after gifts we have a bigger than usual breakfast as we don’t eat again til the main meal at around 4pm. A board game after and a Christmas movie rounds it off. We do a different roast for Boxing Day. My son usually has to work the following day (and Christmas Eve), so any planned things tail off then, but the movie a night continues and decs stay up til 12th night (though I sometimes want to take them down sooner as a bit bored of it by then and tree starts to droop).