On the internet, there is always a big debate about when to decorate for the holidays. It’s similar to the argument about whether to wear white after Labor Day. I refer back to one of my favorite movies, Grease, when the head of the Scorpion Gang said before the drag race with Danny Zuko, “The rules are, there ain’t no rules!”
A decorating timeline feasibly existed at one point. Mom and Dad hosted Thanksgiving, unless we made a trip to Michigan to spend the holiday with our grandparents. I recall always working on tracing handprint turkeys and coloring cornocopias right up until the turkey was set on the dining room table.
There was never serious talk of Christmas until we went back to school after the long Thanksgiving weekend. Hearing Mom and Dad make plans to crawl up into the attic from our back porch to haul the Christmas decor boxes was never discussed before December 1.
Obviously, commercialism has impacted the pace of the holidays. In July, black and orange decorations will start appearing in craft stores. Soon after the new school year starts, Christmas trees and ornaments will adorn many stores. Yikes. My signal when Christmas was near growing up was when Mom brought home the Sears and JCPenney’s Christmas Catalog!
I think COVID also pushed the gamut for decorating early. We had nowhere to go, so we might as well be happy within the four walls of our own homes and deck the halls early.
Me? I start decorating for Christmas around mid-November, give or take a couple of days. My thought is that holiday decor takes time, money, and effort to put up, so enjoy it early. Usually, on December 26, I’m ready to de-clutter and settle in for the winter months. But that’s just me.
However, in our new home, there is less decorating space, so it will definitely take less time. Twelve windows to hang wreaths outside at our old house, versus four at our new home. I’m certainly looking forward to the simplicity of the whole process.
I say, you live in your house. If you want to put spring decor up in February, then go for it! However, I hope that’s not the case for outdoor decorations. Personally, I cringe when there are still Christmas decorations on the outside of homes past January..lol Do your thing inside. Remember, there are no rules. Just do what makes you happy!
Nicole MacPherson
Wow, you had twelve wreaths! That sounds really lovely! The tree and such goes up around a month prior to Christmas, although I start putting out my festive soaps and tea towels on November 1, as well as a couple of small gnomes. I do a big cleanup on New Year’s Day, it feels like a good day to do that.
myheartinpen
Yes..12..yikes! It was lovely but a lot of work! We’re getting a cold snap this weekend and early in the week here in Ohio. I’m sure that will want me to start decorating a little bit! Yup..my house is cleaned up too by NY Day! I like to start out the new year fresh!
Kari
I agree with doing what makes you happy! We’re hosting Thanksgiving this year for the first time, so we won’t be able to put up the tree until the day after- we need space for people to sit and gather. But if we weren’t hosting, the tree would probably go up a little earlier since Thanksgiving is so late this year.
I’m so excited for you to decorate for Christmas in your new home!
myheartinpen
Well, that’s exciting! Full disclosure. I have never hosted a Thanksgiving dinner. My Mom and Dad did it for years. My in-laws have done it every year since before I met Jack. They are in their 80s but still host. All of the siblings bring most of the food but we always have it there. I’m excited to decorate too! I’m actually going to start a little tomorrow because it’s supposed to snow. There are more decorations that I will be donating. I didn’t want to get rid of EVERYTHING up front. Now that we’re in the space I know now I’m just keeping my favorite things and the rest will find a new, happy home!
Suz
“The rules are, there ain’t no rules!” This made me laugh!
I’m with you on the outside decor. Get it together people and put that stuff away!
I usually decorate after Thanksgiving. I do like to keep my holidays separate and distinct!
myheartinpen
Haha..Grease is still one of my favorite movies! I am a holiday collider with Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I don’t host Thanksgiving so that’s probably why I do do it!