Tis the season...When do you put up your Christmas decorations?

[sueshe]

Tradition in our home to put it up the day after Thanksgiving. I used to love to decorate, decorate, decorate, but now find as I am getting older, that I don't like to put up as much.
One thing for sure, it comes down right after Christmas, as by that time I have had enough of the lights.

[Abbey Road]

The Christmas decorations usually go up during the weekend after Thanksgiving most of the time. I think it's insane that some people leave their Christmas decorations up past the holidays after the new year.

[Novalee]

When my brothers and sister and I were all young, the decorations went up around the second week of December. We had an aunt and uncle who didn't put their tree up until our cousins had gone to bed on Christmas Eve. I was always glad we didn't do that, since I loved the house when it was all decorated.

Once I was married and had my own children, we started the tradition of decorating the day after Thanksgiving. I'm almost feeling as if I'll have to force myself this year, but it's early and I might end up more excited about it than I am now.

[Cat-Lady]

I just love the whole Season of Christmas, so I put them up the day after Thanksgiving or that weekend. HOWEVER ~~~ since The First Day of Christmas, you know, a partridge in a pear tree, IS Dec 25, and the Twelveth Day of Christmas is January 6 (Epiphany or Three Kings Day), I keep mine Up and Lit until that day. Always.

[pink]

I usually have everything up and decorated before Thanksgiving. I put up 12 trees of various sizes. Yes, my favorite part of the whole holiday season is the decorating, only second to all the musical functions in the community. And, because I have a really bad time during January, I leave the snowmen and 4 trees up and lit until February. They are the trees that aren't necessarily decorated totally Christmas. For example, one is all red, white adn blue. Friends and family always love coming here in January, when everything is dull and depressing after Christmas, it's still cheery around here!

[beekeeper]

The weekend after Thanksgiving. They come down Jan 2nd.

[amber]

The weekend after thanksgiving......they come down the day after christmas....by then I just can't take anymore christmas crap ! lol

[Linda Lou]

I always put up my tree on the 15th of Nov., on my B-day, and take everything down the week after New Years. I like to get the most out of the season. :D

[Hellfire]

I want to decorate now. Knowing me I'll take it down sometime around the Fourth of July;) LOL!

I'm joking, but there has been a couple times it was late into January before I could find the time to put everything up.

[sam king cat]

Maybe I should reveal this on that other thread ... confessions ??? ... but I have been know to procrastinate and have XMAS decor up until end of Jan. ..... shameful isn't ?

[pandagirl]

I'm actually going to put up some lighted garlands this weekend. (I could use a little holiday cheer right now of the artificial type so I don't have to worry about it dying!)

The tree and everything else will go up the weekend after Thanksgiving and come down by January 2nd.

[sam king cat]

Next question :

Real or fake ? what's your tradition ... style / preference ?

[kittyinthecity]

Late January?!?

Oh no, it has to come down january 2!

Please tell me you don't leave outside Christmas lights up all year....

[Novalee]

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sam king cat:
Maybe I should reveal this on that other thread ... confessions ??? ... but I have been know to procrastinate and have XMAS decor up until end of Jan. ..... shameful isn't ?
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Don't sweat it, Sammy. Last year I had a fresh wreath on my door, and because we're in PA now, the daggone thing refused to turn brown. There was no way in the world I could toss it when it was so beautiful, so I left it up. I'm not positive of the exact date, but it was well into February or beyond when I took it down. This year I have ordered fresh wreaths for all the windows in the front as well as the door, so I'm sure the neighbors will love seeing them. lol

[sam king cat]

I leave the "white lights" out twinkle year 'round in the trees.... wouldn't u luv to be my neighbour ? ... comes in handy for those backyard summer BBQs and parties....

[Danielle]

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sam king cat:
Next question :

Real or fake ? what's your tradition ... style / preference ?
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Real tree, my family would move out if I didn't...This year I may buy a pre-lit for the front hall though and still have the real tree in the familyroom.

I decorate around 10 days before and have been known to take it all down on boxing day :)

[sam king cat]

Question : never owned a dog .... but do they lift a leg on the real ? ... curious,

(for the record ... I have both) ... outside its only fresh wreaths & garlands ...inside it is fake ....

[Novalee]

My dog has never raised his leg anywhere near the tree. I'm not sure what I'd do if he did. lol

[Curvigirl]

Our traditions have kind of evolved the past couple of years. The tree used to go up the first Sunday in December, whatever date that was, and everything had to be packed up and the house spotless before we went to bed New Year's Eve. (We typically don't go out, but if we did it would all be done before we left.) I loved waking up New Year's Day to a glistening clean house after all the clutter of the holidays.

The last couple of years we have put the tree up Thanksgiving weekend, and because my work schedule has shifted and I hardly have anything to do the first week of January, we've kind of relaxed the pack-up rules a bit and everything kind of gets put away over several days. (I liked it better the old way though, and may have to assert some authority here!)

Our tree is artificial, from QVC. The last time we brought in a real tree DD broke out in hives and her eyes swelled shut.

I have to admit I'm just not into it this year. If my kids would let me, I'd kind of like to skip the whole tree thing. The older I get, the closer Christmases seem to come--2006 has zoomed by so fast I feel like I just finished cleaning up from last year!

[kittyinthecity]

Never had a problem with a dog and the Christmas tree, but the cats always try to climb it. Really going to be fun this year with two 6 month old kittens!

[Novalee]

Curvi said:
"I have to admit I'm just not into it this year. If my kids would let me, I'd kind of like to skip the whole tree thing."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ditto.

[sam king cat]

Yikes !!! .... kittens, sparkly decorations on trees ..... whoa !!

[Danielle]

I don't find Christmas near as enjoyable without little ones in flannel PJ's waiting for Santa :( I miss that..

One thing I started for my daughter the year she was born, was to buy a dated ornament each year. She doesn't know it but when she moves out or gets married I will wrap them all up and give them to her...I remember the first year I was married spending a fortune to start my decorations. This way she will have a head start. I am not planning on her leaving me until she is 40, so that's a lot of ornaments lol..

Every year we start of the tree decorating with her placing her first ornament and working our way through :)

[sam king cat]

Maybe I should post this on the "confessions thread" ... but my tree only has "cat" ornaments ....

edit: .... a few "Beatles" memoriblia ones do get hung (at the back)

[pandagirl]

Real tree all the way. And only a Frasier Fir for me!

I get my tree from the garden shop that supplies the White House Blue Room tree. They come from a farm in West Virginia and are always spectacular.

One of my family traditions going w-a-a-y back is to say "This is the most beautiful tree we've ever had" every single year.

And we mean it, too!

[sam king cat]

I have a preference for Pine trees (always had them when growing up as a youngster) Back in the day....I found the fir trees "bare" ....could see right through them. However, now a days....there are so many cultivated ones and the variety has grown ....

[kitten4762]

I drag out the decorations usually around Dec 5th..I set my Dickens village up first and then do the table and rest of the house a little at a time.

My tree goes up around Dec 15th. I'm one of the few people left that I know that still puts up a real tree...it's not Christmas at my house without one. It's more trouble but we love the smell and the look of a real tree. I hate doing the lights though...I want them perfect and it takes forever. Last year I looked at some pre lit fake trees at Lowes's and had decided to get one. Then I walked in the lawn and garden and saw and smelled the real trees and I broke down crying right there in the store. I couldn't do it. I got a real tree.

Everything stays up until after New Years...mainly because we travel to my brother's right after Christmas..usually go to a bowl game..we aren't really home or settled down enough until after New Years.

[Garnet333]

I have 2 trees, they are fake and they go up the weekend after Thanksgiving. I do buy a real wreath for the front door, its not a Valerie Parr Hill's wreath. LOL Its from the local florist, they are beautiful, last a long time and are very cheap.

[kittyinthecity]

I love real trees too, but I have developed an allergy to them. Whereever they touch my skin, I break out in hives. So, its fake for me now. I used to buy the "live" ones, with a root ball that you planted in the ground after Christmas. That was great, but planting a tree in January wasn't always easy.

[amber]

I personally like the fake white trees...just me though

[Zippy]

I get that also Kitty

Even just trimming the pine trees outside..where ever the needles touch my skin I itch

I guess my dream of being a lumberjack is out of the question lol

[Hershey]

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Garnet333:
Its from the local florist, they are beautiful, last a long time and are very cheap.
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And no S&H!

[Zippy]

Ugh

Usually if its up to me the FAKE tree wont go up till after the first of Dec. But since its not always UP to me...maybe tomorrow? lol

As Greg is putting the halloween totes away the Christmas ones will be right there...Im scared

ALL of it will come down as soon as I can possibly do it. Before Christmas is here Im sick to death of the clutter and cant wait to get it all down.

I know...Bah Hum Bug lol

[Vivvie]

I wait until Turkey Day is over ... I want to enjoy each and every holiday as its own.

[sueshe]

True story......our dog peed on my dads wraped nuts that were under the tree. I think that was because of the jealousy of the new baby at that time. I gave them to my father anyways....LOL

[kidnash]

My decorations go up day after Thanksgiving. Downtown, I've seen trees lit red and green before Halloween and a couple of the stores are already full blown decorated. When I was living in Indiana, I've been Christmas lights going as late as the end of February!

[KaliChris]

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beekeeper:
The weekend after Thanksgiving. They come down Jan 2nd.
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Same here. The decorations is one of my favorite things about the holidays and I like it to last awhile.

When I was growing up, we put the tree up around the second week of December and my mom took it down on New Year's.

[KaliChris]

sam king cat:
Next question :

Real or fake ? what's your tradition ... style / preference ?
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Used to be real and growing up we always went and cut our own tree down. But now I worry about the fire hazard, so we have a fake tree. These days you can't really tell the difference anyway. My grandparents had this fake-looking white tree and I always hated it.

[sam king cat]

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KaliChris:
sam king cat:
Next question :

Real or fake ? what's your tradition ... style / preference ?
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Used to be real and growing up we always went and cut our own tree down. But now I worry about the fire hazard, so we have a fake tree. These days you can't really tell the difference anyway. My grandparents had this fake-looking white tree and I always hated it.
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Do you remember those aluminium "tin-foil branched" trees that came with a projector with multi-colored disks that you lit up the tree and as family sat around and watched in amazement at how the silver tree changed from green to red, yellow, blue ....etc...? My Aunt had one ... could we say TACKY !! I am sure if you did a search on EBay they would be going for a fine price now.

[KaliChris]

Oh yeah; I remember. WE had a color wheel that went around and lit our REAL TREE up different colors. Later my parents bought a revolving Christmas tree stand. Now THAT I liked.

[sam king cat]

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KaliChris:
Oh yeah; I remember. WE had a color wheel that went around and lit our REAL TREE up different colors. Later my parents bought a revolving Christmas tree stand. Now THAT I liked.
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I am not a fan of ornaments revolving nor let alone the tree...don't like flashing lights either. I've recently seen white trees, Black trees, red trees, (fake of course) in very glam decor settings ... they do work ...in ultra chic modern spaces .... but not my cup of tea... I'm really a traditionalist at heart.

[Curvigirl]

Sammy, I picture your tree hung with shimmering sardines, accompanied by pom pom toys with little bells.

[sam king cat]

Yeah, and don't forget the little red & green colored "sachets" of catnip !!!

[Rowan]

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sam king cat:
Maybe I should post this on the "confessions thread" ... but my tree only has "cat" ornaments ....

edit: .... a few "Beatles" memoriblia ones do get hung (at the back)

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Not a fan of the Beatles I guess........

[Hershey]

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Rowan:
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sam king cat:
Maybe I should post this on the "confessions thread" ... but my tree only has "cat" ornaments ....

edit: .... a few "Beatles" memoriblia ones do get hung (at the back)

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Not a fan of the Beatles I guess........
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Rowan, that's assuming you believe Sam's post. I don't.

[sam king cat]

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Hershey:
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Rowan:
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sam king cat:
Maybe I should post this on the "confessions thread" ... but my tree only has "cat" ornaments ....

edit: .... a few "Beatles" memoriblia ones do get hung (at the back)

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Not a fan of the Beatles I guess........
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Rowan, that's assuming you believe Sam's post. I don't.
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Rowan, it's the owner that I live with who has the extensive Beatles collection.

[KaliChris]

Sam, I tend to be more traditional too. I like ornaments that have a meaning or story behind them though. Like the ones my mom got my son from all different places she would travel to. Those have a lot of meaning.

[sam king cat]

I like "themed" trees. I have been collecting nutcrackers for many years. When I started, I had a small tree on a hall entry table that only had nutcrackers. Now, my personal collection has grown in size and the nutcrackers as well. Some are way too large to hang. So I have a fireplace in my family room that now becomes the "Nut" room. I group and line the men in uniform around the mantle and on the hearth. Many of my friends & family must be freaked out....because while sitting and watching TV .... the soldiers are watching us.

[KaliChris]

LOL They probably are.

I tend to like a variety. Maybe if I put up more than one tree. I have a village I set up at Christmas. I have fun adding to that every year.

[sam king cat]

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KaliChris:
LOL They probably are.

I tend to like a variety. Maybe if I put up more than one tree. I have a village I set up at Christmas. I have fun adding to that every year.
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KC, do the cats ( B & W) behave well with the tree and village ?

[Charming]

We always put the tree up just before Halloween and take it down around December 1st when we start trimming the house for Easter. My kids open their Easter baskets Christmas morning. We like to stay a step ahead of everyone else. We're a very competitive family.

[sam king cat]

Why don't you just keep the tree up all year long. You could simply remove the pumpkins and blacks cats and replace with your sleigh bells & angels. When easter rolls around you, will be ahead of game, ... simply ready to add your pastel coloured eggs and hang your bunnies & chicks on the branches. I see you believe it is important to stay a step ahead of everyone else.

[kitten4762]

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Charming:
We always put the tree up just before Halloween and take it down around December 1st when we start trimming the house for Easter. My kids open their Easter baskets Christmas morning. We like to stay a step ahead of everyone else. We're a very competitive family.
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lmao

[KaliChris]

sam king cat:


KC, do the cats ( B & W) behave well with the tree and village ?
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Well, Winnie thinks she's a Christmas package and always sleeps under the tree. And Barney likes to play with the ornaments. lol

[KaliChris]

Charming:
We always put the tree up just before Halloween and take it down around December 1st when we start trimming the house for Easter. My kids open their Easter baskets Christmas morning. We like to stay a step ahead of everyone else. We're a very competitive family.
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kitten4762:
lmao
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And I almost fell for it too. Good one. lol

[sam king cat]

I guess, I got suckered in with my reply to the post...:( lqtm

[pandagirl]

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kitten4762:
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Charming:
We always put the tree up just before Halloween and take it down around December 1st when we start trimming the house for Easter. My kids open their Easter baskets Christmas morning. We like to stay a step ahead of everyone else. We're a very competitive family.
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lmao
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Gee, I'm not.

[Acura]

I'm lazy, I don't do decorations anymore. As a matter of fact, I sold all my decorations a couple of weeks ago when we had a garage sale.