Do you have your Christmas tree up yet?

[The Vorpal Tribble]

...because today I passed someone who does. In fact, his entire lawn was decked out, manger scene done, lights strung and Santa waving from the roof.

I really, really like decorating for Christmas, and yet I looked over to my sister I was driving with and said, "I'm going to go hold his wise men hostage until Thanksgiving."

A week before Halloween I saw someone stringing lights along the bushes (and no, they weren't orange). I groaned and tried not to picture driving my vehicle into his illuminated shrubbery.

When is it not only too early, but WAY too early? The above is leaning towards the 'psycho' level in my mind.

Any time between the day after Thanksgiving and Dec 1st is standard for my family, and only then because it's ten feet tall and will take a couple weeks to find all the ornaments and cover it like a Hallmark display.

[Katana_Geldar]

Yeah, it's too early to have it up until it's december, though many shops will have you think otherwise.

[Marnath]

If you put up christmas decorations before thanksgiving day, you should be jailed. That includes the people in charge of stores like meijers. Seriously, who decided that it was acceptable to set out the gift wrap and christmas candy before freaking halloween was even over?

If someone put up their decorations before thanksgiving in this part of the world, I wouldn't be surprised if someone vandalised their property.

[Stumblebee]

I've always felt that, for Americans, the day after Thanksgiving is ideal for setting up Christmas decorations.

A little earlier than that--say, the weekend before--is all right, since lots of people prefer to spend Black Friday and the ensuing weekend shopping (damn them all). Any earlier than that means you either like Christmas or hate your neighbors more than can possibly be healthy.

[Obrysii]

We no longer put up Christmas trees. It makes me sad.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

We no longer put up Christmas trees. It makes me sad.
Aww, you gotta put up a tree. Even when I lived alone in my apartment and would be working the entire week of Christmas plus the day itself I had one. Bought a live one about 6 feet high and put it in a pot. Decorated it, and after Christmas drove it up to parent's place and planted it.

[Obrysii]

Aww, you gotta put up a tree. Even when I lived alone in my apartment and would be working the entire week of Christmas plus the day itself I had one. Bought a live one about 6 feet high and put it in a pot. Decorated it, and after Christmas drove it up to parent's place and planted it.

I still live at home and my dad doesn't like it when I rearrange things. I suppose I could get a tiny tree for my room...

I have a giant (re: 20ft. tall at 10 years old) Juniper out in the front yard (though it turns brown in winter...) and a 13ish ft tall evergreen pine that looks like a quintessential christmas tree out further in my front yard, but neither are decorated in winter (snowstorms are too severe).

Edit: This (http://obrysii.deviantart.com/art/A-Long-Journey-into-Spring-162345226?q=gallery%3AObrysii%2F21319584&qo=8) is an example of how bad the storms get here.

[Haruki-kun]

I don't know, I should call my mom and ask if she put the Christmas Tree up yet

In places where Thanksgiving is not commonly celebrated, it's not so early.

[Nageto004]

You know I was just thinking last weak that we should get our lights up soon, if nothing else just to have it done before it gets to cold. At least we're not like our neighbors, WHO STILL HAVEN'T TAKEN DOWN THEIRS FROM LAST YEAR.

[nihilism]

i saw a half constructed enormous christmas decoration scene at the mall yesterday. It was really surreal, like it didn't belong, kind of a 4th dimensional thing.

[fknm]

I'm another one of the camp who doesn't put decorations up at all.

In fact, I really hate Christmas in general. Everyone makes a big deal out of it, wastes a bunch of time and energy decorating the house and buying gifts, and tries to put social pressure on you to do the same (if there's one thing humans are good at other than breeding, it's enforcing conformity to the norm). Oh, and for some reason, a larger percentage of the people on any major highway near the Christmas season drive like total morons.

Thanksgiving is a much better holiday- it's all of the good parts of Christmas (get the family together, eat too much, watch Football, and then play card games late into the night/morning), but without all of the stupid crap.

[Katana_Geldar]

Not everybody celebrates thanksgiving, you know.

I like Christmas, and more the better when we have nice weather and can have a swim after dinner.

[Destro_Yersul]

You know I was just thinking last weak that we should get our lights up soon, if nothing else just to have it done before it gets to cold. At least we're not like our neighbors, WHO STILL HAVEN'T TAKEN DOWN THEIRS FROM LAST YEAR.

Do you live near us? :smalltongue:

We have a big house, so we don't bother taking the lights down anymore. There's a switch inside to turn them on or off. I hardly notice them anymore unless they're on.

[fknm]

Not everybody celebrates thanksgiving, you know.
The fact that there are people who don't celebrate it doesn't mean it's not the superior holiday :smalltongue:

[Marnath]

The fact that there are people who don't celebrate it doesn't mean it's not the superior holiday :smalltongue:

Hush, you. We're not all Americans here. :smalltongue:
Well, I am, but still.

[fknm]

Hush, you. We're not all Americans here. :smalltongue:
Well, I am, but still.
The fact that not all people live in the country where it is celebrated doesn't mean that said celebrations are not infinitely more enjoyable for those who do live in said nations.

[Katana_Geldar]

Again, I say....

Not everyone in the world celebrates thanksgiving. Apart from the US and Canada, and expatriates in other countries, it's relatively unknown.

I've only tried pumpkin pie ONCE. And I rather like it.

[fknm]

Again, I say....

Not everyone in the world celebrates thanksgiving. Apart from the US and Canada, and expatriates in other countries, it's relatively unknown.

I've only tried pumpkin pie ONCE. And I rather like it.
And, again, I say the fact that there are nations where it isn't celebrated doesn't make said celebrations compare less favorably to Christmas in the nations where said celebrations do occur.

[Nageto004]

Do you live near us? :smalltongue:

We have a big house, so we don't bother taking the lights down anymore. There's a switch inside to turn them on or off. I hardly notice them anymore unless they're on.

I don't think so, do you live in Ohio?

[The Vorpal Tribble]

I've only tried pumpkin pie ONCE. And I rather like it.
My eldest sister can make a pumpkin cheesecake pie that is beyond description.

That and the cranberry crumb cake. Two things that are always saved for Thanksgiving because they're just that awesome.

Oh baby...

[Katana_Geldar]

Here's something nice: halved tinned peaches with crandberry sauce in the middle. Yum!

[Mauve Shirt]

I agree, putting up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving (so, the end of November) is ridiculous. All of the stores here are already set up, some of them have been since the end of September.
I love Christmas and everything that comes with it, but it's not time for it yet.

[Dr.Epic]

I saw someone today who had their lights up. This gave me an idea: what if you could combine Christmas and Halloween decorations so you could just keep them up for three months and not worry about taking stuff down. Think about it: Santa with a chainsaw, demonic reindeer, scary goblin dressed like Christmas elves, pumpkins with Santa hats.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

I saw someone today who had their lights up. This gave me an idea: what if you could combine Christmas and Halloween decorations so you could just keep them up for three months and not worry about taking stuff down. Think about it: Santa with a chainsaw, demonic reindeer, scary goblin dressed like Christmas elves, pumpkins with Santa hats.
Have an inkling wouldn't go over well. Whole religious aspect I'm thinking, but who knows.

Now, apparently my 6 year old mind thought the same though. I wrote a pretty gruesome Christmas horror. Rudolph's nose went out so he hit into a plane and fell down. Rose up a zombie, attacked the North Pole, eating the eyes of elves. This was before I even knew what a zombie was. Beats me where it came from...

Oh, on this subject, ran across this very interesting indie film coming out:
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401143)

On Christmas Eve in Finland, Santa Claus is unearthed in an archaeological dig. Soon after, children start disappearing, leading a boy and his father to capture Santa and, with the help of fellow hunters, they look to sell him back to the corporation that sponsored the dig. And then there's Santa's elves, who are determined to free their leader...

[Coidzor]

We no longer put up Christmas trees. It makes me sad.

Indeed, my family doesn't either. And the last time I put up one was with an ex's family. Now I'm having horrible flashbacks. x.x

I'd say before thanksgiving is over is way too early, and before December is too early.

But I'm also a bit weird in thinking they can stay up til sometime between January 1st and 12th.

[Cobra_Ikari]

5 days after Thanksgiving is the ideal time. If your Thanksgiving went well, that is when you should come out of the delicious-food-induced coma. >.>

[Lady Moreta]

When is Thanksgiving anyway?

Ahem, September and October are way too early (unless you're retail apparently, their stuff is out in September). November is too early, unless you're the council putting up decorations on the streetlights (this is when they do that) - please not all the 'unlesses' are sarcastic, I realised it didn't quite convey the tone I was going for.

I will admit, I have a couple of Christmas CDs on my mp3 player, I generally start trying to get in the Christmas mood in November.

I am embarrased to admit that when I was younger we once put the tree up at the end of October. Only did it the once, and ever since then it's been the first weekend in December (if that, sometimes we didn't get around to it til mid-December). My parents have lights on the car port that stay up year-round, but unless you know they're there, you can't see them.

Peregrine and I have an agreement that the tree goes up in our house first weekend in December. Sometimes I think I'd like to do it earlier, because I find it hard to get in the mood for present shopping until the tree is up (or I have some external sign around the house), but I just can't bring myself to put it up any earlier. I just need to learn to do present shopping earlier!

[Katana_Geldar]

When is Thanksgiving anyway?

Last Thursday in November.

[Lady Moreta]

Last Thursday in November.

Ahh... heh, day before the work Christmas party :smallbiggrin:

Thanks

[Remmirath]

We usually shoot for putting our tree up around the 1st of December, but it sometimes ends up being a few days earlier or later than that.

I think that, generally, it's way too early if the last holiday hasn't even occured yet. Don't put up Thanksgiving stuff until Halloween is over, and then don't put up Christmas stuff until Thanksgiving is over. Seems to make sense to me.

[Tinkee]

We've had ours up since the day after halloween. I agree that it should be the weekend after thanksgiving, but with my wife being at home with our newborn she's been getting bored.... she ran out of things to clean and so she's started decorating for christmas! crazy woman :smalltongue:

[Mando Knight]

Last Thursday in November.

Actually, it's the fourth Thursday in November. There's a 2/7 chance that the fourth Thursday isn't the last Thursday. (Unless you're Canadian, where you go and celebrate Thanksgiving way too early, on the second Monday in October)

My family usually puts up the tree and such on the 13th of December, though some people might think that as too late.

[Katana_Geldar]

Moreta, I can also tell you that it's only been officially going on since the 1860's, when Abe Lincoln brought it in.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

(Unless you're Canadian, where you go and celebrate Thanksgiving way too early, on the second Monday in October)

We're up north. Harvest up here is earlier. It's really that simple.

[Blue Ghost]

*generic rant about Christmas being too commercialized*

We usually do it around early to mid December. Not that we actually do much.

[Lady Moreta]

Moreta, I can also tell you that it's only been officially going on since the 1860's, when Abe Lincoln brought it in.

You're Australian. How on earth do you know this? :smalltongue:


*generic rant about Christmas being too commercialized*

We usually do it around early to mid December. Not that we actually do much.

You'd get on well with my husband. He don't like commercialised-ness either. My family are a bit Christmas-nuty though, so I don't mind (as much). Which reminds me, I must point out to him how restrained I've been this year. By this point I'd normally have bought at least one new decoration for the tree :smallbiggrin:

[Katana_Geldar]

You're Australian. How on earth do you know this? :smalltongue:


Did American history with an American lecturer, he was a great guy and had some funny stories about dry counties and the KKK.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Did American history with an American lecturer, he was a great guy and had some funny stories about dry counties and the KKK.
Oi... I live where both are still to be found.

[MonkeyBusiness]

Last year I set up my Christmas decorations about two weeks before Thanksgiving (or two weeks after Halloween). This was earlier than usual for me, but I chose to do it this way because I had just moved into a new apartment. I wanted to do something that made the place feel like home, and I felt a little blue; decorating just felt like the right thing to do.

My mom always decorated the house and made pies and things for the holidays, and I loved it! I anticipated the whole winter holiday experience all year: it was just pure magic for me, even when I was an adult. She made everyone feel so cherished. I try to recreate that for myself.

So for that reason I don't mind when people put their decorations up early. Maybe they need the pick-me-up. It gets dark early in my hemisphere (and if you are in the US, the clock's just been set back an hour for the winter, so it gets dark really early), and it can feel so nice to come home to a house ablaze with the lights.

I also know that some families have to set up the more involved decorations early, due to weather conditions and to family schedules. So I give them credit for working together in that holiday spirit, rather than demerits for being over-eager.

I also love seeing the stores decorated, though I do think before Thanksgiving is too early for retail. But the holidays are only as commercial as we make them.

I think it's natural to want to spend a little extra at this time of year. Largesse has been part of winter holidays in many traditions all around the world, especially in places where this time of year is cold and dark. Yes, I do think the shop-till-you-drop aspect gets carried too far. But when I start feeling anxous about whether I've "done enough" in terms of acquisition of presents, I know it's time to have some eggnog and listen to Christmas carols.

And think about Mom. Cheers, Mom.

[Katana_Geldar]

Oi... I live where both are still to be found.

This is "funny ha ha", like the wives of the KKK refusing to make the costumes one year and they had to dress up in patterned bed sheets.

[Winter_Wolf]

Our family standard is December 1-ish. People who are getting into Christmas gear already are just jumping the gun and missing out on Thanksgiving altogether. I *like* the glorious day of food, Christmas can wait a few weeks.

The worst thing I ever saw was one year shops were getting their Christmas blitz on before Halloween. I promptly left the area and did not return until after the new year.

[Lhurgyof]

Niet. I don't know when we're putting it up, perhaps the beginning of December?

You should make a poll of the results. xD

[The Vorpal Tribble]

And think about Mom. Cheers, Mom.
Heh, I've been the light man and partial indoor decorator as soon as I was old enough to know what I was doing. My sisters do 90% of the baking. I do 5%.

If there is any curse to large families, being the eldest of 10 kids myself, is that it makes parents lazy.

Then again, we do it because we enjoy it. My mom is the kind who gets stressed out and weepy over 'all that has to be done'. We've never understood that.

[Lady Moreta]

Then again, we do it because we enjoy it. My mom is the kind who gets stressed out and weepy over 'all that has to be done'. We've never understood that.

My mother is like that too.

My sister and I (when I was at home) were in charge of the lights. We had about 460 fairy lights strung around the house (including those on the tree). The three of us did the tree, but we each had our own ornaments that we were in charge of. Dad's job was to just stay out of the way :smalltongue:

And I was in charge of the baking.

Now that I'm married... I make Peregrine help me put the tree up - it's all colour coded and confusing, and he's good at figuring things out. I tend to do most of the decorating (because I care more), but I have a few decorations that I got specifically for him, which I make him put on the tree. I have to nudge him a bit, but once he gets into it, he enjoys himself.

Any other decorations (the nativity scene and the stockings) are all done by me.

[Amiel]

Now is a pretty good time to inaugurate the festive season. Plus, the mercantile corporations wish to share in your happiness there is no mind control, citizen; this is why they've been sending out Christmas-related junk mail, and have been for ages in fact.

[Gullara]

Edit: This (http://obrysii.deviantart.com/art/A-Long-Journey-into-Spring-162345226?q=gallery%3AObrysii%2F21319584&qo=8) is an example of how bad the storms get here.

Looks like a mild winter day to me.

[Lady Moreta]

this is why they've been sending out Christmas-related junk mail, and have been for ages in fact.

Get a no junk mail sign :smalltongue: we have one on our letterbox and I'm not sure how I lived without it...

On the other hand, all this Christmas talk is making me want to go home and pull out the tree :smallbiggrin:

[Amiel]

Get a no junk mail sign :smalltongue: we have one on our letterbox and I'm not sure how I lived without it...

I do like some ads :smalltongue:
Others, I can craft into artistic centre-pieces (which I can then sell on eBay).


Come Christmas-time, the populace of an entire boulevard decks their houses in festive decorations. It has proceeded to become quite an attraction.

[Skeppio]

Christmas-time, the populace of an entire boulevard decks their houses in festive decorations. It has proceeded to become quite an attraction.

That's "The Boulevard" yeah? Man, they really go all out. It's amazing. :smallbiggrin:

[Amiel]

That's "The Boulevard" yeah? Man, they really go all out. It's amazing. :smallbiggrin:

Yep, that's the one. I've been a few times once, it is indeed amazing.



The Boulevard Christmas Lights Display

One of Ivanhoe's most renowned features is the annual Christmas lights on The Boulevard. Every year many residents in the street cover their homes and front gardens with lights and other colourful Christmas decorations, attracting many people from all over Melbourne to the extraveganza. The display was started by Bill King and George Whitelaw in the 1950s. After dark in the week before Christmas, traffic is grid-locked in this suburban street as it attracts over 100,000 people over the nine day period of its display. It is commonly recognised as one of the most impressive Christmas displays throughout Melbourne, with many residents making it an annual visit.

Oh, this^ is what Skep and I are/were talking about

[THAC0]

I am not allowed to decorate for Christmas until December.

Outside lights, though, get hung in September or October - safer, without ice - but we don't turn them on till later. I operate my lights on "star time." Someone rigged a giant star on the side of a mountain nearby. It gets turned on the day after Thanksgiving and stays on till the last musher in the Iditarod crosses the finish line.

[Zevox]

Of course not. That's crazy.

Personally, I'd say that ideally Christmas decorations should wait until December. The actual holiday is late that month, so that seems the proper time. I could see putting them up in between Thanksgiving and the beginning of December if you're that eager/have schedule issues. Anytime before Thanksgiving just makes me question our laws against arson.

Zevox

[Heliomance]

My family doesn't put decorations up until the weekend before Christmas Day.

[Evil DM Mark3]

Christmas?


THIS IS NOT DECEMBER!

[Eldan]

Tradition around here says that the tree is put up *on* christmas day by the children. So that's how we do it. Except for the part with the children, of course.

[llamamushroom]

*generic rant about Christmas being too commercialized*

Sorry, you just reminded me of one of my favourite songs: White Wine in the Sun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q)

Anyway, actually on topic, I think that putting your Christmas decorations up on Remembrance Day is a bit early, yeah. My family has always been a bit remiss about decorations - we usually end up driving 18 hours to visit Grandma and Grandpa (or, if we're lucky, only 12 to Granny and Papa), and they don't really have much in the way of decorations. They're usually too busy with five kids and their spouses and their kids, and it's always awesome. I think the most we did last year was a Santa Hat on the person passing round the plate of prawns...

[drakir_nosslin]

Our christmas tree is chopped down and brought home on the 22nd or 23rd of December. It is decorated on the 23rd. And I might add that it's really hard to find a nice looking tree in the forest. Last winter we looked for close to four hours before we were satisfied.
The rest of the decorations are usually put up a week or two before, at the earliest.

[Eldan]

Logging your own tree is actually illegal here... so you have to buy one. Even if you have your own piece of forest, unless you have a special permit.

[drakir_nosslin]

Logging your own tree is actually illegal here... so you have to buy one. Even if you have your own piece of forest, unless you have a special permit.

Special Permit? Interesting. Must be a bit annoying to own a piece of land and not be able to cut down a tree on it without seeking permission.

[Eldan]

In Switzerland, you generally need a permit for everything. Though I won't say more, that gets too close to politics.

[Spiryt]

I took mine down already.

[Lioness]

We usually put ours up on the 1st of December...and it usually doesn't get taken down until March, because we're lazy.

Last Christmas we didn't put the tree up at all, because we were away for Christmas.

[Kastanok]

By my mind, you can't have any Christmas decorations up until after Nov25th - both a month before the day, which seems a good distance, and after my birthday :P I can't have Christmas overriding that.

My rented room doesn't have a TV license so I am usually spared the Christmas adverts and jingles, but at the moment I'm back at the family home and, apart from the general misery of commercial breaks, it's driving me a little nuts seeing the incredibly smiley actors and all that fake snow and... kitsch.

Reading down (up? back? towards the past?) this thread, I notice people discussing general Christmas work loads. In my house we make a point of not stressing ourselves out like crazy but spending time with people we like being around and cultivating a bit of the traditional Christmas atmosphere. So, mulled wine, the fire on, carols playing on Classic FM, Muppet's Christmas Carol played on Xmas Eve. :smalltongue: We definitely don't do extended family, covering the entire house exterior with decorations visible from space or watching the Sound of Music. Cause that's just not fun. :smallsmile:

[Lady Moreta]

We always used to watch White Christmas on Christmas Eve... I'm not a stickler for watching it then any more, but I will watch it at least once during December.

[Obrysii]

We always used to watch White Christmas on Christmas Eve... I'm not a stickler for watching it then any more, but I will watch it at least once during December.

Harry Potter and Narnia for us!

[EmeraldRose]

Wow...

I'm of the opinion that you really need to celebrate and finish one holiday before moving on to the next one.

I understand people tend to get excited and want to have that stuff up for ages (or are just too lazy to take it down one year to the next and choose to leave it up), but the last few years do seem to have gotten a little ridiculous with the holiday decorating extention.

My mom's birthday (Dec 14th) was always when we would put stuff up in my family. My own family hasn't yet really settled on a tradition. Sometimes we put stuff up after Thanksgiving, sometimes we've used my mom's birthday.

Since she's staying with us for awhile to help out with the boys and the new baby, it may be done while she's still here. Though certainly not before Turkey Day.

[RabbitHoleLost]

My family always puts stuff up the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Yesterday, the neighbors were putting up Christmas lights. I kid you not. Its not even dropped below 50 F here yet, and there are LIGHT UP icicles hanging from their roof.

[Thorcrest]

Looks like a mild winter day to me.

Yeah, I have to agree, it doesn't seem all that bad... then again I have heard of some towns that shut sown when a few centimetres of snow hit... so I guess it's just about what you are used to.

Anyways, as a Canadian I have to say Thanksgiving is WAY too early :smalltongue:

My family usually does it around the 21st, but we have been known to decorate on the Eve... we do however keep our light's up all year. We have a big house, and only put lights in a few places anyways, so it's hardly noticable.

[Katana_Geldar]

I have heard flack against people who have artificial trees, yet my family has had one since we were very small. Every year we get it out, remove the spiders, and vacuum up afterwards.

[Marnath]

I have heard flack against people who have artificial trees, yet my family has had one since we were very small. Every year we get it out, remove the spiders, and vacuum up afterwards.

Vacuum up what? O.o
Isn't the whole point of a fake tree that they don't shed?

[Katana_Geldar]

Um, they do when you get them out of the box and when you put them back in. The point of having a fake tree is that you have it forever.

[Spiryt]

Um, they do when you get them out of the box and when you put them back in. The point of having a fake tree is that you have it forever.

Mine had been eaten by fake borers. :smallfrown:

[Eldan]

On the subject of holidays... I only noticed that it was the 11th today when I had a fifty man brass band standing under my office window playing horribly out of tune music all day. Carneval, I guess. Yay. At least over here, people promptly forget about it after the 11th and start again in February.

[Trog]

This phases me not at all. In the graphics industry I'd start seeing Christmas clip art and photographs and such appear in August - just after "Christmas in July" art was over. The only time I rant about Christmas decorations is if they are still up (and worse yet, still turned on at night) when it turns into summer. :smalltongue:

[Skeppio]

The only time I rant about Christmas decorations is if they are still up (and worse yet, still turned on at night) when it turns into summer. :smalltongue:

Agreed. It does annoy me when I see Christmas stuff well before December, but I HATE it when I see Christmas decorations still up in February. Laaaazy. :smallsigh:

[KerfuffleMach2]

Our decorations never go up before Thanksgiving, and we always wait until after New Year's to take them down.

[Marnath]

Um, they do when you get them out of the box and when you put them back in. The point of having a fake tree is that you have it forever.

You must have an inferior brand, because my fake tree doesn't shed. Hmm.

[Lady Moreta]

You must have an inferior brand, because my fake tree doesn't shed. Hmm.

We definitely have an inferior brand - it only cost $20 :smalltongue: and it does shed all over the place.

The tree my parents have is a pretty good one and it sheds as well - though it's getting quite old now.

I really want to get a really good quality tree, but I can't justify blowing upwards of $100 on one just yet.

[Lioness]

For years we had a real tree. We got it when I was small, and it grew with me. Each year, we were pretty much the same height.

Then it died.

So now we have a big fake tree. More tree to decorate!

[Marnath]

We definitely have an inferior brand - it only cost $20 :smalltongue: and it does shed all over the place.

The tree my parents have is a pretty good one and it sheds as well - though it's getting quite old now.

I really want to get a really good quality tree, but I can't justify blowing upwards of $100 on one just yet.

Yeah, thats it. I don't remember how much my parents paid for this one, but it was definately somewhere above $100. I wanna say...130? 150? it was a number of years ago. Plus, I never really cared, so I don't remember well.

[RebelRogue]

No decorations here. We've decided not to, since we'll be away for the holidays anyway. There'll be decorations everywhere else, so we didn't find it necessary to clutter our home with it too.

And yes, anything before december is sick! :smalltongue:

[Cleverdan22]

We tend to get decorative from around the 10th-15th or so, and the only thing that I get peeved about is the Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. Just...why?

[Force]

We're setting up a nursing tree in therapeutics lab next week, does that count?

[Cleverdan22]

What exactly is a nursing tree, specifically?

[Force]

A cardboard cutout of a christmas tree hung with stethoscopes, (needleless) syringes, IV tubing, a lab coat, sharps box, scissors and bandages... whatever we can come up with.

... yeah, we're strange.

[Cleverdan22]

I approve of this, mostly because it would be quite entertaining to look at, and very different as well, as opposed to the generic trees I see in my neighborhood.

[ThreadKiller]

A cardboard cutout of a christmas tree hung with stethoscopes, (needleless) syringes, IV tubing, a lab coat, sharps box, scissors and bandages... whatever we can come up with.

... yeah, we're strange.

Pics, or it didn't happen! :smallbiggrin:

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Scene right out of M*A*S*H.

[Lady Moreta]

Scene right out of M*A*S*H.

I need to watch more M*A*S*H...

I also really want to go put up the Christmas tree now... oh well...

[drakir_nosslin]

A cardboard cutout of a christmas tree hung with stethoscopes, (needleless) syringes, IV tubing, a lab coat, sharps box, scissors and bandages... whatever we can come up with.

... yeah, we're strange.

Aha, I counter with this!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xeXX-vjZ_WA/TC4r_GUCXGI/AAAAAAAAAOE/0Ov6tlLDuIg/s640/SDC10236.JPG

And yes, it's a christmas tree made out of Cola cans and small candy bags (with candy inside :smallsmile:)

[Katana_Geldar]

Am I a bad person for thinking they were condoms?

[Lillith]

Over here it's usual to get a tree after the 5th of December. This because we still have another holiday to celebrate on that day. Yeah we got our own red clothed present giver you copycats. :smallbiggrin:

[Eldan]

On the fifth? Shouldn't that be the sixth? That's saint nicholas' day, isn't it?

[Lillith]

Yeah, but I thought I said 'after the fifth'. :smallwink: I can't wait to get ours.

[drakir_nosslin]

Am I a bad person for thinking they were condoms?

Well not sine you don't know where the picture is taken. However, there's a 'no sex' rule enforced in that particular room, so there's not many condoms present.

Besides, a good person thinks about condoms, a not so good person don't...

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Besides, a good person thinks about condoms, a not so good person don't...
Which means each and everyone one of us was born from evil!

[drakir_nosslin]

Which means each and everyone one of us was born from evil!

Ah, I didn't mean like that :smalltongue:

Besides, not so good =/= evil. Just a little less good. But, as I said, that was not my meaning.

That's what happens when writing in a foreign language all the time :smallwink:

[The Vorpal Tribble]

...and I'm eldest of 10 kids. The sheer fiendish power it must have taken! The spawn of HELL WE ARE!

*spontaneously combusts*

[Aidan305]

I like to start decorating at the beginning of advent. Generally a few at a time starting with the crib and the wreath.

[RabbitHoleLost]

My workplace is all tinseled up.
Ugh.

[Lady Moreta]

My workplace is all tinseled up.
Ugh.

I feel for you :smallsmile:

My workplace isn't and it won't be unless I decorate because I can guarantee nobody else will bother. I'll probably get around to it at the start of December or something... if I can - one of the girls told me she thinks she broke the tree at the kids Christmas party last year so it may not happen at all!

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

Bwahahahahahaha! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I live in Canada so I already had thanksgiving, I can put up decorations at will.
:smallbiggrin:

[Cealocanth]

No, My family prefers to not put up the christmas decorations before thanksgiving.

After thanksgiving, we'll be putting up our Chanukah decorations though.

[onthetown]

Being in Canada, our Thanksgiving is in October... around here, the generally accepted time to wait to put up Christmas decorations is after Remembrance Day/Veterans' Day/whatever you want to call it. Stores will set up for Christmas before then, but they don't advertise the big sales in the flyers until after November 11.

I haven't seen any Christmas lights go up yet, but we're selling plenty at work, so maybe the prettiness will start soon...

We now have a gigantic waving, smiling, "Ho ho ho!"ing Santa Claus perched in a chair up above the aisles. He turns his head as he waves and he's creepy.

As for the tree itself, and not generally the decorations, my mom and I will either go out to the Christmas tree farm to cut one down or go to the parking lot pre-cut ones (depending on what mood we're in) around December 1st, and it will remain up until January 1st or within the first week of January.

[Snares]

Nope. Our decorations normally don't go up until early December at the earliest. Last year Christmas was about a week away before we got the place decorated.

A few years back, somebody down my road had a tree up in September. September! :smallconfused:

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Yeah, you have to wait until December. Usually we start decorating on the first, but since the first is still Channukkah this year, and it feels wrong to put up Christmas decorations during Channukkah, we'll wait until after Channukkah.

[RanWilde]

We put ours up first Sunday of Advent. Which sucks, cause I won't be home. :smallfrown:

[Orzel]

Up yet? No way.

The day after I eat all the Thanksgiving food.
So... the afternoon after Thanksgiving. :smallbiggrin:

[Rob Roy]

If usually put up a fake tree a few days before Christmas, right after I remember that Christmas is coming up soon.

[Melayl]

(speaking as one who lives in America) My friends and I think it should be a felony to decorate or play Christmas music before the day after Thanksgiving.

Our resident Wal-Mart took out the Halloween costumes/products the week before Halloween last year and put up Christmas stuff. I avoided shopping there until after Thanksgiving...

[Daimbert]

I put up my outdoor Christmas decorations, just to have them up before the weather gets too cold. This weekend was just too nice to pass up; the weather could only get worse, especially considering how much rain we've had this year (basically, every day or at least every weekend for weeks). But I don't turn the lights on until the first weekend in December; they're just up to be there.

I don't put anything up in the house anymore; I don't have a good location where I'd be able to see them anymore, so I leave 'em off.

[Mr. Moon]

Being in Canada, our Thanksgiving is in October... around here, the generally accepted time to wait to put up Christmas decorations is after Remembrance Day/Veterans' Day/whatever you want to call it. Stores will set up for Christmas before then, but they don't advertise the big sales in the flyers until after November 11.

Yeah, this. In general, putting up Christmas decorations before Remembrance Day is considered to be tasteless and disrespectful, but after that you can go wild. Most people don't, but there's already Christmas music playing in the malls.

Personally? I'm waiting until after my exams before I start to even think about Christmas. I am waaay too busy until then. x.x

[MonkeyBusiness]

snip> ... we do it because we enjoy it. My mom is the kind who gets stressed out and weepy over 'all that has to be done'. We've never understood that.

My mom just loved to bake and decorate at Christmastime. My dad didn't: actually, for several years he was depressed during the holidays, which made him bad-tempered and critical ... and anti-Christmas. I mean he was a real Scrooge! From time to time he'd storm out of the house, and my mother would say, "Okay, here we go!" My sisters and I would just grin and run to put up the decorations. Dad would come home ... and the house would be transformed. Right down to glitzy tinsel and good ol' Andy Williams singing "Winter Wonderland"!

Hence, we had no schedule. We just waited for a major "Bah Humbug" moment and responded.

And I think Dad was reassured that he didn't have the power to wreck Christmas. Ultimately, he liked the decorations and cookies and carols and all. But preparing for celebrations seemed to make him nervous and sad. And on Christmas day he was usually quite merry.

The power of holidays is interesting. They bring out the best and the worst in us.
.

[Lady Moreta]

And I think Dad was reassured that he didn't have the power to wreck Christmas. Ultimately, he liked the decorations and cookies and carols and all. But preparing for celebrations seemed to make him nervous and sad. And on Christmas day he was usually quite merry.

The power of holidays is interesting. They bring out the best and the worst in us.
.

My Dad is similar... we used to set a day and Dad would make himself scarce. Or we'd wait for a time when he was at work so it wouldn't bother him while we went nuts.