When Do Most People Begin Their Christmas Decorating?

Conventional wisdom suggests that Christmas decorations should be put up on the first day of Advent, the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. However, many Americans start decorating for Christmas as early as the day after Halloween, shopping for tinsel, garlands, and ornaments on Etsy as early as August. A recent YouGov study found that a majority of people believe that Christmas décor is best done after Thanksgiving or the first week of December. Around one in six will wait until early December, while only five get started on decorating in mid-December or later.

In general, most people wait until after Halloween to start their holiday decorating. However, some people choose to start decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving or mid-December, as it allows for a smoother transition between the two holidays. The most common days to decorate include the day after Thanksgiving and after Thanksgiving, but before December.

When it comes to decorating your Christmas tree, most agree that sometime soon after Thanksgiving is the ideal time. It was once considered the general rule of thumb to wait until after Thanksgiving before decorating for Christmas, but in modern times, that no longer holds true. Most Americans start decorating around the start of December, but some trim up as soon as the nights draw in.

In 2023, the date of the first day of Advent, the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, is the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. However, many people start decorating for Christmas as early as the day after Halloween, shopping for tinsel, garlands, and ornaments on Etsy as early as August.

Are you happier if you decorate for Christmas early?

It has been posited by experts in the field that the early installation of Christmas decorations can result in an increase in levels of happiness and friendliness amongst the general public. This is thought to be as a result of the stimulation of the feel-good hormone dopamine, which is triggered by the use of colours and lights.

Is November 1st too early to decorate for Christmas?

The traditional rule of waiting until after Thanksgiving before decorating for Christmas has changed, with people getting excited for the holiday earlier than ever. Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson suggests that people start shopping for Christmas decorations as early as August. To incorporate Christmas into fall and Thanksgiving décor, Johnson suggests starting with solid staples and then switching out accessories.

This gradual approach allows for a more enjoyable and festive holiday experience for friends and family. By incorporating Christmas into your home decor gradually, you can ease the transition from one holiday to another.

When can I decorate my house for Christmas?

There is no right or wrong time to start decorating your house for Christmas, and you can display festive items whenever you like without judgement. However, if you want a real Christmas tree, garland, or wreath, it is best to pre-order for delivery in mid-December to ensure it lasts into the new year. A real garland and wreath will look good for around the same period. It is important to have enough time to decorate, as it can take a while to complete a whole room or decorate a tree. Smaller decorations like advent calendars, Christmas cards, or scented candles can be done quickly, but larger decorations require more time.

When did Christmas ornaments start?

The Romans and Egyptians decorated homes and trees with suns, deity symbols, and greenery, marking the deep-rooted human tradition of celebrating the change in the season and the promise of new life. In Europe, the tradition of ornamentation began in Germany with the decoration of evergreen branches with fruits and nuts, first recorded in the 1600s. Hand-blown glass ornaments, initially called baubles, were designed and crafted by Hans Greiner in 1847, originating from a glassworks founded by his grandfather and Christoph Müller in 1597.

Custom glass Christmas ornaments begin with the design of a mold, which is carved in wood and used as an imprint for shaping heated glass. A glass tube is attached to a blowpipe and heated until it softens and gives off an orange glow. The glass blower inserts the molten glass into the mold and blows, forming the shape and imprinting the precisely carved form into the ornament. The ornament is then removed from the blow tube to cool.

The finest holiday ornaments utilize these techniques, resulting in custom-crafted decorations of heirloom quality that can be enjoyed for generations to come.

What day do people put up Christmas decorations?

Advent Sunday, the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, is a traditional day for Christians to start putting up Christmas decorations. The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’. It’s a time of anticipation and anticipation for Jesus’s birth and Christ’s return. The timing of taking down Christmas decorations is a topic of debate among Christians, with some preferring a fixed schedule and others embracing a more relaxed approach.

What time of year do people decorate?

To maintain a balanced home decor, switch out your seasonal decorations for Spring/Summer, Fall, and Winter. Add holiday decor two to four weeks before a holiday, depending on its significance. This timeline is not exhaustive and may include additional items based on religion or community. As the calendar year moves towards winter, start your timeline at the beginning of the year to ensure your home is well-prepared for the changing seasons.

How did people decorate for Christmas in the 1920s?

The Wiederkehr Clothing Store showcases a crepe paper holiday package tree, a traditional decoration used during the 1920s. The tree includes crepe paper, candles, tinsel, and pom-poms, also known as festoons. The store encourages customers to get crafty this holiday season and share their unique creations on social media. The crepe paper holiday package tree is a great way to celebrate the holiday season.

When did people start decorating for Christmas?

Christmas decorations have a long history, dating back to the Roman feast Saturnalia, which is believed to have originated in the 5th century BC. The tradition of decorating a tree, symbolizing life, dates back to the Celts during the winter solstice. Christmas decorations can be various types, including pine green, snow white, heart red, gold, silver, and other metallic colors. Typical Christmas decorations include Baby Jesus, Mother Mary, angels, Father Christmas, Santa Claus, and the star of Bethlehem.

Advent wreaths, nativity scenes, illuminations, and Moravian stars are popular Christmas decorations. In some countries, such as Sweden, people set up their Advent and Christmas decorations on the first day of Advent, which is done through a Hanging of the Greens ceremony. In the Western Christian world, Christmas decorations are removed on Twelfth Night and Candlemas, which ends the Christmas-Epiphany season in some denominations. Taking down Christmas decorations before Twelfth Night and leaving them up beyond Candlemas is historically considered inauspicious.

When to start decorating for Christmas?

A majority of 65 editor friends recommend decorating for Christmas after Thanksgiving or the first week of December, as this schedule allows for a clean transition into the yuletide season and aligns with the start of Advent. The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park decorates on Thanksgiving Day. However, 15% agree that decorating after Thanksgiving is the best, suggesting waiting longer into December.

The remaining 20% prefer to start their Christmas tree early, even as early as November 1, as they crave the magic and merry before the turkey dinner. The ideal time to put up the Christmas tree is sometime soon after Thanksgiving.

Do people decorate for Christmas early?

The best time to start decorating for Christmas depends on personal preference. Some prefer to start early in November, making the holiday feel longer, while others prefer to start closer to the big day. Interior stylist Vivianne Chow personally begins decorating after Thanksgiving and makes it a family tradition to put up their Christmas tree during Thanksgiving weekend. Other festivities to enjoy in the lead-up to Christmas include celebrating the changing seasons, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, many swap Thanksgiving decor with Christmas decor to maintain festive cheer.

Is it OK not to decorate for Christmas?

Interior designer Lesley Myrick shares her personal preference for minimalism in home decor, rather than party planning, tablescaping, and holiday decorating. She believes that the holiday season is the time when many people get excited about putting effort into their home decor, but she also finds the sheer volume of decorations annoying and adds stress to the already busy season.

Lesley Myrick suggests that instead of having a house full of tiny Santas, one should focus on creating a festive atmosphere that brings warmth, sparkle, coziness, and connection to the home. This involves all five senses: sounds, smells, touches, and tastes of the season. The sounds of the holidays can be evoked through music like Mannheim Steamroller’s 1984 album “Christmas”, which transports the listener back to childhood.

Digital Christmas music can make it feel like living in a Hallmark movie, while holiday smells and tastes can be introduced through burning candles, diffusing essential oils, and baking pies with the kids.

Materials that make the home feel cozy and cuddly include chunky knit blankets, faux-fur pillows, and fabrics with a hint of sparkle. Drape a festive blanket over the back of your sofa and add a seasonal throw pillow for a mini room makeover that won’t take up much storage space the rest of the year. Lighting can also be used to evoke holiday magic, with simple plug-in dimmers for table lamps turning them from functional to moody and magical. Flickering candles are always welcome, and the warm glow of a fireplace is always welcome.

Lesley Myrick emphasizes that there’s no right or wrong way to decorate for the holiday season, but if it feels like a burden instead of a benefit, choosing simple sensory pleasures over the frenzy of holiday decorating might be the key to capturing the feel of the season you’ve been longing for. By combining holiday tunes, something delicious to snack on, a warm blanket to wrap around you, and ambient lighting, you can create a festive atmosphere that doesn’t feel like a burden.