When to Put up the Christmas Decorations? (AD)

***COLLABORATIVE POST***

When do you start putting up your Christmas decorations? When I was little I remember putting up the Christmas tree every year. Not at the beginning of December, and never any earlier, but probably a week before the big day and the tree always then stayed up until 12th Night (5 January).

We rarely had a real tree either but a family tree passed down to my parents and also with some heirloom baubles too – my favourite was always the squirrel and mouse that I still have today – all be it slightly well worn.

I don't know about you but since we've been parents Christmas has become even more magical. From school shows to opening presents on Christmas Day I love it all. Here is one of the boys as a snowflake in their first school Christmas show ...

and this picture is our very first as parents and now they are tweens it's still really special. 

This year we are going to Pantos, a live show of The Snowman, and I'm hoping to see Santa a few times more too. But the decorations will be up first!

Decorations in December

Now I’m keen to get started at the beginning of December. Once the first day of the month was only marked by an advent calendar now it’s my excuse to decorate the whole house. I think it brightens up December. The kids love it and it makes the most of all the decorations that we have hidden away in the loft for the rest of the year. Although Christmas shopping may have begun I’ve never been tempted to get too festive in the house before December 1st though - not yet, anyway!

Bringing the tree down from the loft always has and always does bring back so many memories. Sorting out the Christmas lights, tinsel, baubles it’s a tradition that I love and have fully embraced in my own home. We have just decorated half of our house and I’m currently looking at what new and/or additional Christmas decorations I can add to style our home this coming festive period.

We’ve been collecting pine cones, quite a collection now as you can see below, so I quite fancy getting the boys to decorate these with glitter to make them sparkle and turn them into decorations. 

Lots of retailers have great stuff this year too. Cox and Cox have some lovely decorations for both inside and outside the home to suit your own personal style from on-trend botanicals to decadent copper, including lighting, trees, garlands and accessories. All handpicked too so not what you’ll find in other traditional catalogues.

I particularly like this tree and it would go lovely in our new freshly painted hallway – a real welcome for our Christmas guests. 

At £45, it’s also perfect for anyone short on space. This rustic hanging tree has been carefully created using ten natural birch branches hung together with strong jute string and is easy to hang from a hook on a wall.

These indoor-outdoor trees from £35 are so simple yet beautiful. 

This pre-lit mountain spruce tree at £350 is more expensive but would complete the festive look of our lounge nicely too.

And these baubles, from £5.50, would look good in any home. 

Putting up the Christmas decorations always create great memories. Last year we let the boys decorate the tree themselves, and I promised not to ‘put it right’. They did a great job and their teddies got in on the action too. I think it will be December 1st again for us this year as the boys love helping and gets us all in the Christmas spirit.

When to Put up the Christmas Decorations?

I asked a few other families when they put up their decorations and how that differs from when they were young. We seem to be the same as many other families now, with decorations going up at the beginning of the month – much earlier than when we were children ourselves.

First, (by just one day!) to put up their tree is Laura who said “We put ours up the night of the 30th November, so they're up on the 1st December. It started as a new tradition when we moved house when my son was younger. It's much earlier than when we were younger! Our tree used to go up about 10 days before as kids.” 

Many others were the beginning of December,

Pete said: “Our decorations go up at the beginning of December. That's a fair bit earlier than when I was a kid. We didn't bother until 10 days before when I was growing up. Prior to having kids, our tree went up a week before.” 

Emily said “We put ours up on December 1st, as I think it's the perfect way to start the festivities of the month! When I lived at home we did them the weekend after December 5th (my step-dad's birthday), although I remember always begging to do them earlier!” 

Chermainee said “Always the weekend after my birthday (30th November) unless the hubby gets too excited to wait. I can't remember as a kid, but I'd guess around the same time. I'm very much like my mum with traditions.” 

Emma said “1st December here - we do Elf on the Shelf and usually tie it in with the elves arriving. I love the magic of Christmas and like to enjoy it for the whole month. I do take them down on 27th though as I'm over them by then!” 

Abi said: “We always do put our decorations up in the last weekend in November - I like it to be ready for 1st December! I don't think we ever put them up that early when I was a kid, but ever since I moved out that's what we have done. It's only becoming more exciting since having our own children but I've always been a huge fan of Christmas anyway!!" 

Amy said: “1st December decorations go up (always have done since I was a child) but now they're down by Boxing Day/the day after whereas my Mum used to keep them up until the new year!”

Debbie said “Our decorations usually go up on 1 December as I like to make Christmas last as long as possible. They come down just after New Year as my son's birthday is on 3rd January and we usually have birthday banners etc for that. When I was younger they were put up the weekend after my Dad's birthday on 6th December and taken down before my Mum's birthday on 4th January.

And those that are slightly later in putting them up have different family reasons for it rather than not being in the Christmas spirit …

Katy said “We put our decorations up in mid-December, as we have a little one, and don't want her to have months to trash the house. We used to decorate in November but I just can't stand all the weeks of keeping things lovely and keeping our favourite ornaments safe” 

Ally said “Day after my son’s birthday on the 6th December. We have a ritual. I do the tree decorations whilst playing my Xmas songs. I really make an effort as we didn't really celebrate Christmas when I was younger. 

The latest was Emma who said “Usually the week before Christmas as my husbands birthday is the 14th and I don't ever want it to be Christmassy for that. We also love a real tree and if you get it too early you risk having too many needles dropping before the day. 

When do you put up your decorations?

Deb x

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Cox and Cox and we have been compensated for our time in writing it, but all content is original and written by My Boys Club. Product photographs have been supplied by Cox and Cox.

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