When is the right time to put up your Christmas tree and decorations? Each year, the anticipation for Christmas seems to start a little earlier but there are many different traditions and beliefs when it comes to the best time to start decorating your home for Christmas.
Once upon a time...
During the Victorian period, Christmas trees were traditionally put up much later in December, often on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.
Straight after Halloween
For some, Christmas decorations go up as soon as Halloween ends on 31st October, and so Christmas lovers embrace 1st November as the start of the festive season and begin decorating their home at this time.
But, putting Christmas decorations up early actually makes you happy...
Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown told UNILAD that putting up Christmas decorations early extends the excitement of the festive season. It acts as an 'anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions' and so ultimately makes you happier.
Psychologist Deborah Serani also said decorating your home for Christmas early can 'create that neurological shift that can produce happiness', explaining to TODAY Home: 'Christmas decorating will spike dopamine, a feel-good hormone.'
Advent
An important date in the Christian calendar, Advent is the period before Christmas which celebrates the birth of Jesus, and is a period of preparation. The occasion can be marked with an Advent candle and Advent wreath. Tradition dictates that Christmas trees should be put up at the beginning of Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This year, Advent begins on Sunday 3rd December 2023.
1st December
The beginning of December is a popular choice, with many households decorating their home for Christmas at the start of the most festive month to mark the official countdown.
The big tree'kend
The first weekend of December is set to be the most popular, according to John Lewis. Four in 10 are expected to have their tree up by 3rd December, in what the retailer is calling 'the big tree'kend'.
It depends on if you buy a real tree...
If you're buying a real Christmas tree, the British Christmas Tree Growers Association always advise that trees should not be purchased earlier than 1st December. Why? The tree should survive for at least four weeks, though properly caring for the tree (it should be treated like any plant being brought into a warm, dry atmosphere) could help it last longer.
Norway Spruce Fresh Cut Christmas Trees
Norway Spruce Fresh Cut Christmas Trees
According to Dobbies, the second Saturday in December has historically seen an influx of shoppers buying real Christmas trees, an event officially called 'Bring Your Christmas Tree Home Day'. Research shows sales on the second Saturday of December had doubled, tripled and sometimes even quadrupled compared to other shopping days.
12 days before...
Others may choose to put their decorations up 12 days before Christmas, which means you'll be turning your home into a festive abode from 13th December.
So, once the tree is up, when does it come down? There are many different traditions for this, too. Read our guide: When to take the Christmas tree down: Twelfth Night & Epiphany tradition explained.
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The Christmas Decorations Edit
Olivia Heath is the Daily Editor at House Beautiful. Heading up all things digital, Olivia loves nothing more than uncovering tomorrow's biggest design trends and revealing the best tips and tricks to help you decorate your home like an interior designer. Week by week Olivia shares the most stylish high street buys to help you get the look for less (while compiling her very own, and rather lengthy, homeware lust list) and showcases the best makeovers (who doesn't love a before & after?), as well as the hottest and most unique properties on the market.
Prior to making the switch to interiors on House Beautiful, Olivia worked at Reveal magazine, where she reported on celebrity and entertainment news by day, and attended showbiz parties and red carpet events by night! Olivia has an MA in Journalism with an NCTJ qualification, as well as a BA in Journalism and Media & Cultural Studies.
