Get the Decorating Started: How Early is Too Early for Christmas Decor?

With the holidays around the corner, what is considered too early to start Christmas decorating? For a select few, celebrating Christmas once a year is not enough.

Some time ago, I stumbled upon a visual tour of Frank Bianco (aka Frankie Christmas) Manhattan apartment, which stays decorated immediately after Labor Day until April. That’s eight months of loving and celebrating all things Christmas, not to mention a ton of labored hours of decorating.

Heather Shane out of St. Louis has dedicated part of her home and basement to year-round Christmas decorations. With light-up display cabinets and wall-to-wall decor, she spends all year long going to flea markets and garage sales hunting and collecting Christmas decorations. Hobby, obsession or festive fanaticism?

Paul and Victoria Humpherston own a 52-room Gothic revival mansion in Mid Wales, named “The Hall.” They decorate all the rooms for Christmas, boasting over 70 plus decorated Christmas trees and offer tours to the public. One clue given on why the couple takes on this endeavor might be found in Paul Humphertons’ favorite quote. “We come to this world but once. If there is some good deed I can do or some great kindness I can show, let me do it now - not delay or neglect it, for I shall not come this way again” (quote by Etienne de Grellet about the value of courtesy).

There was a strong trend a few years ago which promoted keeping a Christmas tree up year-round and just swapping out the decorations seasonally. Starting with Christmas to Valentines, St. Patrick’s, Easter and so on. If you have the room, decorations, and time, then why not? It does seem decorations during the holiday season tend to make people happier and friendlier. However, some people also believe leaving decorations up past the Twelfth night is thought to bring bad luck. Commonly, a good percentage of people take down decorations and the tree after New Year’s.

As far as what would be too early, I’m not sure there really is a right or wrong answer. I personally like to start and have all the holiday decoration done before Thanksgiving. It isn’t always possible that the family which attends Thanksgiving will necessarily be able to attend Christmas festivities. Usually, after Christmas, I’m ready to tear it all down, deep clean everything, and ring in the New Year with literally a clean slate. Another great way I like to start the new year while also getting ready for the following year is to purchase the Christmas decor on a 50-75% sale and store it, ready to go for the following holiday.

We all have our traditions and opinions on decorations and timelines. Instead of asking how early is too early for Christmas decorating, maybe we should be asking, where is it we can find lasting happiness? For some, it is celebrating and being jolly year-round about something thats only supposed to be a day!