Decorating your home early is one way to make the magic of Christmas last as long as possible (and it might also make you happier), but when is the right time to put up your Christmas tree? Australian stores stock decorations from early October, which can make it hard to resist the temptation to get in on the festive spirit early.
Many people think the best time to take down the Christmas tree is between Boxing Day and January 5th, but the best time to put it up is less clear.
What is the correct date to put up your Christmas tree?
In Australia, setting up your tree on December first, the first Sunday in December or the second Saturday in December is quite popular. Christians may choose to put up the tree on the first day of Advent, the first Sunday of the four Sundays before Christmas Day, which often falls between November 27 and December 3.
Traditions vary depending on where you live. In the US, for example. many families put up a tree the first Friday after Thanksgiving at the end of November. In the Philippines, putting your Christmas tree up in December is considered late! There, festivities begin as early as September and don’t stop until mid-January.
The history of Christmas trees
The Christmas tree tradition as we know it began in Germany in the 16th century, when devout Christians would decorate trees in their homes. However, Christmas wasn’t quite the celebration then as it is now.
During the Victorian period, Christmas was celebrated in a way that is more similar to what we experience today and at that time, it was customary to put up the Christmas tree and decorate it much later in December, usually the afternoon of Christmas Eve – which was a tradition the ancient Romans also adhered to.
Final verdict: It’s up to you!
But in the end, families also put up their trees based on their upbringing.
Speaking to The Age, Monash University Professor Gary Bouma says most people just stick to what they know. “It really is what you grew up with, but for some of us it is also when you have the time to throw the thing up,” he says.
What do BHG readers think?
A question on the Better Homes and Gardens Facebook page got readers talking about when they put up their tree. 1 December was the most popular single answer, with almost one in five readers sticking firmly to tradition. The early birds weren’t far behind, though, and plenty said they put up their tree on 1 November or “sometime in November”.
Many people said it depends on how long they want to enjoy it. After a week of decorating, one month just isn’t enough. In South Australia, Adelaide Christmas Pageant day was a popular choice, and some families have kept that tradition for decades.
Overall, it seems there’s no right or wrong time to deck the halls.
