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I wonder if anyone else has noticed this startling new trend? It appears that several houses near me, the occupiers have taken it into their heads to set up their Christmas trees! I am completely baffled by this.
We had a new, artificial, tree delivered the other day and the driver said “Please tell me you’re not going to put this up yet?!” Hahahahahahahaha We assured him that we only ordered now because we tried to late last year but, apparently, putting dec’s up Christmas week was ‘leaving it a bit late’ and we couldn’t get one.
My fave time to put them up, pre-retirement, was Christmas Eve. It makes Christmas Day seem a bit more special and twinkly 🎄😊
I'd say it's a clear indication of marketing and probably some social media influence, or maybe they just want to 'get it sorted early. I do have friends like this! Many people probably don't know the history and backstory of Samhain , or the story of Stingy Jack or have an interest in how ancient traditions have been first taken over by organised religion & then capitalism. I'd wager some don't even consider bonfire night and halloween 2 things now. I once tried to carve a traditional halloween turnip.. Looks super spooky but pumpkins are an easier! I like the Dutch early celebration of Christmas. And I find it fascinating, how it's celebrated at different times around the world. Armenia is Jan 6th for instance. I have Ukrainian cousins who in orthodox terms would celebrate on Jan 7th (although generally the 25th. Apologies for the ramble! :D https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/
Oh wow that is early @ChrisR777! I wonder if they've decorated it with Halloween decorations???
Hi ChrisR777
Last week my niece (aged 26ish) put up the large Xmas tree in her mother's front room and decorated it (see photo below).
I'm mostly a bit "Bah humbug" about the whole Xmas thing, but I very much approve of any excuse for a party with flashing lights and my bedroom and house are full of neon lights, lava lamps, a Strobe light etc. It looks like a 90s disco after dark!
Other countries and religions celebrate Xmas in January, in The Philippines it's celebrated from September to January.
I think it's all a bit daft, but I'm an atheist, the chimney in my house was sealed decades ago and replaced with a gas fire, and my family will be celebrating Xmas at my house on December 23rd this year.
It's one less job my sister has to do/organise and I always encourage everyone to relax and have fun.
🕴️
A Xmas full of tiny pumpkins, it might look awfully cute.
#ChrisR777 and all,
I went into my local Argos store about two weeks ago and was rather taken aback to see they had two fully decorated Christmas Trees in the store! Actually, Christmas Trees seem to be popping up in most stores now. It does indeed seem extraordinarily early before Halloween, (not that I'm a fan of Halloween). Also, I heard on the radio that someone was wrapping his Christmas presents, then I thought maybe the person was doing it to post abroad? Mind you we should be getting used to this by now since if you venture shopping on Boxing Day you will probably find the Easter Eggs have made their way to the selves!
Far too early for me personally, but each year I remember how much of a chore it is - if you're going to spend that much time decorating you may as well get the most out of it! 😆
Another victory for marketing!
Why don't they just put their Christmas tree up in October, leave it up until April? They would just change the tinsel and baubles for either Hallowe'en, Christmas, or Easter! You know it makes sense! 🙄
I heard a waste management consultant to the radio yesterday, and we really, really don't need any more landfill.☹️
last time I was in a house with a Christmas Tree was the end of 2022, when I was with the ex wife. Personally for me as a person I don’t celebrate it nor any other event over the course of the year. Christmas is crammed down your throat for four months of the year, gets parents in debt and causes a whole lot of aggro. I have not watched a Christmas film since 2022 as well. When I used to work as a support worker I preferred working both Christmas and the New Year. Christmas no longer is about family, it is more about loading adverts onto the tv so kids can beg for expensive gifts, as well as “you can spread the cost of this item”
One year I had the tree up until late March!!
It wasn’t really intentional (I just couldn’t move it!!) but it certainly cheered me up through the gloominess of Jan and Feb 🎄
October is far too early! There are some houses near me that keep their external lights up all year round but they're not switched on until December, I think it's mostly for ease of not having to keep putting them up and taking them down.
I wonder if the massive rise of 'influencers' (and wanna-be influencers) is part of the reason some are putting them up early? Now is about the right time to start prepping Xmas content to go live early November.
Too early for me too! Like others, I find the magic wears off if you set up too quickly. I aim for the beginning of December usually.
That's a good point @Anhedonia2, might have something to do with it!
And maybe just that people are having a hard time. Life can be stressful, so perhaps people are looking for joy in some way and decorating early fills that gap for some.
For several months I've been buying Hot Cross buns to have with butter as a snack.
I read that several times, but i'm still none the wiser. Can you explain?
They are sold all year around near me, I had one toasted with butter for breakfast this morning.
I haven't noticed it although I have seen full trees in many shops already. I'm not sure I'll manage a tree this year, I normally like to dress a 5 foot one in my living room, but I think it would take me from now until Christmas to put it together and decorate it this year.
It may have to be a retired tradition and I'll see if I can find a small table top one that comes ready decorated.
That sounds like a good solution @Emilee. In a previous job, we used to just cling-film our public-facing Christmas trees once the season was over, decorations and all. They'd get stored like that and then unwrapped and spruced up a bit the next year. Not exactly environmentally friendly, but it saved a lot of time and energy on decorating! Might be an option for your smaller tree if you can get someone to help wrap it up when you're done!
I have never put up a Christmas tree, nor even a scrap of landfill fodder, that is tinsel and assorted ****.
My ex wife used to put up a tree when I was at work, that's only because we had two daughters who obviously loved that sort of thing.
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