When do you decorate for Christmas

[rebeccajo 14]

We don't really 'do' Christmas so decs are not an option. On Christmas day we always go to a shelter and help cook and dish out food to homeless people and low income families. It's a 12 hour day but lots of fun and very humbling. By the time that is over, we're too knackered to do anything else. OH has been doing this for the past 10 years, I've been doing it for 4, and we hope to continue as long as we live here. I try to avoid going shopping for the whole of Decmber. It's a pretty sick sight seeing all the consumer nonsense after what we see on that day.

Now that sounds like a lovely way to spend Christmas day.

[Lou Lou 1]

We don't really 'do' Christmas so decs are not an option. On Christmas day we always go to a shelter and help cook and dish out food to homeless people and low income families. It's a 12 hour day but lots of fun and very humbling. By the time that is over, we're too knackered to do anything else. OH has been doing this for the past 10 years, I've been doing it for 4, and we hope to continue as long as we live here. I try to avoid going shopping for the whole of Decmber. It's a pretty sick sight seeing all the consumer nonsense after what we see on that day.

Now that sounds like a lovely way to spend Christmas day.

You know, I never thought I'd enjoy it, but I have to say it's the best day of the year for me. We always get to meet a great bunch of people. It's uplifting but heartbreaking at the same time. A very emotional experience. I would encourage anyone who has that free time, or will be alone this Christmas to do the same. They won't regret it.

[Nessa 23]

Won't celebrate Christmas, not for religious beliefs, but for an option.

[Elphie 0]

I always put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. It's one of my favorite things to do and I look forward to it every year.

[almaty 19]

we put up a small new years tree about the middle of december

[MrMrsKnight 0]

The two Christmas we spent together, while he was living here, we put stuff up about 2 weeks before Christmas and took it down sometime in january.

I love Christmas and it's the best time of year to me.... I hope I can spend it with him again this year!

[JanaknJanet 0]

The street I live on becomes a street that 90 % of the houses totally decorate up..

10 yrs ago.. it was just myself and the lady across the street... we both kinda competed with each other. on getting our decorations up and turned on .. fully by Thanksgiving... then. the other neighbors got involved.. .. .. now its seems its up to close to 35 houses fully decked out.

I start the beginning of November.. getting the lights out.. checking for new lights. or newer decorations... .. .. ususally change color scheme every couple years.. was red with white icecicles .. then green with blue icecicles.. then blue with green icecicles.. .. .. have some rather large snowflakes that i light hanging in the front trees.. got turned on to the led lights last year.. .. i tend to do more with my lights then with some of the free standing characters...

My neighbor is a big hunter... (deer and such).. each year.. he places his anamated deer in the middle of his yard... with his hunter figures in the bushes... .. kinda sick if ya ask me..

Still debating on wht i will do this year... .. hmmm only have a few more days to think of what i will choose.. then.. scheme a bit.. ..

[jordanianprincess 0]

We usually start decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, so about a month.

Ditto

[Addie_Goodvibes 0]

My wife & I Decorate the weekend Following Thanksgiving,

Every Year we Make New Origami Ornaments to hang on our tree, It has become a tradion for us.

We go out and fine really nice patterned Origami paper and try new Modular origami designs for 3 deminsional ornaments. We top the tree with a different Bow and Modular origami Star ( Stellated Icosohedra) We also hang illuminated origami Balls over our family room Window.

Below are a few examples of some of our ornaments.

Thats the fun of it all, is making new ornaments, we have some store bought balls, and other onramnets but the origami makes the tree really beautiful. We spend a lot of time together making memories.

We make about 500 origami cranes, Hats, Animals or add to these Gifts & before Christmas we go to A local LA shelter and Wrap Donated gifts for needy families to pick up and give their children, .

it is our way of giving to those who need it.

We live in a town house near the beach so do not do too many outdoor lights, but our tree is in a window that can be seen.

Edited November 2, 2006 by Addie_Goodvibes

[V&J2005 0]

It's gonna be the 1st christmas that We celebrate together

So I will be extra-excited about it...

maybe I'll start to decorate at the end of november

[Inlove_tx 0]

...I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

It's absolutely the BEST ever, and I really look forward to it all year round. I have a huge family in Italy, so for us Christmas is definitely a family Holiday, a chance to celebrate all together. My cousins, aunts and uncles live scattered in Italy and I'm here in the US, but no matter what, we all merge together for the Holidays (about 50 people) and it's the most beautiful feeling ever!

This is going to be my hubby and I's 7th Christmas together and going to Italy for us is absolutely a must (he doesn't have any close relatives here), we love it, the atmosphere there is so amazing! My family's waiting for us to get there before putting up the decorations, so it's going to be so much fun! We'll be leaving in the middle of Dec until after New Year's and since we're always there for Christmas, we decorate our house here in the US pretty early.

We'll start putting up the tree and some decorations this weekend, that way we'll have it all set up for Thanksgiving, which is our "American Christmas" to celebrate with our friends here. I just can't wait!

P.S. Addie, I LOVE your origami decorations!!!

Edited November 17, 2006 by Inlove_tx

[JaJo 1]

Christmas season - December 8 (day of immaculate conception) to Jan 6 (feast of the ephiphany)

same here.

[edsperfect 25]

alright peeps. tell me your decorating habits......or lack there of if you dont celebrate!

usually i decorate 1-2mths in advance. if i could id decorate starting in Sept lol thats when i usually start my shopping.

lol

When i was living in the condo i hada finished basement, carpeted etc but i did not use it. First year I was thee i put the ttree up in the basement. Wroked so well i sad the hell with it and left it there for 5 years decorated. Would blow the dust off it with a hairdryer every once and a while

[keltic 1]

i like to put up the tree and decorate it on thanksgiving, after dinner... the family is all gathered so that you can do it together... i am not one to put lots of flashy stuff in the yard, just a wreath on the door and *maybe* some greenery on the handrails of the steps... i dont like the blinking "eat at joes" lights on the tree... i like plain clear lights and then the tree is filled with special decorations that have been slowly gathered each year... every year each person in the family gets an ornament for that year... so there are wonderful memories and a wide variety of decorations on the tree

[Mary Lou 682]

It will be our first xmas together too like other couples so its extra exciting for me. I have always loved to decorate and have loads of things. As far as decorating the outside of the house, i told hubby thats his job lol Since i just had surgery im hoping by first week in december to start.