The New Intimacy

When Do You Trim Your Tree?

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Contributor: Not here Not here
Staying at my parents with my boyfriend right now in between apartments, but the past couple of years we had the tree up and decorated Mid-December. If it were up to my man, there would be no tree, but I enjoy it and my family has always been big on holiday decorations.

My mother doesn't waste any time, though. Her stuff is usually up the weekend after Thanksgiving, or the first weekend of December at the latest. She goes WAY overboard on decorating for every holiday, but it's cute anyway.
11/08/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
A woman in our neighborhood put up her Christmas stuff on her lawn the day after Halloween.

She has dozens of blow up decorations, lights, MUSIC, a manger, Rudolph, Tin Soldiers. It's just bizarre. And, they are usually still there in April. Everybody gets So tired of it. Last year, I thought I was losing my mind, because I kept hearing music turns out she has this PA system to play Christmas music all over the neighborhood.
11/08/2010
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
A woman in our neighborhood put up her Christmas stuff on her lawn the day after Halloween.

She has dozens of blow up decorations, lights, MUSIC, a manger, Rudolph, Tin Soldiers. It's just bizarre. And, they are usually still there in ... more
It's called "Disturbing the Peace" and "Crimes against humanity".
11/08/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
It's called "Disturbing the Peace" and "Crimes against humanity".
Yes! And we live in a unincorporated area, so there is no enforcement of any noise or nuisance laws.
11/08/2010
Contributor: Lif3sambiguity Lif3sambiguity
I don't have a fake tree anymore so i guess i am getting a real one this year. I had those ones with the lights already on them and i plugged it in and basically the whole freakin tree was out, so i tried fixing it and after about 2 hrs i said hell no... and tossed it in the dumpster.
11/08/2010
Contributor: RosesThorns RosesThorns
Im pagan...but I LOVE to decorate for xmas... so... I pretty much go all out and as soon as my boyfriend/parents/room mates/who ever I happen to be living with at the time will let me!
11/08/2010
Contributor: gone77 gone77
From the title of this post alone I thought this was another thread about trimming pubes. LOL For the record, no tree here. It's too much of a hassle.
11/08/2010
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
(EF Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
So, for those who get trees (real or fake) for the holidays, when do you set them up and start decorating? And while we're at it, do you have any special traditions associated with tree-trimming?
Ever since the girls were born we have trimmed the tree the night before Yule or just a few days before Yule. We started this as a sort of tradition and the girls love the fact that we will pop some popcorn, drag out the tree and the trimmings and make the room pretty. We leave the tree up for as long as we can stand having it played with by the cats. It's usually put away before New Years!
11/08/2010
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
(EF Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker
I guess I'm the only heathen who doesn't get a tree every year. Haven't had a tree since 2007 and that was only because I was living with my friends and they wanted a big tree. So I guess my dad and I haven't had a tree since I was ... more
LOL nope before we had kids Sigel and I never put up a tree. As pagans (read real life heathens) we would pop some popcorn, string it on natural hemp strands and hang it for the woodland creatures on a tree outside the house. We had a small pentacle that lit up we would use to put presents on (when we could afford them). A few years back we finally ditched the little fake tree we had bought when RavenRose (our oldest) was a year old. We got a fibre optic tree that changes colors so no more strings of lights!
11/08/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
My family waits until the end of the first week of December to do any decorating, so when the tree goes up, everything else goes up. And we do it as a family, no matter how old we kids (my brother and I, who are in our 30's) are.

The very ... more
I'm giving you a giant hug right now for your Keeping Up Appearances reference.
11/08/2010
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
Yes! And we live in a unincorporated area, so there is no enforcement of any noise or nuisance laws.
I have some wire cutters you could borrow. (did I say that)
11/08/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
We normally try really hard to get the tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving. It doesn't normally come down until after my birthday (January 15th), but since my fiance and I will be on our honeymoon at the beginning of January, my mom might get bored and take it down while we're gone, lol.
11/08/2010
Contributor: SexyTabby SexyTabby
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
A woman in our neighborhood put up her Christmas stuff on her lawn the day after Halloween.

She has dozens of blow up decorations, lights, MUSIC, a manger, Rudolph, Tin Soldiers. It's just bizarre. And, they are usually still there in ... more
That's so wrong lol As I came home tonight one of the neighbors on the corner had everything snowmen, santa's, deer, everything up and the house all lit up. I just shook my head. Too early.
11/08/2010
Contributor: leatherlover leatherlover
Normally my wife and I start setting up the tree right after Thanksgiving. But this year I received a Christmas ornament from my mother in law, and that was on display a few weeks ago. Then we forgot about a dancing reindeer last year that we thought we had lost, so we put him out even before Halloween. Now that Halloween has passed, everything else is going to be coming out probably tomorrow or the next day.
11/08/2010
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
We always set up Thanksgiving weekend, usually that Saturday. Friday is reserved for...shopping
Typically the trees go up on Saturday, and the outdoor lights and decor go up Sunday. Our house some years looks like the Griswold's.
11/08/2010
Contributor: popples popples
I've had my decorations in the house up for several days now and I just put up my tree today. I always start at the beginning of November.
11/08/2010
Contributor: SomewhatSomewhere SomewhatSomewhere
Ours normally gets done a little after Thanksgiving. The fun part is that is usually stays up for several months after--once we left it up until April!! That's just the way my family is!
11/08/2010
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
Oh, you mean that literally. LOL.
11/08/2010
Contributor: DustBunny DustBunny
I'm Jewish and he Catholic, but I love to put up the tree and decorate it for Hanukkah. We put on blue and white lights, hang gelt/chocolate coins, and Mario(you know, going after the coins, we're nerds). I also have a menorah that I put out with mini LED lights from Think Geek, no more messing with candles and wax getting on stuff.
11/08/2010
Contributor: MaryA MaryA
When I lived at home, we put up the tree and other decorations on Thanksgiving weekend, so that's what I answered. But my family and I are Christmas nuts

However, in immigrating to Canada to be with my husband, we decorate along the first or second week of December.
11/08/2010
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
I don't know hen your thanksgiving is... So I couldn't answer anything relating to it. Ours is before Halloween though. I like to put my Christmas tree up about a month early. Unfortunately, my children have a way of .... ensuring the replacement of the decorations every year.
11/09/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
I have some wire cutters you could borrow. (did I say that)
Thanks, My Man has already considered it. I don't hear the music this morning. She's an exotic dancer, so she works at night and sleeps late.

The neighborhood I live in is like Mayberry on Acid. Everybody knows too much about everybody's else's business......and it's WEIRD!
11/09/2010
Contributor: Berry Berry
Growing up (in Canada), my mother ALWAYS put the tree up the weekend following Halloween. Seriously. I used to mock her, but in my heart of hearts, I think I like that. Of course, she uses a fake tree.

Now that I'm all grown and have started a family of my own (married 3.5 years, with a little daughter who is 2.5 today!), I'm excited to start Christmas traditions of our own. I'd love to put up the tree early, (I'd wait until after Remembrance Day on November 11 to respect the veterans) but I do plan on using a real tree so will have to wait until the 1st of December, likely. My hubs is a bit of a spoilsport and doesn't relish the thought of carrying a real tree up the stairs (one flight, big deal!) into our apartment, or dealing with the pine needles (he doesn't even clean, I do!) but I'm set on it. I'll win.

He wants to get a small tree (maybe a small potted one), but I want a normal one! This is the first Christmas that my daughter will remember, and I want to do it right. It's only once a year. I wish he wouldn't be such a grinch!
11/09/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by SexyTabby
That's so wrong lol As I came home tonight one of the neighbors on the corner had everything snowmen, santa's, deer, everything up and the house all lit up. I just shook my head. Too early.
It's just strange. I mean, the week of Christmas, or Christmas Even if she wants to play music, I would think that would be OK. But, it's going to be 70 degrees today. Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells and there are leaves all over her Decorations. It just looks odd. Can't wait for the music to start.
11/09/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Emma (Girl With Fire)
I don't know hen your thanksgiving is... So I couldn't answer anything relating to it. Ours is before Halloween though. I like to put my Christmas tree up about a month early. Unfortunately, my children have a way of .... ensuring the ... more
Thanksgiving in the US is usually the last Thursday in November.
11/09/2010
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
Quote:
Originally posted by Emma (Girl With Fire)
I don't know hen your thanksgiving is... So I couldn't answer anything relating to it. Ours is before Halloween though. I like to put my Christmas tree up about a month early. Unfortunately, my children have a way of .... ensuring the ... more
I'm sorry - it's a bit American holiday-centric. I didn't mean to offend our Canadian (and other countries) friends.
11/09/2010
Contributor: Sera Sera
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
So, for those who get trees (real or fake) for the holidays, when do you set them up and start decorating? And while we're at it, do you have any special traditions associated with tree-trimming?
I hate Christmas. We don't put up a tree. Actually, we don't do Thanksgiving either. There are personal reasons for that. If you're curious, just ask me.
11/09/2010
Contributor: Berry Berry
Quote:
Originally posted by Berry
Growing up (in Canada), my mother ALWAYS put the tree up the weekend following Halloween. Seriously. I used to mock her, but in my heart of hearts, I think I like that. Of course, she uses a fake tree.

Now that I'm all grown and have ... more
Oh - and we have a tradition (started last year) of buying a special (not cheap everyday ornament) ornament on the tree, our gift to our daughter last year was a handmade spider ornament made from old TV tubes (Etsy purchase). If you google German tradition of spider ornaments, you'll see why. Cool stuff. I'll be starting the search for a new ornament for her fairly soon.

My idea is to give her one really cool ornament each year, and hang it on Christmas Eve. When she's all grown and moves out on her own, we'll give her a box of all her special ornaments, so she'll have some for her own tree.
11/09/2010
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
I'm sorry - it's a bit American holiday-centric. I didn't mean to offend our Canadian (and other countries) friends.
No worries, I was not offended. I just don't keep track of most holidays. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure when the Canadian thanksgiving is either. I am just thankful all the time, so I don't see any reason to devote an entire day to proving it.
11/09/2010
Contributor: the bedroom blogger the bedroom blogger
Anything before Thanksgiving makes me want to punch a baby. My momma has always been a holiday decorating fanatic, so decorations go up at her house the day after Thanksgiving. I like to wait until December. And I like to avoid malls and their Christmas music that they play in October.
11/09/2010