Emma & Cooper
Decorating the house for Christmas is one of my favorite things to do. Each year I either purchase a new piece for my St. Nicholas Square Village or put it on my Christmas list. I am in need of a bigger table to display my village but that is for another time. When is it time to decorate the house/apartment for Christmas?
Cooper inspecting his ornament placement
I have always been one who will not decorate the house, listen to Christmas music, or write my Christmas letter before Thanksgiving, but this year I was very motivated, had the Christmas spirit real strong and I convinced my wife it was okay to decorate the house before Thanksgiving. I went into the basement, got the tree, got the box of Christmas decorations and we started decorating. The family was very excited to decorate even though we hadn’t carved the Thanksgiving turkey yet.
After the house was decorated, I didn’t realize the disapproval I would hear from people for decorating so “early”. Is it wrong to celebrate Thanksgiving with your Christmas tree in the background? Do my Christmas decorations mean I am skipping out on being thankful for all that I have? Is it an unwritten rule one can only decorate after Thanksgiving? No way. Here is what I think the general rule about decorating should be and will be practiced in my house forever more. Once Thanksgiving is close and if the family deems it necessary, the house should be decorated. One may ask what does “close” mean? Well that is up to you. Our decorating occurred one week before Thanksgiving and in my mind this isn’t too early. As a Dad if it makes the kids happy then I’m going to do it. When my kids found out we were going to decorate they were very happy and how could I not decorate then?
Getting the star onto the tree is tricky.
Some people I think need to be more open minded and be more willing to change. Compromise is what makes a marriage work and also a serious relationship. So if you have that special someone you are going to be celebrating the Christmas season with, then I would suggest you take down your “wall” and be willing to try new things that may turn into your Christmas traditions as well.
Merry Christmas!
Heather & I by the tree
We decorated on election night. I don’t think it’s ever too early. I also think most of the gripe about decorating early is because the retail industry seems to be skipping Thanksgiving and more people seem to rush their Thanksgiving dinner to go shopping earlier and earlier. I think that as long as you know you’re still going to be celebrating Thanksgiving and you take time out to reflect on what you’re thankful for, then it’s no big deal.
Cory – you bring up a good point about the retail industry. Pretty soon the stores will be opening at 6AM on Thanksgiving so people can save a buck. Yuck. I never want to go shopping on Thanksgiving.