Confessions of an Early Christmas Decorator

I have a confession. I am an early Christmas decorator. My Christmas decorations went up the first week of November, and I don’t care what anyone thinks about that!

I love Christmas. Everything about this holiday makes me happy. The twinkly lights, the smells, the garlands, the preparations, the baking – you name it, I love it! Yes, Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. The turkey is delicious, the football games enjoyable and the traditions that surround this feast are not to be missed.

Do Like the British Do

When I lived in England many years ago, Christmas decorations went up pretty much right after Halloween. Why? Because the British don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. I loved living in England and would move back tomorrow if I was able. Since moving is not in the cards right now, I take a page from their book and start enjoying all things Yule immediately after the witches and ghosts get put away.

In the past, I would try and hide my early decorating. I have always put my tree up over Veteran’s Day weekend but never lit it until after Thanksgiving. This year I decided the heck with that and tree went up and I lit it immediately.

And you know what? It made me SO HAPPY!

Santas and Snowmen and Holly, Oh My!

I pulled out my army of Santas, my assortment of snowmen, my garlands of holly and twinkly lights galore. More joy and happiness came with every unpacked rubbermaid container. Wonderful memories flooded over me as I gazed upon each painted wooden face or embroidered scene.

I have decorations that date back to my childhood. There is a Santa made out of yarn from my preschool years and a Scrooge sewn from a nylon stocking that was crafted when I was in 5th grade. There are beautiful wooden carvings from Europe and a collection of ornaments from my travels. I treasure the handmade trimmings my girls created when they were little.

Each decoration is a memory tied up with a bow or touched with a hint of sparkle. These sparkles bring brightness to my life. Each day when the timers click and all the twinkly lights seem to light simultaneously whatever has happened during the day goes away and the joy the season brings takes over.

Do What Makes YOU Happy!

I find it fascinating people are so passionate about those who choose to decorate early. There are posts on Facebook daily bemoaning those who have put their trees up and the horror of bypassing Thanksgiving! I tell you again, I am in no way trying to sideswipe Thanksgiving.

I understand the frustration with the over commercialization of Christmas and the annoyance some people feel by being inundated with Santas and snowmen before December 1st. But – why should it bother anyone if I put up decorations in my house? No one sees it, it doesn’t harm anyone? If you want to do it, do it. If you don’t, don’t. Turn on the Christmas music, light the gingerbread candles and turn on those twinkly lights if it makes you happy. Life is short, enjoy the season the way it works for you, whether that means decorating in November or December. In the end, it’s really all about the reason for the season anyway!