It's called the most wonderful time of the year for a reason! Between the quality time spent with loved ones, plenty of hearty holiday meals, the sound of Christmas songs everywhere you go, and the excitement of picking out the perfect presents for everyone on your list, there's hardly anything that brings us more cheer. And we can't forget the festive Christmas decorations adorning every shop, home, and downtown street. Everything is so merry and bright!
Speaking of decking the halls, that's a pretty contested subject. Even those in the Drummond family have differing opinions. For instance, Ree Drummond feels very strongly about when to decorate for Christmas—specifically, when to put up the Christmas tree. She says, "Throughout my life, I have unintentionally developed a set of very strict Christmas tree rules... a Christmas tree shouldn't go up until at least the second week of December."
On the other hand, her daughter Alex decorates for Christmas before Thanksgiving! In fact, you can check out the current issue of The Pioneer Woman magazine to see that Alex's home is already ready for the holidays. See, getting in the Christmas spirit isn't always straightforward. But putting those personal preferences aside, when should you decorate for Christmas? Well, we've got tips on the best time to haul out the holly.
Review Statistics
If you want to get technical: According to a survey conducted by YouGov, "Almost one half of holiday decorators get started between Thanksgiving and the end of November. Around one in six (16%) will wait until early December, but only 5% get started on decorating in mid-December or later." So, a majority of people believe that Christmas décor is the earlier the better... after Thanksgiving dinner has been cleared away, of course. But if you'd rather pull out your décor even earlier, there's no shame in that.
Wait Until After Thanksgiving
Since you can probably already find festive figurines and other trinkets lining the shelves of popular retailers, it makes sense that so many people choose to put their wreaths, lights, stockings, and garland galore up at the end of November or beginning of December. By waiting until Black Friday (aka the day after Thanksgiving) to decorate, you'll still get to enjoy your festive finishings throughout the whole month of December without stealing your turkey dinner's thunder. This also allows you to take inventory of your Christmas décor so you can use the biggest shopping days of the year to buy anything you're missing.
Follow the Calendar
For those who are still stuck on when exactly to transform your home into a winter wonderland, just keep to the calendar. A commonly accepted date to string up those lights is December 1. At this point, you're well into winter and past the other major holidays—and it's officially the Christmas season. You might even have a set date for decking the halls each year. (Who doesn't love Christmas traditions?)
Other Christians may choose to decorate based on the Advent season. Advent marks the start of the new liturgical year and always begins on Advent Sunday or the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. In 2024, that perfectly aligns with the start of December on Sunday, December 1. Just be sure to start using those advent calendars as soon as you put them out!
Watch Neighbors Put Out Decorations
Though if you're wondering about the proper etiquette of it all, well, some people may wait until their neighbors have started the decorating process. If others on your street have started to get in the spirit, it's safe to say that you can, too. But if you're tired of waiting, you might choose to start early with smaller items like seasonal doormats and wreaths before setting up the big ol' yard inflatables.
Consider Your Own Décor
It also depends on how you decorate! Those who prefer a real Christmas tree over an artificial one (Ree, we're looking at you) might have to wait a little longer before pulling out the ornaments. If you do wait until the last minute, you can also choose to keep your decorations up past December. Many people will remain festive through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, the date on which the Wise Men visited baby Jesus therefore marking the official end of the Christmas season. Then, you can take down your Christmas tree (and all your other trimmings).
The definitive answer? It's all up to you! You should start decorating for Christmas whenever your happy, holiday-loving heart desires. After all, the season is only as magical as you make it!
Shop Christmas Décor From Ree's Line
The Pioneer Woman Holly Toss Tree Stoneware Platter
The Pioneer Woman Merry Meadow Stoneware Cookie Tray Set
The Pioneer Woman Merry Meadows Melamine Bowl Set
The Pioneer Woman Merry Meadow Stoneware Serving Bowl with Handles
The Pioneer Woman Merry Meadow Red Embossed Sentiment Stoneware Platter
Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.
