Ah, the age-old question: When is the right time to deck the halls with boughs of holly—and more specifically, when should your twinkling Christmas lights make their grand debut? Some people can't wait to untangle those strands the moment Halloween is over, while others hold off until the turkey has been thoroughly digested after Thanksgiving.
As for Alex Drummond, her Christmas lights (and Christmas tree) are already up! She and Mauricio strung them on the exterior of their home during the first week of November. Well, Mauricio strung them up. As Alex said on her Instagram story, "I'm basically just here to untangle the slack and worry." 😂
But whether you're itching to flip the switch on holiday spirit like Alex and Mauricio or you cling to a strict no-lights-until-December rule, there are some (technically optional) dos and don'ts to Christmas decorating that a majority of celebrators seem to agree on.
In fact, Today’s Homeowner, a team of home improvement experts and professionals, surveyed 3,000 Americans to ask them what day is acceptable to begin decorating—and the results may just settle this dazzling debate once and for all. Of course, no one wants to put a damper on Christmas cheer, so you can decorate whenever you want! But, you can consider some tips for timing your trimming just right.
When should you hang Christmas lights?
Everyone has their own opinions when it comes to Christmas light etiquette, but a new survey reveals where most Americans stand when it comes to dusting off the décor. According to Today’s Homeowner, 40% of Americans who decorate hang their holiday decorations during the days after Thanksgiving but before December 1. Additionally, 51% of Americans agree that this week is the most acceptable time to decorate.
As for everyone else who celebrates, 34% of people waste no time getting in the spirit and will string their lights before Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, 18% of people surveyed will wait for the first week of December. A super small percentage of people will even procrastinate until the very day of Christmas.
But it doesn't really matter when or how you choose to decorate. After all, it is the most wonderful time of the year, and you can celebrate it however you like (even if that means risking a side-eye from your neighbors). If you do want to lean into the proper etiquette, you can decorate when the rest of your street starts or begin with smaller pieces like wreaths and doormats before moving onto bigger items like inflatables and lights.
When should you take down Christmas lights?
Sadly, what goes up must come down—and that includes Christmas lights. The Today’s Homeowner poll shows that most decorators are reluctant to let go of the holiday season, with 75% waiting until January to take down their lights (44% of whom will take them down during the first week of the new year). Only 18% of those surveyed will take their decorations down at the end of December.
That said, each family has their own Christmas traditions and there may never be an official consensus on when to illuminate your home for the holiday. So long as you're feeling festive, that's really all that matters! ✨
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Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.
