The date in which you should put up your Christmas will vary depending on who you ask. Like many other Christmas traditions, the rules around when to put the tree up tend to be inherited from our own parents and cultures.
While those in America have Thanksgiving to mark the beginning of the festive season and holiday decorating, Australia’s festive calendar is a little more flexible. The stores tend to start bringing out their Christmas decorations in early October but in our homes, it can be anywhere from early November to mid-December.
To help you figure out when to put up your tree, we look back at what history has to say.
The history of the Christmas tree
hotography: Nicki Dobrzynski, Stylist: Imogene Abady
The Christmas tree tradition as we now know started in Germany in the 16th century, when devout Christians would decorate trees in their homes. However, Christmas wasn’t quite the celebration then as it is now.
During the Victorian period, Christmas was celebrated in a way that is more similar to what we experience today and at that time, it was customary to put up the Christmas tree and decorate it much later in December, usually the afternoon of Christmas Eve–the end of the advent season and the beginning of the twelve days of Christmastide. This was a tradition the ancient Romans also adhered to.
When should you put up your Christmas tree?
The traditional of decorating a Christmas tree is now widespread across the globe, but where you live and what you believe may dictate when you put the tree up. In America, for instance, many families put up a tree the first Friday after Thanksgiving at the end of November, while Christians may choose to put the tree up on the first day of Advent – the first Sunday of the four Sundays preceding Christmas Day, which often falls somewhere between November 27 and December 3. This year, Advent begins on Sunday 1st December 2024.
And although Christmas decorations start going up in department stores and shopping centres from early November in Australia, setting up your tree on December first, the first Sunday in December or the second Saturday in December is now widely considered to be appropriate timing.
Psychological benefit of putting your tree up early
If you’re someone who can’t wait to put up your Christmas tree then you actually might be happier than those who wait until later in the year. According to research, putting your Christmas tree up early has some pretty significant psychological benefits, with the activity acting as a pathway to access nostalgic childhood memories. The research also shows that putting up the decorations can get you into the festive spirit earlier, making you likely to feel more social and receive more emotional benefits from social connection.
When should I take my Christmas tree down?
People tend to start taking their Christmas trees down anytime from Boxing Day to January 5—depending on their traditions and motivation levels. However, there’s nothing stopping you from leaving it up longer than that, if you choose to.
This article originally appeared on Home Beautiful and is republished here with permission.
