Gimme some help here: Is it too early to put up Christmas decorations?

[struggle4progress]

Here's the short background briefing:

Family member: Christmas is over. You should take down your Christmas decorations

Me: I took them down. Now I'm putting them back up so I'll be ready for Christmas

Family member: It's too early to put up Christmas decorations

Me: No, it's not. It's nearly Halloween.

Family member: Christmas is over. It's time to take down your Christmas decorations

Aside from this person rudely suggesting that I am lying, there is the issue of when one should take down Christmas decorations. I say if it's nearly halfway to the next Christmas, it's a waste of energy to take them down, and people should graciously compliment you for getting a headstart on the season

[muntrv]

1. Not in Frankenmuth, MI.

[notdarkyet]

2. I want to put up decorations, but I don't have any. My last Christmas was ruined and no gifts.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. I don't put up xmas decorations...I think xmas and all of its blatant commercialism is ...

ridiculous and causes a whole lot of problems for people who literally can't afford it, but society / peer pressure demands it.

Why should I support a bunch of billionaires and the like, by buying their products?

Also, why wait until xmas to get a present for a child, a friend, or someone close to you? I don't understand this either. It's stupid and I'm not going to be dictated to on when and what and why I buy a present, for anyone, period.

I'm one that will buy right there and then, because more than likely, if you go back to get the item later, you'll never find it again.

[lunatica]

17. We must be soulmates!

I haven’t celebrated any holiday or birthday for 25 years. And it’s for the same reason you give. At one time I’m sure the holidays were good and truly wholesome, but that’s no longer the case. Corporations have perverted holidays into guilt trips, forcing people who are already in debt to spend money they don’t have. It has become a hate filled activity and makes those who don’t get anything to feel bad. Fuck that! It’s dead wrong. And my birthday doesn’t exist as far as I’m concerned unless it’s needed for some legal paperwork.

[SWBTATTReg]

18. Amen! It is crazy, w/ everyone running around trying to get that one thing and ...

you know what's so funny about it? 10 years down the road no one will ever even remember what the hot item was!

Take care and have a nice weekend!

[Frustratedlady]

4. I used to do the same thing, but I downsized and don't have the room to decorate like I did.

I know people who have several trees around the house and leave them up all year, as it takes so long to decorate them properly. I did the same and left the garland up the stairway, because it took so long to get it properly arranged. As long as it doesn't bother me, it shouldn't bother anyone else.

I once had a neighbor whose sister always took her decorations/tree down on New Year's Day. It drove her crazy that I left mine up until February. I told her to squint her eyes and the red bows would convert to red hearts and I'd be all ready for Valentine's Day. I never heard another word.

BTW, I was at Hobby Lobby 2 weeks ago and they were putting out Thanksgiving decorations. We stopped and commented to the guy doing the stocking and he said, "If that bothers you, guess what's in the backroom. As soon as I finish this row, I move on to Christmas." It was still May.

I collect antique sheep and have them poked here and there all throughout the house, as well as antique candy molds. I enjoy watching people frown when they see them, but have not felt compelled to explain that I love Christmas and feel quite comforted to have those things around all year long. I know some people who have Halloween around all year long...now, that's weird!

[Drahthaardogs]

19. Technically, they are supposed to stay up until the epiphany

At least. In the Church the season begins on December. 24 and ends forty days later.

You were right, she was wrong.

[Kali]

5. you took them down?

way to make me look like a slacker

[bobbieinok]

6. 20 plus yrs in IA taught me the value of Christmas color. Jan and Feb are bleak. Keep decorations up

[Docreed2003]

7. I mean we're only a couple months away from stores selling Xmas decorations

Last year the big box stores had them up alongside Halloween/Fall decorations

[Floyd R. Turbo]

8. Put em up, leave em up!

Whoever buys the house next can deal with em!

[Va Lefty]

9. Reminds me of exchange in sitcom Grounded for Life

Brad: Taking the Christmas decorations down huh Mr. Finnerty? Boy, you really know Christmas is over when the decorations come down. Kinda makes me sad.

Lilly: You know what makes me sad? It's March.

[mithnanthy]

10. We have 3 wonderful cats ...Bussie the Snowman, Binkenstein and Sally Jane

..who love our artificial Christmas tree with it's pretty lights and kitty ornaments. We now keep it up all year long, in the living room and light it up while we watch TV. The cats are well behaved and look at it twinkle but know they're not allowed to nibble at it. It gives off a happy feeling to all of us. Who cares what other people think anyway...they already know we're a little quirky so they're not surprised by this.

[rurallib]

11. tell them you're celebrating with those folks in the Southern Hemisphere

that should baffle them.

[Xolodno]

12. Yes. Too Early. It's not official until..

...Costco starts putting up/selling decorations... which is about mid-August.

[sakabatou]

13. If it were up to me

Christmas decor goes up after Thanksgiving. It's taken down January 1st.

[Texasgal]

14. As a native Austinite

We joke that South Austin is where you can leave your Christmas lights on your house year round!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. Funny !! A friend of mine would get a tree and

Walk down the street with it mid year !!!

[lunatica]

16. The 4th of July is a real deadline

to both take them down and put them up! It’s Damn near the exact middle point between last Christmas and next Christmas. So since the 4th is just a couple of weeks away you might as well just leave them up.

[malthaussen]

20. Put them up? Why take them down?

Once should be enough.

-- Mal