When Do Southern Tier Residents Start Decorating for Christmas?

I’m completely unapologetic about decorating early for Christmas.

In my house, it’s not unusual for the tree to come out the day after Halloween, with the rest of the inside decorated by the end of the first weekend in November. Before anybody gets too upset, though, I do have one rule: the Christmas decorations stay inside until after Thanksgiving.

Why I Put Up Christmas Decorations Early

Christmas is my son’s favorite time of year, and it always feels like it goes by far too fast. If putting up a tree early means he wants to spend more time curled up next to me, sipping cocoa and watching cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies, I’m all in.

Those little moments don’t last forever, and I’ll happily stretch out the Christmas season if it gives us a few more of them.

TSM/Traci Taylor

Why I Wait Until After Thanksgiving to Decorate Outside

I know not everybody is ready to see twinkle lights before the Thanksgiving turkey even hits the table. That’s why I see my decorating schedule as a compromise.

Inside my house, it really doesn’t matter how I decorate or whether anybody else likes it. Don’t want to see it? Don’t come visit.

READ MORE: How New York Sparked the First Electric Christmas Lights

But when it comes to the outside decorations, I wait until Thanksgiving has come and gone. Once the leftovers are packed away and the turkey has been cleared from the table, then it’s time for the lights, wreaths, and everything else.

When Do Southern Tier Residents Start Decorating for Christmas?

We asked people across the Southern Tier, “When do YOU start decorating for Christmas? Do you wait until after Thanksgiving, or are you ready to swap pumpkins for twinkle lights before the turkey hits the table?”

Their answers were all over the calendar.

Southern Tier Residents Who Decorate Before Thanksgiving

Some people are firmly on Team Early Christmas. Megan S. said November 1. Kori K. answered, “Halloween, baby!” Amber Y. said her tree goes up the day after Halloween, along with lights everywhere, and she adds more decorations each day.

Tomycorner O. said decorating early can depend on how she’s feeling, sharing that if she’s been down for a while, she might put decorations up before Halloween. Otherwise, she aims for early November at the latest.

READ MORE: How One New Yorker Launched America’s Christmas Tree Tradition

Tammy R. said she decorates sometime in November, either the week before or after Thanksgiving, because “it makes me happy and that’s all that matters.” Tammy H. said she would keep a tree up all year if it were up to her, decorating it for each holiday and season.

Southern Tier Residents Who Decorate on Thanksgiving

For plenty of people, Thanksgiving is the natural starting point for Christmas decorating.

Nicole G. decorates on Thanksgiving Day, while Margaret M. starts Thanksgiving night. Ann F. said she decorates right around Thanksgiving, and Elizabeth M. gets started the week before.

Christi D. puts up the tree on Thanksgiving Day so her grandchildren can help decorate it, then finishes the rest on Black Friday. Erinn W. said Black Friday is when her family gets their tree and turns the house into a Christmas wonderland.

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Southern Tier Residents Who Wait Until After Thanksgiving

Others are committed to waiting until Thanksgiving is over. Marissa P., Joy L., Jeff R., J.A. M., Holli K., and Amanda R. all said they wait until after Thanksgiving or the day after.

Diane S. waits until the first week in December. Sydnee O. said December 1, while Michelle L. waits until December 2.

Caity C. said seeing Christmas decorations already displayed makes her “incredibly angry,” and Roberta D. agreed. Christi also pointed out that people are often commercially rushed from one holiday to the next.

And that’s fair. There is something special about letting Thanksgiving have its own day before Christmas takes over.

Whether your tree goes up November 1, Black Friday, or sometime in December, one thing Southern Tier residents seem to agree on is that decorating should make you happy.